Call for Applications: 7th World Heritage Site Managers’ Forum

This year’s Forum will focus on strengthening the capacity of site managers and World Heritage actors to engage with the Reactive Monitoring process. Reacting Monitoring is “the reporting by the World Heritage Centre, other sectors of UNESCO and the Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Committee on the state of conservation of specific World Heritage properties under threat.”

To address threats to these properties, collaboration with a diverse range of actors – including site managers, management institutions, rights-holders and stakeholders – is crucial. The Forum will also explore ways to involve these various actors, ensuring proactive networks for integrating World Heritage concerns into broader planning and policy development.

Objectives

• To promote international cooperation of World Heritage site managers and coordinate worldwide actions in favour of the protection and conservation of humankind’s historical heritage through activities and interventions aimed at raising awareness of States Parties to this heritage.
• To reinforce and support the international network of site managers that defines, improves and promotes conservation principles, standards, research, responsible practice, and innovation about the protection of World Heritage properties.
• To assist site managers through appropriate guidance to harness the potential of World Heritage properties and heritage in general.
• To strengthen the enabling environment by advocating policies, strategies, frameworks and tools that support sustainable development as an important vehicle for protecting and managing cultural and natural heritage of Outstanding Universal Value.
• To directly expose the site managers to the issues discussed during the World Heritage Committee sessions on the state of conservation (SOC) reports.

Theme

• Enhancing Engagement in the World Heritage Reactive Monitoring Process.

Topics

• The World Heritage Convention, its actors and key processes;
• The Reactive Monitoring process, including reporting and procedures;
• Collaboration with a wide range of actors for better management;
• Existing and forthcoming resources to strengthen the management of World Heritage properties.

Cost Covered 

• Selected participants will be responsible for their round-trip travel costs to and from UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, as well as their accommodation and living expenses during the entire Forum. Information on specific hotels near the venue of the WHSMF25 will be provided to the Forum participants for their individual reservations.

Eligibility Criteria

• Current World Heritage site managers as well as persons working within the site management from all natural, cultural and mixed World Heritage properties are eligible.
• Only one participant per World Heritage property will be accepted. An exception will be made for transboundary or transnational properties, for which only one person per State Party involved may be accepted.
• Priority will be given to participants from World Heritage properties that are currently under the Reactive Monitoring process, and especially to those inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
• Site managers who have not yet had the opportunity to attend previous editions of the World Heritage Site Managers’ Forum will be given preference.
• Selection will also be guided in view of balancing regional, age and gender distribution of participants as well as typologies of World Heritage properties represented.

Application Requirements

• A professional curriculum vitae in PDF format (max. 2 pages).
• An electronic version of your valid passport in JPG or PDF format.

For more information, visit ICCROM.