Transboundary and transnational cooperation is at the very heart of the Convention
Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, as it reflects
the core principle of shared responsibility, international solidarity and co-operation
expressed in its Articles 4 and 6. It is an enriching experience of interculturalism
and dialogue between people, and offers a unique opportunity to exchange and find
effective and sustainable solutions for emerging issues such as climate change,
migration, integration, conflict and many others. Home to the earliest human civilizations
and some of the most spectacular natural places on Earth, Africa has fully
embraced the World Heritage concept and is implementing some of the best practices
when it comes to cross-border collaboration.
I am therefore extremely proud to present this first publication of Managing
Transnational UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa. Building on the outcomes
of several initiatives under the World Heritage Convention, such as the first regional
meeting on transboundary cooperation for the promotion of effective management
of World Heritage sites in Africa, held in 2019 in the city of Man (Côte d'Ivoire),
and the dialogue during the Third Cycle of Periodic Reporting in the Africa region
2020-2021, this publication brings together a series of articles from specialists in
the management of African heritage, reflecting the interdisciplinary and forwardlooking
approaches that have dominated research and conservation methodologies
for transboundary management in Africa in recent decades.
By reading the articles of this publication, carefully selected by a technical and
scientific committee, you will understand why transnational management of properties
in Africa has emerged as a means to provide a cross-cutting and sustainable
response to contemporary issues related to heritage and beyond. You will also learn
about the variety of challenges and opportunities related to the management of these
sites and different best practices that have been implemented.
I would also like to recall the important statement that is the Ngorongoro
Declaration, adopted at the Arusha Conference in Tanzania in 2016, which stresses
the importance of preserving African heritage as a driver for sustainable development.
The Declaration considers African heritage as critically important in order to
achieve regional socio-economic benefits, environmental protection, social cohesion and peace. It is also worthwhile to highlight that this work is in line with
the objectives of the African Union's Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, addressing
the challenges of safeguarding UNESCO World Heritage in Africa in the context of
the region's rapid development, and advocating for the incorporation of regional
strategies in the pursuit of solutions, which will necessarily lead to an Africa with a
strong cultural identity, a common heritage and shared values. In this regard, I
would like to extend my sincere appreciation and thanks to all the participating site
managers, experts, institutions and government representatives for their commitment
and dedication to the protection of African heritage for future generations.
Last, but not least, I am particularly thankful to the government of the Netherlands
