5.4

Identifying needs and allocating resources

KEY POINTS
  • Different types of resources are needed for the management system to operate and management planning can identify these needs and make effective use of existing resources by allocating them to priority actions.
  • Management planning processes can help managers prioritize actions based on available funding and highlight where additional requirements are needed.
  • Distinguishing between resources needed for ordinary, recurring management activities and for specific management actions is essential to set out the needs.
  • Adequate numbers of people need to be made available to protect and manage a heritage place. These human resources need to be equipped with the right competencies for the increasingly complex task of World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   management, together with the understanding of what capacities need to be strengthened and developed.
  • Material and technological resources are fundamental to enable heritage professionals to do their jobs well. In particular, information management is critical for supporting planning, decision-making and monitoring processes.
  • When developing the management plan, an estimation of implementation costs is needed and, in particular, detailed action plans need to be linked to annual budgeting processes to ensure they can be realistically implemented.
  • Diversifying and combining different sources of funding is key for long-term financial sustainability.
5.4.1
What resources are used to manage a heritage place?

Management planning can help make sensible use of existing resources by allocating them to priority actions to tackle pressing management challenges. The management plan should be realistic in identifying what can be achieved, although it can be useful to highlight where additional resources are required. The level and stability of resources available will significantly influence the ability to manage the heritage place effectively. However, not all problems arise from a lack of sufficient resources but often from how they are allocated in relation to management needs or the timing or quality of those resources.

Different types of resources (sometimes also called inputs) are needed for the management system to operate: human capacity; financial resources; and material and technological resources (e.g. facilities, equipment and information systems). Managers need to carefully identify the overall resource needs to set out plans to secure them. While the resources needed may not always be available, this does not justify inaction and what is crucial for ensuring maintenance of the OUV and heritage values should be prioritized in finding realistically appropriate management measures. These could include actions to strengthen cooperation and harness synergies among actors to increase available resources and multiply their effectiveness.

5.4.2
Human capacity

When considering the human capacity available for the protection and management of a heritage place, numbers of staff are often counted. This should be undertaken on the basis of the amount and type of work required and whether the human resources available are equipped with the right competencies for the tasks they are to perform. Determining whether staff have the necessary competencies is more difficult and involves a degree of professional judgement.

World Heritage management is becoming increasingly complex, which means that managers need to be sufficiently acquainted with larger range of topics and new challenges such as biodiversity conservation, community engagement, urban planning, material conservation, communication and interpretation, finance and administration, monitoring and evaluation, budgeting, personnel management and knowledge about the World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. in general. The necessary skillsets
continue to grow as management challenges expand – from dealing with the impacts of climate change to coordinating resource use among multiple managers and taking appropriate, culturally respectful consultation and participatory approaches, and managers have to be able to reach out to find the right expertise to address these challenges.

Capacity-building programmes are essential across a management team. Good training should be led by the identification of needs which includes an understanding of the profile of the person being trained and their levels of literacy and knowledge as well as their ability to apply learning at site level, and the identifying of staff opportunities and gaps. This can involve consideration of staff availability, equipment and facility needs, and budgetary resources. It is also worth distinguishing between training, i.e. teaching people how to do specific tasks, and capacity development or building, i.e. encouraging them to develop their competencies. Both training and other types of development should go hand in hand, encompassing acquisition of new knowledge and skills, professional judgement and critical thinking.

5.4.3
Financial resources

Financial planning is the process of defining costs and identifying ways to meet them. Management planning processes can help managers prioritize actions based on available funding and highlight where additional requirements are needed. Indeed, managers need financial stability in order to plan adequately and it becomes more challenging if there is no certainty about how much future funding will be available.

Government budget allocations are often the main source of funding for heritage places, particularly when they are under public ownership and management. However, in many countries, public funding for heritage has decreased, requiring managers to look for other funding sources. Other traditional funding mechanisms that support the conservation and management of World Heritage properties include project funding from bilateral and multilateral aid, tourism, contributions from NGOs and charitable foundations.

The following points can help towards achieving greater financial sustainability:

  • Combining different sources of funding is a key element of long-term financial sustainability. This is because some sources of funding can be insecure or subject to fluctuations and so having diverse sources can minimize these risks and fluctuations.
  • Financial administration needs to be improved to ensure that funding is allocated and spent in a way that supports identified needs and the achievement of desired outcomes included in the management plan. In many cases, funding is skewed towards recurrent costs, especially staffing, while critical operational needs remain underfunded. Management effectiveness assessments part 6 can help in developing an understanding of the adequacy of the resources available and indirectly
  • may be useful in developing business plans if necessary, that can embed the heritage management objectives within the planning process of the business plan.
  • Financial planning has traditionally focused on meeting direct operational and management costs – such as funding salaries, infrastructure, equipment and maintenance required to establish and run a World Heritage property A cultural, natural or mixed heritage place inscribed on the World Heritage List and therefore considered to be of OUV for humanity. The responsibility for nominating a property to the World Heritage List falls upon the State(s) Party(ies) where it is located. The World Heritage Committee decides whether a property should be inscribed on the World Heritage List, taking into account the technical recommendations of the Advisory Bodies following rigorous evaluation processes.
    When used as a general term, World Heritage refers to all the natural, cultural and mixed properties inscribed on the World Heritage List.         . However, indirect and opportunity costs are often substantial and can be incurred by a wide range of groups, including local communities and resource users, as well as public and private enterprises in a variety of other sectors. Making World Heritage management truly sustainable economically would imply that all of these indirect and opportunity costs are accounted for and directed towards contributing to the management objectives.
  • The programme of actions included within the management plan needs to include costed estimates for their implementation. This can be a useful way of assessing if the plan is realistic. Such an analysis of costs can suggest solutions, such as adjusting the timescales for implementation, or equally it can make the case for greater investment.
  • Financial decision-making always needs transparency and the effective involvement of all managers.
  • The full range of costs needs to be considered comprehensively, ensuring that those who bear the costs associated with the World Heritage property A cultural, natural or mixed heritage place inscribed on the World Heritage List and therefore considered to be of OUV for humanity. The responsibility for nominating a property to the World Heritage List falls upon the State(s) Party(ies) where it is located. The World Heritage Committee decides whether a property should be inscribed on the World Heritage List, taking into account the technical recommendations of the Advisory Bodies following rigorous evaluation processes.
    When used as a general term, World Heritage refers to all the natural, cultural and mixed properties inscribed on the World Heritage List.         are recognized and that those who benefit from the heritage place make a fair contribution to its maintenance.
5.4.4
Material and technological resources

Material and technological resources – which include infrastructure, facilities, equipment and information systems – can easily be overlooked but are fundamental to enable heritage professionals to do their jobs well. The revolution in information technologies in the past decades has had profound effects on the management of heritage places; information management has become a critical tool to support planning, decision-making processes and monitoring and evaluation processes.

Adequate monitoring of management actions and the conservation status of the heritage place may need specific instruments and equipment. For example, if a property is facing continuous soil erosion and certain management actions have been implemented to prevent it, there needs to be adequate equipment and technical resources to be able to measure the state of erosion, and also monitor the effectiveness of the actions taken. If a heritage place is continuously pressured by illegal activities, a security system including cameras or alarm systems may need to be installed that can track such activities. Having an appropriate data management system is fundamental in documenting the conservation status of the heritage place itself, but also to keep track of the progress of implementation. The information needs to be kept in an integrated database that is updated continuously and accessible by all managers. Such a database system can also help in maintaining transparency of information to relevant actors and form the basis of participatory approaches.

Having a geographic information system (GIS) established to document the property and buffer zone boundaries, overlaid with other designations or land-use regulations that may apply to different components of the property, can also be extremely useful when determining the adequacy of different development projects or interventions to the heritage place. Such GIS maps can also be used actively in combination with meteorological and climate datasets and risk maps which can facilitate the recording of different factors affecting the property.

Technology is developing rapidly and it is important to have clear criteria for utilizing a specific type of technology that is aligned with the management objectives of the heritage place. This selection of specific technological tools needs to be made on the basis of how useful they can be over the long-term to ensure information that is kept up to date continuously and affordably.

5.4.5
Identifying resource needs during management planning processes

Resource needs can fluctuate over time, depending on the state of conservation of the heritage place and the factors affecting it. A heritage place which is not significantly affected by factors with negative impacts can operate with a certain level of resources; however, if negative impacts increase, more resources will be needed. As mentioned before, when developing the management plan, an estimation of the costs of implementing the desired outcomes and associated management actions is needed. This must take into account the full range of resources, namely:

  • regular institutional running costs;
  • staff and other human capacity;
  • material and technological resources;
  • regular maintenance works; and
  • one-off actions.

Without this, there is a risk of running into resource shortfalls, preventing the plan’s full implementation. Consequently, the planning effort is diminished and the management plan may lose credibility as an instrument to guide management. When the financial situation is challenging, it is best that the management plan distinguishes between a) actions that have the highest priority and for which secured funding and human capacity exists and b) actions that can only be implemented if additional resources are secured. The latter can then be used as a basis for fundraising initiatives.

The degree of detail about estimated costs depends significantly on the duration of the management plan. It is difficult to predict costs accurately more than a few years in advance. For a management plan covering a 5-10-year timeframe, it is likely that adjustments to the overall estimations will be required due to changes in factors affecting the property, in the social, economic, cultural and environmental context and progress made in implementing the plan. In such cases, the management plan should be complemented with more detailed work plans linked to annual budgeting processes for use by the managers responsible for the implementation of the plan.

Box 5.2 International Assistance (IA)

The World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. was conceived and adopted as a framework for establishing international cooperation to support States Parties The countries which have adhered to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage ( World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. ) (UNESCO, 1972). in identifying, protecting and conserving heritage located in their territories (Article 7 of the Convention).

In this context, the Convention includes provisions for International Assistance (IA) to States Parties The countries which have adhered to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage ( World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. ) (UNESCO, 1972). for the protection, conservation, presentation, and rehabilitation of cultural or natural properties inscribed or potentially suitable for inclusion on the World Heritage List. IA can be provided in various forms: assistance in the nomination process, guidance, technical cooperation, consultation with experts, dispatch of advisory monitoring missions, or financial support. IA is intended to supplement national
efforts for conserving and managing World Heritage and Tentative List properties when adequate resources cannot be secured at the national level.

States Parties The countries which have adhered to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage ( World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. ) (UNESCO, 1972). are encouraged to engage in dialogue and consultation with the World Heritage Centre The UNESCO World Heritage Centre is a technical administrative body within UNESCO, established in 1992 and appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO. It acts as the Secretariat of the World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. , is the focal point and coordinator within UNESCO for all matters related to World Heritage, and ensures the day-to-day management of the Convention. and the Advisory Bodies The three international organizations which are named in the World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. to advise the World Heritage Committee in its deliberations are ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property), ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

The Advisory Bodies have the following functions: Advise on the implementation of the World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. in the field of their expertise Provide expert advice on how to conserve and manage properties included on the World Heritage List Assist the World Heritage Centre The UNESCO World Heritage Centre is a technical administrative body within UNESCO, established in 1992 and appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO. It acts as the Secretariat of the World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. , is the focal point and coordinator within UNESCO for all matters related to World Heritage, and ensures the day-to-day management of the Convention. in preparing the Committee’s documentation, the agendas of its meetings and in implementing the Committee’s decisions Assist with the development and implementation of the Global Strategy for a Representative, Balanced and Credible World Heritage List, the World Heritage Capacity Building Strategy, Periodic Reporting, and the strengthening of the effective use of the World Heritage Fund Monitor the state of conservation of World Heritage properties (including through Reactive Monitoring missions at the request of the Committee and Advisory missions at the invitation of the States Parties The countries which have adhered to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage ( World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. ) (UNESCO, 1972). ) Review requests for International Assistance Attend meetings of the World Heritage Committee and the Bureau in an advisory capacity. The Advisory Bodies are involved in the review of proposed actions and and any related impact assessments when they are requested by the World Heritage Committee. to plan and develop the IA request. IA requests are funded through the World Heritage Fund. It consists of compulsory and voluntary contributions made by States Parties The countries which have adhered to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage ( World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. ) (UNESCO, 1972). to the Convention and any other resources authorized by the Fund’s regulations (Article 15). The Operational Guidelines also set out the parameters for the eligibility and prioritization of IA requests. For instance, priorities are determined on the basis of the urgency of the necessary work and the resources available to the relevant State Party to safeguard the property through its own means.

In line with the Convention’s provisions, maximum priority is accorded to emergency assistance for properties inscribed on the World Heritage List in Danger, followed by conservation and management – including training, research promotion and education – and then by preparatory assistance. Priorities can be further determined based on the Committee’s decisions, UNESCO strategic regional programmes and follow-up to Periodic Reporting.

In granting IA from the World Heritage Fund, the World Heritage Committee also considers a range of parameters, which are detailed in the Operational Guidelines. The format for IA provides a helpful overview of parameters, funding ceilings, procedures, and deadlines for any State Party willing to submit an IA request. A careful reading of the format for IA requests and the assessment criteria assists in preparing robust and sufficiently detailed requests that allow for prompt assessment. Consulting the World Heritage Centre The UNESCO World Heritage Centre is a technical administrative body within UNESCO, established in 1992 and appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO. It acts as the Secretariat of the World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. , is the focal point and coordinator within UNESCO for all matters related to World Heritage, and ensures the day-to-day management of the Convention. and the relevant Advisory Bodies The three international organizations which are named in the World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. to advise the World Heritage Committee in its deliberations are ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property), ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

The Advisory Bodies have the following functions: Advise on the implementation of the World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. in the field of their expertise Provide expert advice on how to conserve and manage properties included on the World Heritage List Assist the World Heritage Centre The UNESCO World Heritage Centre is a technical administrative body within UNESCO, established in 1992 and appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO. It acts as the Secretariat of the World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. , is the focal point and coordinator within UNESCO for all matters related to World Heritage, and ensures the day-to-day management of the Convention. in preparing the Committee’s documentation, the agendas of its meetings and in implementing the Committee’s decisions Assist with the development and implementation of the Global Strategy for a Representative, Balanced and Credible World Heritage List, the World Heritage Capacity Building Strategy, Periodic Reporting, and the strengthening of the effective use of the World Heritage Fund Monitor the state of conservation of World Heritage properties (including through Reactive Monitoring missions at the request of the Committee and Advisory missions at the invitation of the States Parties The countries which have adhered to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage ( World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. ) (UNESCO, 1972). ) Review requests for International Assistance Attend meetings of the World Heritage Committee and the Bureau in an advisory capacity. The Advisory Bodies are involved in the review of proposed actions and and any related impact assessments when they are requested by the World Heritage Committee. in advance of and during the preparation of the requests can help ensure a smooth approval process.

A chart illustrating the phases of the assessment process and timeframes is presented in Annex 9 of the Operational Guidelines. For example, for Preparatory and Conservation and Management IA requests exceeding the US$5,000 budget ceiling, the deadline for submission is 31 October.

Documenting the implementation of the project, who has been involved and its achieved outcomes, is essential for the monitoring and evaluation process of the IA, which is to be carried out within three months from the completion of the activities.

Some key considerations for drafting IA requests:

  • Priority is given to requests for activities related to World Heritage Committee’s decisions on conservation and management.
  • Priority is given to requests where synergies with other resources are demonstrated. For instance, if the State Party has financial or in-kind resources available from the state or local authority’s budget or other sources of funding (e.g. donors), that will be used for the same proposal for which the IA request is made, it should be indicated in the budget breakdown.
  • Consistency between objectives and proposed activities and between envisaged activities and budget lines is essential to avoid requests for clarification and approval delays.
  • The overall timeframe should be consistent with the implementation calendar and realistic about the possibility of achieving all objectives in the envisaged implementation period.
  • The role, tasks and contributions of each actor expected to be involved in the proposed activities should be clearly defined.
  • Where IA requests were previously funded on the same property and with similar or related objectives, a summary of the results achieved through the previous IA will assist in assessing the new request and its synergies with previously received IA.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
  • Has an adequate and realistic assessment been undertaken of the financial implications of the programme of actions within the management plan?
  • Are the necessary financial resources, human capacity and technical resources available, or can they be acquired, to guarantee the effective implementation of planned actions?
  • Are financial resources being allocated according to identified management priorities and in response to those critical factors impacting the attributes of the property?
  • Have resourcing contingency measures been considered to account for unforeseen problems or emerging issues?
  • Can cooperative agreements or partnerships be developed with external expertise and support to ensure the effective implementation of planned actions?
  • Are staff numbers adequate to effectively manage the World Heritage property A cultural, natural or mixed heritage place inscribed on the World Heritage List and therefore considered to be of OUV for humanity. The responsibility for nominating a property to the World Heritage List falls upon the State(s) Party(ies) where it is located. The World Heritage Committee decides whether a property should be inscribed on the World Heritage List, taking into account the technical recommendations of the Advisory Bodies following rigorous evaluation processes.
    When used as a general term, World Heritage refers to all the natural, cultural and mixed properties inscribed on the World Heritage List.         and any existing buffer zone(s)? If not, what are the main gaps and what are the reasons for those gaps? How can identified gaps be addressed?
  • Are the competencies of the staff appropriate in relation to the values of the property? Do staff have the required competencies to fulfil their roles and responsibilities? Are those competencies aligned with current and future management demands? If not, what types of capacity-building are required?
  • Are infrastructure and facilities (e.g. roads/access, fences, offices, personnel accommodation) adequate for the needs of the property?
  • Is the necessary equipment available to staff to adequately carry out their duties (e.g. vehicles, computers, software, phones, desks, drones, sensors, etc.)?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Table of contents