Decision - 23COM XV.1-3 - Requests for International Assistance

XV.1 The Bureau met during the twenty-third session of the Committee after the budget for Technical Assistance of year 2000 under Chapter III was approved, to take decisions or recommend decisions to the Committee concerning international assistance requests.

XV.2 The attention of the Committee and Bureau was drawn to the documents WHC-99/CONF.209/6, WHC-99/CONF.209/19 and WHC-99/CONF.209/INF.10 concerning International Assistance Requests. The Secretariat pointed out the difficulties it faced in preparing the working document, due to the ever increasing number of international assistance requests submitted, in particular those received after the prescribed deadline of 1 September 1999 indicated in paragraph 112 of the Operational Guidelines. The Secretariat had counted a total of 55 international assistance requests which were considered by the World Heritage Centre Regional Desks to have sufficient information for examination and decision by the Committee, Bureau or Chairperson, including one submitted on 2 December 1999. However, the Secretariat stated that there were numerous other requests which are pending due to insufficient information or on-going consultation with the concerned States Parties.

XV.3 The Secretariat and the advisory bodies underscored the very difficult task of processing and evaluating requests for presentation to the Committee and Bureau, when requests were prepared and submitted at the very last minute. ICCROM, drawing the attention of the Committee to the fact that no training requests transmitted to ICCROM for evaluation had been received before the prescribed deadline, underlined the importance of adequate evaluation for ensuring a wide sharing of benefits. The Delegate of Belgium, appreciating the increasing workload and time constraints faced by the Committee, Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre, stressed the importance of having sufficient time to the study the detailed working documents. In order to allow sufficient time for the Secretariat, Advisory Bodies, and Committee to adequately examine individual requests, and in view of the limited funds available under the World Heritage Fund technical assistance budget, the Committee adopted the following:

"The Committee urged States Parties to respect the deadline for submission of international assistance requests, as indicated in paragraph 112 of the Operational Guidelines, to ensure that the Secretariat, Advisory Bodies, and Committee have adequate time to evaluate and examine requests. Taking note of the growing number of international requests submitted by States Parties and the increasing amounts being requested, the Committee encouraged States Parties, to the extent possible, to plan activities well in advance and in close co-operation with the Advisory Bodies and the Secretariat, in order to plan projects which have a "catalytic effect" and are likely to generate contributions from other sources than the World Heritage Fund, per paragraph 113 of the Operational Guidelines."