Dates : 2 - 25 July 2007

Place : Rwanda

Organizers

• Programme AFRICA 2009
• UNESCO-World Heritage Centre (WHC)
• Centre International de la Construction en Terre - Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Grenoble (CRATerre-ENSAG), France
• Ecole du Patrimoine Africain (EPA)
• Centre for Heritage Development in Africa (CHDA)
• Ministère de la  Jeunesse de la Culture et des Sports, Rwanda

Background
The AFRICA 2009 programme, launched in 1998, is aimed at improving national capacities in sub-Saharan Africa for the conservation and management of immovable cultural property. AFRICA 2009 is organized with the financial support of SIDA (through the Swedish National Heritage Board), the World Heritage Fund, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Finland and Italy, and ICCROM.

Course aim
The main objective of the course is to familiarize participants with the process of preparing the nominations of Cultural Properties to the World Heritage List, especially by enabling them to:

• understand the basics of the World Heritage Convention and those of the Operational Guidelines for its implementation;
• coordinate the main stages of the process for the inscription of cultural properties to the World Heritage List;
• understand the role of the various players involved in the nomination process;
• understand the strong links that exist between the criteria for the assessment of universal value, the questions of integrity and/or authenticity, and conservation and management;
• have a good understanding of the format and content of the nomination procedures, and the importance of the quality and precision of the information to be provided for each of the sections;
• identify problems that frequently block nominations;
• develop strategies and actions to complete the nomination(s) in process in their respective countries.

Structure
This four-week course is divided into three parts: an introduction, a section with practical work which includes discussions on the nominations, according to the format required, and a section dedicated to the planning and preparation of nominations in each country.

The course combines theory and practice. Practical work will be based on pending nominations (either on nominations from the countries represented or on the site suggested by the host country). Certificates will be awarded to candidates who satisfactorily complete the course.

Participants
The course is aimed at African professionals working in the field of heritage. Participants (about fifteen) must have a minimum of 3 to 5 years experience in heritage conservation and management. They must either be 1) directly involved in the preparation of a nomination to the World Heritage List or 2) be in charge of the conservation and management of a priority site on the Tentative List of their country.
Qualified women are encouraged to apply.
The Africa 2009 Programme requires each accepted candidate to pay a registration fee of $50. Payment can be made directly at the location of the course.

Language
The course takes place in French and requires a good command of the language.

Application
Heritage directors must submit one or several candidates who meet the requirements stated above. The application form must be filled in by the candidate and sent to ICCROM at the following address:

ICCROM - AFRICA 2009
13, via di San Michele
I-00153 ROME RM, ITALIE
tél (+39) 06 585531 fax (+39) 06 58553349
mel : africa2009 (at) iccrom . org

Deadline
30 April 2007. Applications must reach ICCROM by this date. Only complete applications will be accepted