28 December. On 19 November 2009, the 7th and last technical course of Africa 2009 drew to a close at Grand-Bassam, Côte d’Ivoire. The theme was 'Environmental Impact Study, a useful tool for sustainable management of cultural heritage'.

Seventeen participants, coming from sixteen African countries, took part in the training. Over the course of four weeks, they studied the legislation of the countries represented and the practice of Environmental Impact Study (EIS) in Africa, as applied to cultural heritage. The participants were particularly engaged in carrying out an impact study regarding a project to open the mouth of the Comoé river, which passes through the town of Grand-Bassam.
Among other objectives, the course aimed to raise awareness among African cultural heritage professionals, specialists in EIS and political/administrative authorities about the importance of environmental impact study as a tool for protection and sustainable management of cultural heritage.

A detailed report on the course results was submitted to the authorities of the town of Grand-Bassam and to the Direction of Cultural Heritage of Côte d’Ivoire to solicit further follow up of the course results on-site.

The closing ceremony took place in the presence of the Inspector-General of the Ministry of Culture and Francophonie of Côte d’Ivoire, Mr James Houra, representing the minister, the Deputy Mayor of the town of Grand-Bassam, Mr Jean Michel Moulod and the Director of the Ecole du Patrimoine Africain, Mr Alain Godonou.

The latter thanked the authorities of Côte d’Ivoire for their engagement and support for the success of this final training activity in the AFRICA 2009 programme. Stressing the results of the technical course, he urged local authorities and communities to seize the opportunities for financing cultural activities that are arising on the continent through regional financial institutions, such as UEMOA, BOAD and BAD. He also encouraged course participants to put their newly acquired knowledge to work in their respective countries, as a sign that cultural heritage professionals are dedicated to EIS.

The course was coordinated by the Ecole du patrimoine Africain (EPA), in collaboration with the Cultural Heritage Direction of Côte d’Ivoire, CRAterre-ENSAG, ICCROM, and the World Heritage Centre of UNESCO (WHC).

We would like to express our deep gratitude to the financial partners of the Africa 2009 programme: the Swedish Agency for International Development (SIDA); Swedish National Heritage Board, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGCS); the World Heritage Centre of UNESCO; and ICCROM.
We also thank the Ministry of Culture and Francophonie of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire for its financial and logistic support.

Member States represented: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Madagascar, Mali, Senegal, and Togo

updated on: 28 December, 2009