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10th Regional Course on the Conservation and Management of Immovable Heritage in sub-Saharan Africa
1 September – 21 November 2008
Partners
- Programme AFRICA 2009
- Ecole du Patrimoine Africain- EPA (EPA)
- Directorate of cultural heritage, Benin
Financial partners
Duration: 1 September – 21 November 2008
Place: Porto-Novo, Benin
Participants
Twenty heritage professionals (conservator, heritage manager, architect, urban planner, archaeologist, historian, engineer, anthropologist, communicator) from seventeen countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo.
Aim
The main objective of the regional course was to bring together African heritage professionals to build a greater awareness on the most important issues on conservation planning and management. The course is also aimed at enhancing knowledge on the major challenges encountered when carrying out conservation activities in the African context.
The main focus is to improve and strengthen national capacities for conservation and management of heritage sites in the region.
Course
The three-months course was coordinated by EPA and was the last edition of the regional course for French speaking countries.
The course was divided into two main parts:
- The first part, essentially theoretical concentrated on basic knowledge on conservation and management of cultural heritage, as well as the development and presentation of a management plan for immovable heritage sites.
- The second part deals with a practical exercise on the planning and site management process for the Aguégué lagoon site located 45 minutes from Porto-Novo. The site is completely dependent on water and presents interesting typologies of cultural, historical, religious and economic interest. The course mainly focuses on the management planning process.
The last week is dedicated to a Directors' Seminar on the theme: 'Cultural heritage and decentralization'. In addition to the heritage directors from countries represented, thirteen Mayors from Benin, Togo and Burkina Faso are attending the seminar. This year, the seminar is organized in collaboration with the Africities project and France-UNESCO Convention.
Main achievements
- Building the capacity of the twenty participants present in Porto Novo;
- raising awareness of all partners concerned and involved in the course, especially national institutions in charge of heritage and local communities;
- sharing information among participants on the variety of the immovable cultural heritage in Africa;
- working on the management plan of the Aguégué lagoon site;
- strengthening the professional network in the region;
- strengthening the capacity of heritage and training institutions in the region;
- working with the Mayors on the challenges for a better management of urban sites.
updated on:
19 June, 2009
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