The WHL Programme is designed to shape the future leaders of World Heritage. The capacity-building programme aims to provide the guidance and tools necessary to effectively manage World Heritage and create dynamic networks of knowledge exchange and peer learning. WHL is a collaboration ICCROM, IUCN and the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, in collaboration with UNESCO and ICOMOS. 

The Programme’s first phase (2016-2022) emphasized creating and revising World Heritage resources to provide integrated and structured guidance and tools to managers of World Heritage. These include the recently launched Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessment in a World Heritage Context. In the next phase, the Programme will focus on working with national, regional and international actors, institutions and networks to mainstream capacity building across regions and generations. It will focus on strengthening regional networks and multiplying capacity-building efforts in diverse languages and contexts.