Dates: 20 October – 14 November 2008

Place: Karima, Sudan

Organizers:

• AFRICA 2009 Programme
• Centre for Heritage Development in Africa (CHDA)
• National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums (NCAM), Sudan

Background
This technical course is complementary to the AFRICA 2009 three-month Regional Course and focuses on technical issues rather than management aspects. The theme for the technical course will be “Impact Assessment as a tool for heritage management”. Impact assessments are carried out in anticipation of likely effects of development projects on the natural and cultural environment. The course will consist of a series of hands-on practical exercises geared towards developing competence in impact assessment studies, especially as it relates to the protection of heritage sites threatened by development activities.

Objectives

• To introduce participants to Impact Assessment and its use as a heritage management tool;
• to familiarize participants with the practical process of impact assessment;
• to sensitize policy makers on the usefulness of impact assessment for heritage protection.

Course structure
The duration of the course is four weeks. It is divided into three main areas:

• general introduction to impact assessment through individual presentations by participants and resource persons;
• theoretical background and the practical process of impact assessment (Identification of sites, field work, establishment of the significance of the cultural site, analysis, decision making, report writing, monitoring);
• evaluation and presentation of the course results to Sudanese decision makers.

Venue
The course will take place at various sites in Karima, Sudan and will be centered on a series of practical field exercises.

Working language: English

Participants
Participants must be heritage professionals with a university degree and a minimum of three to five years’ experience and must either:

1. be in charge of management/conservation of a major site or region within their countries; or
2. have a decision-making role in regards to the management of immovable cultural heritage

Experience of working with impact assessment studies or development projects is essential for full participation in all activities.
Applications from qualified women are encouraged.

Expenses
The AFRICA 2009 Programme will offer successful candidates scholarships for tuition, international travel, and modest living expenses. However each participant is required to pay a registration fee of $50 (US dollars).

Applications
A statement in support of the applicant’s candidature is required, from the heritage organization to which he/she is affiliated. To this end, this section must be completed, signed, and sealed by the National Director or head of the institution responsible for conservation of immovable cultural heritage in the country from which the candidate comes.

Completed application forms should be scanned and sent as attachments to the e-mail addresses below, before they are sent by post to the address below. Only complete applications will be considered.

Completed applications should be sent to:

6th Africa 2009 Technical Course
Centre for Heritage Development in Africa
Fort Jesus, Old Law Court Building, Nkrumah Road
PO Box 90010
Mombasa, Kenya
Tel: (254) 41 2225 114 / 224 846
Fax: (254) 41 2227 985
Email: pmda (at) heritageinafrica . org with copies to africa2009 (at) iccrom . org

Application deadline: 31 May 2008