Following the Regional Launch Meeting of the Second Cycle of the Periodic Reporting for Africa (Dakar, Senegal, 20-22 January 2010) and the work which has progressed in the 44 States Parties to the World Heritage Convention and 78 World Heritage properties, this sub-regional meeting will be held from 8 to 10 September 2010 in Windhoek, Namibia.

It will bring together the designated national focal points from 10 States Parties (Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe) to the World Heritage Convention and site-managers of 21 World Heritage properties in the concerned countries.

The participants are foreseen to:

•·         share the progress in the implementation of the Second Cycle of the Periodic Reporting;

•·         review the issue of the Outstanding Universal Value, authenticity and integrity of World Heritage properties,

•·         discuss the challenges of conservation and site-management raised from the process of the Reporting exercise; and

•·         attempt an initial group analysis of issues and challenges raised from the process of the Reporting exercise.

This meeting is organized in partnership with the Government of Namibia, namely the Namibia National Commission for UNESCO and the National Museum of Namibia, and is taking place thanks to the financial support of the Government of the Netherlands.