| Meeting highlights Italian-ICCROM collaboration
During the period 1993-2005, the contribution of the Directorate General for Development Cooperation of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ICCROM activities grew from virtually nil to nearly € 1,000,000 per year. In 1993 the annual contribution allowed the launch of activities in North Africa, and Near and Middle East countries*. As one follow up to these initiatives, new university courses in the field of heritage conservation have been started in North African countries.
Since 2001 other ICCROM activities have also been supported, including the AFRICA 2009 and ATHAR programmes. Between 2001 and 2005, generous contributions by the DGCS to the EPA fund (amounting to more than the 60% of the total amount) resulted in the fund achieving its fundraising target of $2.5 million. This has ensured the long-term future of the independent Ecole du Patrimoine Africain in Porto Novo, Benin.
Since 2003 the Technical Assistance component of the contribution has ensured the development of training programmes in Southeast Europe and Southern Caucasus countries.
The above provides a brief summary of the results of the long-standing collaboration between the DGCS and ICCROM. The importance of this partnership was underlined during the meeting held on 12 May 2006, in the presence of the Vice Director-General of Development Cooperation of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Min. Plen. Gianni Ghisi, and of representatives from different desk*.
At the meeting, presentations by ICCROM staff highlighted the wide range of initiatives where the presence of the Italian Cooperation contribution has been invaluable, stressing the value of the programmes and activities in relation to the main development issues and priorities of the Italian Government.
The presence at the meeting of François Le Blanc and Rand Eppich from the Getty Conservation Institute was an indication of the interest of ICCROM partners in developing joint ventures involving the different stakeholders of the international community.
Cultural heritage is more and more recognized as an important tool for intercultural dialogue, and its conservation provides an opportunity to create synergies and collaboration between different regions of the world.
Member State represented: Italy
* NAMEC programme, The support programme for the cities of North Africa and Near and Middle East Countries, (1993-2001)
* Cons. Mauro Massoni Capo ufficio II – multilaterale, dott.ssa Teresa Savanella, Esperto ufficio II, dott. Giancarlo Del Grosso, Esperto ufficio II, Cons. Federica Ferrari Bravo Capo ufficio III - Mediterraneo e vicino Oriente, dott.ssa Elena Clemente Ufficio IV - Africa Sub sahariana, dott. Leonardo Costa Ufficio V - Asia e America Latina, dott. Gianandrea Sandri, esperto UTC - valutazione programmi di sviluppo
updated on:
27 January, 2010 |
