Dates : 22 - 26 October 2007

Place : Nouakchott, Mauritania

Organizers

• L’Office National des Musées, Mauritanie
• AFRICA Programme 2009
• African cultural heritage organizations
• ICCROM
• Centre du Patrimoine Mondial de l’UNESCO (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)

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.

Aim
The seminar will be a platform for heritage and communications professionals to discuss the challenges and opportunities related to the promotion of issues related to the conservation of immovable cultural heritage.

• present the status in each country and institution;
• discuss communication as a means to enhance the knowledge of heritage conservation and management;
• define the challenges related to communication and immovable heritage;
• develop action plans to address the challenges identified.
  

Structure
The 5-day seminar is divided in two main parts. The first consists of presentations by the participants, which will be followed by a plenary session. Participants will then be divided into working groups to identify strengths and weaknesses, and develop strategies for promotion of cultural heritage in Africa.

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 $25. 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
31 August 2007. Applications must reach ICCROM by this date. Only complete applications will be accepted.