The AWHF is a Category II Centre under the Auspices of UNESCO QUARTERLY REVIEW APRIL - JUNE 2014
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION To ensure that the mission and objectives of the African World Heritage Fund are achieved by consolidating institutional Capacities. AWHF BOARD MEETING The 15 th Session of the African World Heritage Fund Board of Trustees session was held in Midrand, South Africa on the 22 nd and 23 rd May 2014. The meeting was attended by Board members representing different African regions (Southern Africa, Central Africa, Eastern Africa and North Africa as well as professional representatives). Observers from the Development Bank of Southern Africa, Nordic World Heritage Foundation, ambassadors and representatives from the embassies of Norway, Algeria, Cote d Ivoire and Spain also attended the meeting. AWHF Board The Chairperson of the AWHF Mr. Sibusiso Xaba welcomed the newly appointed Board members Mr. Diekumpuna Sita N'sadisi José the Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Angola to UNESCO (representing Southern Africa), and Mr. Mariano-Ebang Ebang Anguesomo the Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to UNESCO (representing Central Africa). At the occassion of the Board meeting the Chief Executive Officer of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), Mr. Patrick Dlamini hosted a dinner for Board members. Mr. Dlamini was represented at the function by Mr. Moe Shaik Board session 2
AWHF Board dinner function New Intern at AWHF Mr. Khanyisani Dladla joined AWHF in May 2014 as an intern, seconded by the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa. Mr. Dladla possesses a degree in Geography and Environmental Management from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The internship is for one year (May 2014 April 2015). Annual Meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Related Category 2 Institutes and Centres, Shangai, China The 4 th annual coordination meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage related Category 2 (C2) Institutes and Centres was held in Shanghai, China, from 23 to 25 May 2014. The meeting was hosted by the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific region (WHITRAP). AWHF was represented at the meeting.
The objective of the 4 th annual C2C meeting was to build institutional capacity through a focus on international cooperation, the process of External Evaluation, and the Results Based Management (RBM) approach of the C2 Institutes and Centres. Representatives from the Advisory Bodies of the World Heritage Convention and UNESCO World Heritage Centre, as well as delegates of the ten C2 Institutes and Centres - related to World were present at the meeting. Participants, UNESCO category 2 Centres meeting China 4
WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE MEETING, DOHA QATAR AWHF at the World Heritage Committee The African World Heritage Fund was represented at the 38th Session of the World Heritage Committee from the 15 th - 25 th of June in Doha, Qatar under the Chair of Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani. Africa is represented by Algeria and Senegal at the committee. Of the four nomination dossiers from Africa examined i.e. Okavango Delta (Botswana), Tongo-Tengzuk Tallensi Cultural Landscape (Ghana), Mount Mulanje Cultural Landscape (Malawi) and Barotse Cultural Landscape (Zambia), only Okavango Delta was inscribed on the World Heritage List. AWHF organized various meetings with relevant stakeholders and partners which aimed at strengthening the relationship and heritage management on the African continent. 3 rd round of the African Ministers Roundtable discussion on World Heritage in Africa, Doha, Qatar 21 June 2014 On the occasion of the 38th Session of the World Heritage Committee (Doha, Qatar), the World Heritage Centre and the African World Heritage Fund organized a Roundtable discussion for African Ministers responsible for World Heritage in Africa with the Director General of UNESCO on 21 June 2014. The discussion revolved around the accomplishments, challenges and concerns regarding the implementation of the World Heritage Convention in the Africa region. The Ministers expressed their views on the progress their countries have made towards the objectives of the Action Plan for World Heritage in the Africa Region (2012-2017), which was developed following the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting in the Africa Region. Delegates, WHC, Doha Qatar Africa Group Meeting, Doha Qatar African Ministers meeting 5
The meeting was attended by: H.E Mr. Amin Abdurkadir, Minister of Culture and Tourism of Ethiopia; H.E. Dr. Nadia Arop Dudi, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports of the Republic of South Sudan; Mr. Sibusiso Xaba, Chairperson of the African World Heritage Fund; H. E. Ms. Dolana Msimang, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of South Africa to France, Permanent Delegate to UNESCO; H.E. Ms. Bomo Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs of South Africa; H.E. Mr. Abdoul Aziz Mbaye, Minister of Culture of Senegal; H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of the 38 th session of the World Heritage Committee; Mr. Ngoako Ramatlhodi, Minister of Mineral Resources of South Africa; UNESCO Director-General Ms. Irina Bokova; Ms. Alissandra Cummins, representative of the State Party of Barbados; H.E. Mr. Cornélio Caley, Secretary of State from the Ministry of Culture of Angola; H. E. Mr Tshekedi Khama, Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism of Botswana, and; Mr. Kishore Rao, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Right: Irina Bokova, DG, UNESCO L-R: Molewa, Khama and Sibusiso Delegates, African Ministers meeting, Doha, Qatar 6
MAKING THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST CREDIBLE, REPRESSENTATIVE AND BALANCED African Ministers Meeting Doha, Qatar To ensure increased number of sites from Africa inscribed on World Heritage List Okavango delta (Botswana) nominated to the prestigious World Heritage List The 38th Session of the World Heritage Committee inscribed Botswana s Okavango Delta as the 1000 th site on the World Heritage List. The World Heritage Committee having examined the recommendations by IUCN inscribed Okavango Delta on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a natural site on the basis of criteria (vii), (ix) and (x) http://whc.unesco.org/en/criteria. Okavango Delta The country s Minister of environment, wildlife and tourism, Mr. Tshedkedi Khama said in his acceptance speech that the listing is a demonstration of the international community s recognition and acknowledgement of outstanding universal values of the Okavango Delta. The minister reiterated Botswana s commitment to the protection of its natural and cultural heritage. He assured the committee that Botswana will continue to work with relevant stakeholders, including the local communities living around Okavango Delta and the riparian states of Namibia and Angola to maintain the integrity of the Site. The African World Heritage Fund provided financial and technical assistance towards preparation of the Nomination dossier. This is another success story of the Fund in addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List since the formation of the Fund in 2006. 7
CONSERVATION OF HERITAGE PLACES To ensure improved management and conservation of World Heritages in Africa through participation of all stakeholders including local communities Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara in Tanzania removed from UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger. Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara in Tanzania was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2004 due to deterioration and decay leading to the collapse of the historical and archaeological structures for which the property was inscribe. A series of corrective measures were undertaken by the State Party in collaboration with other partners. Having examined measures taken by the State Party the 38th Session of the World Heritage Committee unanimously agreed that the State of Conservation of the Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara has improved remarkably and can be removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger. AWHF contribution - In 2009 AWHF provided financial assistance and facilitated the preparation of a strategy for removal of the site from the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Workshop was held at Kilwa from 15-17 March 2009. Kilwa Kisiwani, Tanzania 8
Lake Turkana National Park Kenya survives Danger Listing. The 38 th Session of the World Heritage Committee rescinded a decision to inscribe Lake Turkana National Park in Kenya on the List of World Heritage in Danger following requests by Kenya and Ethiopia. The Committee is concerned with the impact of the construction of the Gibe III dam and development of large-scale irrigation schemes in the lower Omo Valley and has requested Ethiopia to suspend developments until the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is completed and to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN reactive monitoring mission. Lake Turkana Selous Game Reserve Placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger However, Selous Game Reserve was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger by the 38 th Session of the World Heritage Committee because of widespread poaching, amongst other challenges. Inscribed as a World heritage Site in 1982 the property is renowned for its populations of elephant, black rhinoceros, cheetah, giraffe, hippopotamus and crocodile, amongst many other species. Poaching has caused a dramatic decline in the wildlife populations, especially elephants and rhino, whose numbers have dropped by almost 90 percent. AWHF approves Conservation Grants to support projects in Chad, Botswana and Mauritius The AWHF Board of Trustees approved US$ 20,000 to support a Rock Art Conservation and Community Guides Workshop at Tsodilo World Heritage Site in Botswana. The Board further approved US$ 15,000 to support the development of signage and information panels at Le Morne Cultural Landscape World Heritage Site in Mauritius and US$ 20,000 to support preparation Selous game Reserve, Tanzania 9
of a Disaster Risk Management Plan for the Lakes of Ounianga World Heritage Site in Chad. The Fund provides funding to African State Parties every year to support project activities at World Heritage Sites. Africa Nature workshop Nairobi, Kenya 19-20 May. The workshop was organized to assess the results of the Africa nature pilot phase (2012-2014). The following results have been achieved: - Management effectiveness have been carried out in 10 World Heritage sites to identify gaps in management processes and allow for targeted improvements in line with the World Heritage Convention s requirements on maintaining the OUV. - Development of a network for knowledge management and experience sharing between the sites has been initiated. A website for the Africa Nature programme has been developed and is hosted by the IUCN Protected Area Programme in Africa (http://papaco.org/gb/). - A series of targeted capacity building activities organised to address some key conservation issues. - Guidelines on how to engage local communities in the conservation of natural World Heritage have been developed and tested. This was base on the 12 years of experience from the Community Management of Protected Areas for Conservation initiative (COMPACT). 10
IMPLEMENTATION OF SECOND PERIODIC REPORT IN AFRICA Entrepreneurship Workshops The Implementation Programme of the Second Periodic Report (2012-2017) consists of a number of activities, including training workshops on entrepreneurship. In May 2014, site managers and local community representatives from selected World Heritage sites in Africa participated in two separate Entrepreneurship Training Workshops for World Heritage in Ghana and Senegal. The workshops were funded by the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) and coordinated in partnership with the Ecole du Patrimoine Africain (EPA), the Centre for Heritage Development in Africa (CHDA), the World Heritage Centre, and UNESCO Offices in Accra and Dakar. The Governments of Ghana and Senegal provided logistical support. The programme is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. UNESCO Office in Windhoek provided additional funding. The Ghana workshop was held at Cape Coast Castle (part of Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions World Heritage site) from the 19 th to 30 th May 2014. The workshop was organized in partnership with the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board. Nineteen (19) participants from Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia attended the workshop. The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Zagba Oyortey, Executive Director of Ghana Museums and Monuments Board; Mr. Yusuf Abdallah Usman, Director General of Heritage and Museums in Nigeria; Mr. Nakanta George Ufot, Director of Culture, Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation of Nigeria; Mr. Gaogakwe Phorano, Director of National Museum and Monuments in Botswana; Dr. Webber Ndoro, Director of AWHF; and Mr. Kassim Omar from CHDA. The World Heritage Centre was represented by Ms. Karalyn Monteil. The participants gained knowledge and skills in the various aspects of strategic business planning and entrepreneurship. Business and entrepreneurial opportunities for various World Heritage Sites were documented. The practical knowledge gained at the workshop will be used to start various business opportunities. The following World Heritage sites were involved: Tsodilo (Botswana), Kilwa Kisiwani (Tanzania), Vallee de Mai (Seychelles), Lamu Old Town (Kenya), Victoria Falls (Zambia), Ukahlamba Drakensberg (South Africa), Sukur Cultural landscape (Nigeria), Cape Coast Castle (Ghana). Kakum National park (site on UNESCO Tentative List - Ghana) was also represented at the workshop. 11
Participants Entrepreneurship workshop, Ghana, May 2014 Opening ceremony- Entrepreneurship workshop, Ghana, May 2014 The Senegal workshop for francophone participants was held at Saloum Delta World Heritage site from 12 th to 22 nd May 2014 in partnership with the Direction of Cultural Heritage in Senegal. Thirty (30) site managers and community representatives from Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Gabon, Madagascar, Mali, Senegal and Togo attended the workshop. The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Abdoul Aziz Mbaye, Minister of Culture and Heritage of Senegal, and the Ambassador of Spain to Senegal, H.E. Ms. Cristina Diaz Fernandez-Gil. 12
2 nd Steering Committee Meeting The five year implementation programme for the Second Periodic Report Action Plan in Africa is structured around capacity building and research. The 2 nd Steering Committee meeting was held on the 20 th June 2014 in Doha, Qatar, during the 38 th World Heritage Committee meeting. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Webber Ndoro, Director of the AWHF and attended by representatives of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, ICCROM, Nordic World Heritage Foundation, IUCN, CHDA, EPA and AWHF. The States Parties of Kenya and Angola attended as observers. The Steering Committee examined the progress report and discussed the way forward for the programme. The Steering Committee commended the work undertaken so far and stressed the need to develop and fundraise for the follow up phase (2016-2017) based on the experience gained from the initial phase (2013-2015). The main funder of the programme s initial phase is the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. FUNDRAISING AND COMMUNICATION To seek support for the AWHF Endowment Fund and Operational Funding AWHF at European Union (EU) Ambassadors Meeting On the 8 th April the AWHF was invited to make a presentation to the European Union ambassadors to South Africa. The meeting which was held at the home of the European Union Ambassador to South Africa, H.E Van De Geer, was well received by the 22 ambassadors that attended. Each ambassador was presented with the AWHF book, World Heritage Sites in Africa. The Director of the Fund, Dr Ndoro, appealed to the Ambassadors to engage with AWHF with the aim of increasing its visibility and also in developing partnerships with companies from the respective European Union countries that have a large footprint on the African continent. 13
UPCOMING EVENTS, JULY SEPTEMBER Africa celebrates the 20 th anniversary of the NARA document on Authenticity The 1994 Nara Document on Authenticity was conceived in the spirit of the 1963 Charter of Venice in response to the expanding scope of cultural heritage concerns across the world. Its adoption was influenced by the Government of Japan s need to legitimize their practice of periodic dismantling, rebuilding, repair and re-assembling of wooden heritage structures. The Nara Document on Authenticity provides for the understanding of cultural diversity and cultural heritage in relation to conservation in order to evaluate the value and authenticity of cultural property more objectively worldwide. In the framework of the 20 th anniversary celebrations taking place across the world in 2014, the AWHF and the Robben Island Management Team will be organising a seminar to review and discuss the future of implementing the Nara Document on Authenticity in the context of World Heritage on the African continent. The seminar entitled From Himeji (Japan) to Robben Island (South Africa); the future of Nara Document in Africa will be held in Cape Town, South Africa on the 8 th and 9 th July 2014. Workshop on Risk Preparedness for Portuguese Speaking Countries A workshop on Risk Preparedness for African Portuguese Speaking countries will take place from the 30 th June to the 12 th July 2014 at Ilha de Mozambique World Heritage site in Mozambique. Participants from Sao Tomé, Cape Verde, Angola, Guinea Bissau and Mozambique will attend the workshop. AWHF Contacts Physical address: Development Bank of Southern Africa (main campus) 1258 Lever Road, Midrand, South Africa Postal address: 1258 Lever Road Headway Hill Midrand P.O. Box 1234, Halfway House, Midrand, 1685 South Africa Email: info@awhf.net Tel: +27 (0) 11 313 3946 Fax: +27 (0) 11 206 3946 14