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Africa
The Africa region covers the 46 States Parties of the World Heritage Convention in the Sub-Saharan Africa. In line with the Global Priority Africa of UNESCO, the Africa unit of the World Heritage Centre strives to enhance the capacity of the Africa region in the implementation of the World Heritage Convention.
Africa is one of UNESCO’s Global Priorities. The African Renaissance is underway, with the adoption of the African Union Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development paving the ground for the African development.
Periodic Reporting
Cycle 3
The World Heritage Committee, at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017), declared in Decision 41 COM 10A, the start of the Third Cycle of Periodic Reporting in the Africa region, in accordance with Article 29 of the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The Third Cycle of Periodic Reporting exercise in the Region involved African States Parties to the Convention and the World Heritage properties inscribed on the World Heritage List, including the sites inscribed by the Committee at its the 43rd session in Baku, Azerbaijan in July 2019.
The reporting exercise took place from September 2019 to July 2020 and 46 African States Parties to the Convention, of which 35 have 96 World Heritage properties inscribed on the World Heritage List, answered an online questionnaire. Several workshops have been organized to facilitate the filling and analysis of the questionnaires. A draft Report and draft Action Plan have been prepared and finalized with all African National Focal Points. The two documents will be submitted to the 44th extended session of the World Heritage Committee for approval.
© UNESCO / Xiangling Chen
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September 2019
The Africa region starts the Third Cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise
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September 2019
Third Cycle of the Periodic Reporting Exercise kicks off in Africa
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February 2020
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November 2020
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December 2020
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February 2021
African National Focal Points for Periodic Reporting finalize Third Cycle Draft Regional Action Plan
Cycle 2
Main results
Africa Region
English Français
Synthesis and analysis of the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting in Africa submitted in accordance with Decision 33 COM 11.C
Read moreCycle 1
Main results
Africa Region
English Français
Conclusions and recommendations of the synthesis Report on the state of conservation of the World Heritage in Africa, submitted.
Read moreConservation
and nomination
© Shutterstock / Teo Tarras /UNESCO and ALIPH to rehabilitate Mali’s Bandiagara World Heritage site and support conflict-affected communities
The Africa region has currently 96 properties inscribed on the World Heritage List, including 53 cultural properties, 38 natural properties and 5 mixed properties. Conservation of UNESCO World Heritage in the Africa region is continuously monitored by the Reactive Monitoring mechanism. There are 16 properties are inscribed on the List in Danger. While working to ensure the conservation of all inscribed properties, the Africa unit is working to develop the Desired state of conservation for the removal (DSOCR) for these properties for their eventual removals from the List in Danger.
As the Africa region represents only 9% of the World Heritage List, the Africa unit is also working closely with partners and the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) to increase the number of sites nominated on the World Heritage List from the Africa region.
Conservation
- UNESCO and Zanzibar to cooperate in rehabilitation of Stone Town of Zanzibar World Heritage property
- Norway supports animal surveillance in Pendjari and W National Parks (Benin)
- Supporting biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods in Lake Malawi National Park (NFIT)
- UNESCO and ALIPH to rehabilitate Mali’s Bandiagara World Heritage site and support conflict-affected communities
- UNESCO grants emergency funds for reconstruction of infrastructure destroyed after floods and landslides in Rwenzori Mountains
- Safeguarding the Endangered Mountain Gorilla during COVID-19 Crisis
- Emergency response to tragic attack in Virunga National Park
Nomination
- Supporting Capacity-building for Nomination Projects and Promotion of World Heritage Sites in East Africa region
- Support to the States Parties of Benin and Togo for the preparation of the nomination dossier of Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba as a trans-boundary site (China funded)
- Finalization of te mapping and update of the management plan for the nomination dossier for Zakouma National Park on the World Heritage List (china funded)
DSOCR
Desired State of conservation for the removal of a property from the List of World Heritage Danger
Capacity Development
© Shutterstock / Abdelrahman Hassanein
In the period of transition toward the new Regional Action Plan to be approved during the 44th extended session of the World Heritage Committee, the Africa Unit of the World Heritage Centre developed a strategic action plan for capacity development in five key areas, namely: (i) Youth & Inclusiveness; (ii) Site Managers & Outreach; (iii) Training and Education Institutions; (iv) Experts and Civil Society; and (v) Institutions and Advocacy. The aim is to anchor the ongoing efforts to implement the 1972 Convention and at the same time to develop favourable conditions for the implementation of the new Regional Action Plan.
Youth
& Inclusiveness
The activities will target the children and youth of Africa for them to better understand World Heritage and the 1972 Convention, and to be more involved in the activities related to the implementation of the Convention. Following the experiences of other regions, WHC-AFR will work very closely under UNESCO’s network of youth in the Education Sector.
Site Managers
& Outreach
The activities will support African site managers to create a strong network for sharing experiences and enhancing peer learning, especially to empower them with tools to reach local communities. There will be an emphasis on outreach in order to help site managers to better engage more local communities and civil society in the conservation and management of African sites.
Training and Education Institution
The activities will support the training and education institutions to develop a strong curriculum and network of education facilities and programmes on conservation and heritage management in Africa. The network of UNESCO chairs in Africa will be capitalised for the benefit of the 1972 Convention.
Experts
and Civil Society
The activities will support and mentor young experts for them to excel and work with the 1972 Convention. A new initiative will be promoted to groom young experts and facilitate intergenerational knowledge-sharing in the region.
Institutions
and Advocacy
The activities will support States Parties in their efforts to empower local institutions to maintain continuity and institutional capacity with regards to the 1972 Convention. In view of an effective implementation of the 1972 Convention, the States Parties and local authorities will be better informed and further supported to capitalise on the resources of the AWHF, Advisory Bodies and other UNESCO partner networks of professionals.
Sustainable Development
© OUR PLACE The World Heritage Collection/ David G. F. Smith / Cape Floral Region Protected Areas (South Africa)
In November 2015, the General Assembly of States Parties to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention adopted, by Resolution 20 GA 13, the Policy Document for the Integration of a Sustainable Development Perspective into the processes of the World Heritage Convention.
Subsequently, the World Heritage Committee by Decision 40 COM 5C welcomed its adoption and reiterated the need to achieve appropriate balance and integration between the protection of the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of World Heritage properties and the pursuit of sustainable development objectives and called upon States Parties to ensure that sustainable development principles are mainstreamed into national processes related to World Heritage, in full respect of the Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage sites.
Climate change and Risk management
Communication and promotion
5 May
African World Heritage Day
Proclaimed by the 38th session of the General Conference of UNESCO (November 2015), African World Heritage Day (5 May) is an opportunity for people around the world, and particularly Africans, to celebrate the Continent’s unique cultural and natural heritage
- [Uniquement en anglais] Supporting biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods in Lake Malawi National Park
- « Patrimoine culturel et développement local. Guide à l’attention des collectivités locales africaines ». Développement d’un programme de formation
- #MyAfricanHeritage
- Africa Nature
- Améliorer la conservation des éléphants dans le complexe du Parc national du W du Bénin
- Appui aux États parties du Bénin et du Togo pour la préparation du dossier de proposition d'inscription du Koutammakou, le pays des Batammariba, comme site transfrontalier
- Ateliers sur les paysages urbains historiques de la côte swahili en Afrique
- Conservation de la biodiversité en zones de conflit armé : Préserver les sites du patrimoine mondial en République démocratique du Congo
- Finalisation du dossier d’inscription du Parc National de Zakouma sur la Liste du patrimoine mondial
- Initiative pour le patrimoine mondial forestier d'Afrique Centrale (CAWHFI)
- La composante CAWHFI financée par la Commission européenne (2016-2020)
- Patrimoine mondial naturel dans le bassin du Congo
- Rapport périodique 1er cycle : Afrique
- Rapport périodique 2e cycle : Afrique (2011)
- Renforcement des différentes parties du dossier de proposition d’inscription du paysage culturel de Diy Gid Biy des Monts Mandara (extension du Paysage culturel de Sukur) sur la liste du patrimoine mondial
- Renforcer la capacité de mise en œuvre de la Convention de 1972 sur les sites naturels du patrimoine mondial
- Sécuriser le parc national du Manovo-Gounda St. Floris
- Sécuriser le parc national du Manovo-Gounda St. Floris
- Soutien au deuxième cycle des Rapports périodiques pour l’Afrique
- Six jeunes finalistes du Concours de la Journée du patrimoine mondial africain en Afrique de l'Est 16 juin 2021
- Célébrations des arts, de la culture et du patrimoine pour la Journée du patrimoine mondial africain 6 mai 2021
- Le 5 mai est la Journée africaine du patrimoine mondial 5 mai 2021
- L'UNESCO soutient le plan de gestion des forts et châteaux du Ghana 27 janv. 2021
- Le Sultanat d'Oman soutient le renforcement des capacités pour la nomination et la promotion des sites du patrimoine mondial dans cinq pays d'Afrique de l'Est 26 janv. 2021
- L'UNESCO et Zanzibar œuvrent conjointement à la réhabilitation de la ville de pierre de Zanzibar, site du patrimoine mondial 14 janv. 2021
- L’UNESCO condamne la nouvelle attaque meurtrière au Parc national des Virunga, en République démocratique du Congo 11 janv. 2021
- [Uniquement en anglais] Early notification of collapse of House of Wonders in Zanzibar 25 déc. 2020
- [Uniquement en anglais] UNESCO vigilant on potential impacts of oil exploration in Namibia and Botswana on World Heritage properties 21 déc. 2020
- Formation à la lutte contre les incendies sur le site du patrimoine mondial des tombes de Kasubi en Ouganda 14 déc. 2020
- Webinaire : « Arts, culture et patrimoine : Leviers pour construire l'Afrique que nous voulons » 5 mai 2021-5 mai 2021
- Rapport périodique en Afrique: atelier en ligne sur l'analyse des données et synthèse du rapport 28 oct. 2020-30 oct. 2020
- Forum UNESCO-Afrique-Chine sur le renforcement des capacités et la coopération pour le patrimoine mondial 3 juin 2019-4 juin 2019
- Journée du patrimoine mondial africain 5 mai 2018
- La sauvegarde du patrimoine mondial africain, moteur de développement durable 31 mai 2016-3 juin 2016
- Exposition - Le patrimoine mondial africain : un horizon pour le développement 18 mai 2016-14 juin 2016
- [Uniquement en anglais] World Heritage Youth Forum (2016) Africa 28 avr. 2016-4 mai 2016
- Culture et patrimoine en danger : l'éducation comme outil de résistance 15 sept. 2015-15 sept. 2015
- 3e édition du séminaire sur le patrimoine en Afrique, sur le thème « Patrimoines en Danger » 8 oct. 2013-8 oct. 2013
- Politiques culturelles africaines : coopération, modèles et stratégies 26 juin 2013-27 juin 2013