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Government of France

Sectors
Government NGO Research Institution Public Other Construction, property, architecture, planning Tourism & Hospitality Government agency University
Country
France
Priorities
Art and Culture Built / Monumental Heritage Community Development Conflict Resolution Education and Youth Environmental Conservation Immaterial Heritage (oral traditions) Other

Principles of the agreement

Signed in 1997, the Co-operation Agreement between UNESCO and the Government of France for the protection and enhancement of the monumental, urban and natural heritage was established to enhance understanding of cultural and natural heritage, to encourage the integration of the preservation of heritage in urban and territorial development projects, and to ensure the inclusion of a social element to heritage conservation. The France - UNESCO Co-operation Agreement between France and UNESCO, was the first bilateral agreement with UNESCO on heritage issues.

A working tool

The France UNESCO Co-operation Agreement was designed to support UNESCO's actions to protect and enhance cultural and natural heritage through technical and financial aid that draws on France's acknowledged expertise in heritage conservation. The knowledge and skills in France were developed over many years of experience and specialized educational and training programmes. Consequently France can put the skills of a wide variety of professionals and experts - including researchers, historians, archaeologists, architects, curators, urban planners, landscape architects, restoration professionals, legal experts and economists, local authorities, universities, NGOs, - at UNESCO's disposal, thus contributing to its fieldwork in the countries that request its assistance.

Lever Effect

Over the last 15 years approximately 100 projects have been undertaken in 50 countries throughout the world. With a budget of approximately 3.7 million euros UNESCO has been able to mobilize more than 18 million euros in the framework of the France-UNESCO Co-operation agreement.

For numerous projects, the France-UNESCO cooperation agreement provided minimal financial input but essentially a qualitative one, as this seed money enabled the mobilization of important donors such as the French Development Agency, European Union and the World Bank.

  • Contribute to the World Heritage Global Strategy while following the strategic objectives of the World Heritage Committee (5 C's) to develop a more representative and balanced World Heritage List, and to promote UNESCO's strategy towards culture and development and its commitment towards the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Serve as a leverage for capacity building, focusing on local communities and promote long-term support and implement projects focusing on sustainable economic and social development
  • Provide impetus for developing city to city and site to site partnerships and promote decentralized co-operation for heritage protection involving regional or local French authorities, and help foster international aid and co-operation programmes.

Partners Links 

www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr 
www.diplomatie.gouv.fr
www.culture.gouv.fr
www.afd.fr/home

Our Activities

Technical Assistance and support to state parties

Source: France-UNESCO Cooperation Agreement (CFU)

98
Activities
48
States Parties
Global
Africa
Angola
Benin
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Comoros
Congo
Côte d'Ivoire
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ethiopia
Gambia
Lesotho
Madagascar
Mali
Mozambique
Niger
Senegal
South Africa
Togo
Arab States
Algeria
Mauritania
Morocco
Syrian Arab Republic
Asia and the Pacific
Cambodia
China
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
India
Japan
Kyrgyzstan
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Pakistan
Thailand
Viet Nam
Europe and North America
Albania
Armenia
Latvia
Russian Federation
Türkiye
Latin America and the Caribbean
Argentina
Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
Chile
Colombia
El Salvador
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Capacity Building
Communication
Communities
Conservation
Credibility
Partnerships / Activities 98
30th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention Virtual Congress
30th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention. Urbino workshop (Italy) on “Partnerships for World Heritage cities – Culture as a vector for sustainable urban development”
Assistance to the project for the creation of a global network of World Heritage forests. Seminar in Nancy, France
Booklet, 10th Anniversary of the France-UNESCO Cooperation Agreement
Capacity building “Cultural heritage and local development”, 18-21 November 2008, Porto Novo, Benin
Case Studies on the Conservation and Management of Historic Cities
Commemoration of ten years of international co-operation at Angkor, Cambodia
Conservation and enhancement of the historic city of Bejaïa, Algeria
Conservation and preservation of the city of Constantine, Algeria
Durban Meeting (South Africa) on transboundary properties in Africa
Emergency assistance to the Okapi Wildlife Reserve of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Global Strategy: Support to agro-pastoral cultural landscapes
Global Strategy: Workshop on the identification of archaeological sites in the Caribbean, and on major risks management
Handbook on Cultural Heritage and Local Development for African Local Governments
Heritage and poverty alleviation (Senegal, Benin, Lao People's Democratic Republic, China, Guyana)
International Conference in Istanbul (Turkey) on the resistance of historic buildings to earthquakes
Marine heritage: Support to the Central Pacific project and support to the World Heritage marine programme
Meetings in Paris (France) for the Directors of cultural heritage of Francophone Sub-Saharan countries
Preparation and publication: “Historic atlas of Kyoto”, Japan
Preparatory assistance and establishment of a management plan for the Historic Centre of Agadez, Niger
Preparatory assistance and feasibility study for the inscription of Varanasi, India
Preparatory assistance and technical support for the inscription, conservation and management of the Île de Saint-Louis, Senegal
Preparatory assistance for an extension to the site of Tiya, Ethiopia
Preparatory assistance for inscription of the Rainforests of the Atsinanana, Madagascar
Preparatory assistance for inscription of the Royal Domain of Mbé cultural landscape, Congo
Preparatory assistance for inscription of the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga
Preparatory assistance for the Slave Route, Benin
Preparatory assistance for the identification of heritage in Ehotilé Islands National Park, Côte d’Ivoire
Preparatory assistance for the inscription and protection of the Kingdom of Wu (The Six Canal Towns of the Lower Yangtze River) and support for the establishment of a GIS at the University of Tongi, China
Preparatory assistance for the inscription of Issyk Kul warm-water lake, Kyrgyzstan
Preparatory assistance for the inscription of Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba, Togo
Preparatory assistance for the inscription of Stone Circles of Senegambia
Preparatory assistance for the inscription of The forest and the residential encampments of the Aka Pygmies of the Central African Republic
Preparatory assistance for the inscription of the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria, Syrian Arab Republic
Preparatory assistance for the inscription of the Southern Oasis of Morocco
Preparatory assistance for the inscription of the Temple of Preah Vihear, Cambodia
Preparatory assistance for the inscription of the property and support for the management of the Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works in Chile
Preparatory assistance for the nomination of the architectural work of Le Corbusier (Argentina, Belgium, France, Germany, India, Japan, Switzerland)
Preparatory assistance for the updating of the national inventory of cultural heritage of Cameroon
Private property management in historic city centres of European countries in transition
Restauration and revitalisation of the Complex of Hué Monuments and historical town, Viet Nam
Rivers and Heritage
Rivers and Heritage: Niger-Loire, Governance and Culture project. Development of heritage and support for management of land and water resources, Mali
Safeguarding and development of the M'Zab Valley and its five fortified ksour (El Atteuf, Bou Noura, Beni Isguen, Melika and Ghardaïa), Algeria
Seminar at the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans (France) on Tourism and World Heritage Sites
Seminar in Cinque Terre (Italy) on cultural landscapes
Seminar in Niamey (Niger) on Global Strategy in West Africa
Seminar on raising awareness on Global Strategy in the South West islands of the Indian Ocean and Madagascar
Seminar on the cultural heritage inventories of Maghreb
Strategy for the preservation of rock art sites in Angola
Sub-regional seminar in Mauritius on awareness raising and presentation of Tentative Lists for the Indian Ocean islands
Support for African local governments in the field of heritage (EU-AIMF project)
Support for conservation and management of the Historic Town of Grand Bassam, Côte d’Ivoire
Support for international training in France for World Heritage site managers. Support to the Pôle international francophone (PIF)
Support for production of a documentary film on earthen architecture
Support for the Second Cycle of the Periodic Reporting for Africa
Support for the World Heritage Earthen Architecture Programme (WHEAP)
Support for the annual seminar of the UNESCO Chair for "Culture, Tourism and Development"
Support for the conservation and management of Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape, Lao People's Democratic Republic
Support for the conservation of the Complex of Koguryo Tombs in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Support for the creation of the Indian Heritage Cities Network (IHCN)
Support for the establishment of an on-line State of Conservation Information System (SOC) database on the state of conservation reports for World Heritage Properties
Support for the establishment of the national inventory of cultural heritage of Senegal
Support for the identification, safeguarding and protection of heritage in Comoros
Support for the restoration of the Christ the Saviour Church in Prizren, Kosovo (References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999))
Support research into ancient mosaics of the Ma’arat an-Noman Museum, Syrian Arab Republic
Support to the International seminar on the Rehabilitation of Historic Centres of Latin American Cities (SIRCHAL) Programme
Support to the School of African Heritage (EPA), Porto Novo, Benin
Support to the UNESCO Chair in management of Cultural Heritage, Manizales branch, National University of Colombia, Colombia
Support to the thematic programme for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), support to the Seychelles seminar
Technical Assistance for the protection and development of Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou, Morocco
Technical assistance for the conservation of the Group of Monuments at Hampi, India
Technical assistance for the creation of a museum on the archaeological and mining site of the City of Potosí, Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
Technical assistance for the management of iSimangaliso Wetland Park (South Africa) and Maloti-Drakensberg Park (Lesotho)
Technical assistance for the management of the Archaeological Site of Zeugma and its surroundings, Gaziantep, Turkey
Technical assistance for the management of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways, the Mountain Railways of India
Technical assistance for the management of the Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastra, Albania
Technical assistance for the management of the Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site, El Salvador
Technical assistance for the preparation and establishment of a management plan for Coro and its Port, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Technical assistance for the restoration of Saint Basil's Basilica, Moscow, Russian Federation
Technical assistance for the safeguarding, management and development of the Historic Centre of Riga, Latvia
Technical assistance for the valorisation of the Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore, Pakistan
Technical assistance for the valorisation of the Villa Ocampo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Technical assistance for urban management and rehabilitation of the Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata, Mauritania
Technical assistance to the Shirak Museum, Armenia
Technical assistance to update the national inventory of cultural heritage of Ethiopia
Technical cooperation for the enhancement, development and protection of the Town of Luang Prabang, Lao People's Democratic Republic
Technical support for the management, enhancement and development of the Historic Areas of Istanbul, Turkey
The Next 50 - 50th anniversary of World Heritage
Training workshops on new cultural heritage management techniques for Andean countries (Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of))
Urban conservation and management of historic centres. Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape
Urban heritage and local development in Africa: participation in the Africities Summits
Workshop for heritage in Tlemcen, Algeria
Workshop on urban conservation, Chandigarh, India
Workshop on urban development, sustainable development and tourism investment in the North district of Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Workshop “Rivers and Heritage”, 2 November 2009, French Senate in Paris, France
“Humanize Bangkok” project, Thailand
“Public works and heritage”. International seminar in Paris, (France) on bridges
News 27
Training Workshop on Strengthening World Heritage Site Management Planning in Egypt and for the ‘Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis’ in particular.
8 January 2024
[in French only] Formation internationale "Construire ensemble l'avenir des sites patrimoniaux,élaborer et mettre en œuvre une gestion durable", 5ème édition, 29 juin - 10 juillet 2015
18 June 2015
Inventory and cultural mapping of Sultanate’s architectural and urban heritage
14 April 2015
Another Fire at the Royal Palaces of Abomey World Heritage site in Benin
18 January 2015
French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) provides expertise to UNESCO in the framework of the France-UNESCO Cooperation Agreement
14 January 2015
e-patrimoines: a new e-learning training program launched by the French Ministry of culture and communication
26 November 2014
Compliance Management Workshop great success
17 November 2014
2014 State of conservation reports now available online
20 May 2014
The Loire Valley: view from the train
15 April 2014
New database : State of Conservation of World Heritage properties
16 November 2013
Managing Marine World Heritage: Our Crown Jewels of the Ocean
17 October 2013
Workshop on management and valorization of paleo-metallurgical sites
15 July 2013
"Rivers and heritage" UNESCO Chair created
15 July 2013
Special issue of SPANDREL on the Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape, Journal of School of Planning and Architecture of Bhopal, India
2 April 2013
[in French only] Lettre d'information de la Convention France-UNESCO N°19
2 August 2011
[in French only] Newsletter N° 18 de la Convention France UNESCO
11 March 2011
[in French only] Newsletter N° 17 de la Convention France UNESCO
9 December 2010
[in French only] Newsletter N°16 de la Convention France UNESCO
1 September 2010
[in French only] Newsletter N°14 de la Convention France-UNESCO
1 February 2010
10th Anniversary of the France-UNESCO Convention
17 August 2009
[in French only] Newsletter n° 12 de la Convention France-UNESCO
9 February 2009
[in French only] Newsletter n° 10 de la Convention France-UNESCO
8 August 2008
[in French only] Newsletter n° 9 de la Convention France-UNESCO
8 April 2008
[in French only] Newsletter n° 8 de la Convention France-UNESCO
4 January 2008
[in French only] Newsletter n° 7 de la Convention France-UNESCO
1 October 2007
[in French only] Newsletter n° 6 de la Convention France-UNESCO
5 July 2007
[in French only] Newsletter n° 5 de la Convention France-UNESCO
5 March 2007
Events 21
[in French only] Formation internationale "Construire ensemble l'avenir des sites patrimoniaux, élaborer et mettre en œuvre une gestion durable", 5ème édition, 29 juin - 10 juillet 2015
29 Jun 2015 - 10 Jul 2015
Historic Town of Grand Bassam, Côte d'Ivoire, launches tree planting initiative on 6 December
6 December 2014
World Heritage Marine Programme celebrates a decade of conservation success
14 November 2014
Special presenation at the School of Chaillot: Salma Samar Damluji
4 Mar 2014 - 4 Mar 2014
Seminar on urban planning systems, a regulatory tool for the protection and management of World Heritage sites and cultural landscapes
22 Jan 2014 - 22 Jan 2014
Val de Loire World Heritage (France) information and one-day workshop on Economy, Heritage and Landscape
12 Dec 2013 - 12 Dec 2013
Seminar on "Culture, Tourism and Development”
22 Oct 2013 - 22 Oct 2013
Second global World Heritage marine site managers meeting
18 Oct 2013 - 20 Oct 2013
3rd edition of the Heritage in Africa seminar on the topic of ‘Heritage in Danger’
8 Oct 2013 - 8 Oct 2013
[in French only] Les Paysages du Quotidien - Concours photo du Ministère français de l’Ecologie, du Développement Durable et de l’Energie
1 Oct 2013 - 31 Jan 2014
Historic urban landscape - CALL FOR PAPERS for the Spandrel journal, Bhopal, India
15 Jul 2013 - 30 Jul 2013
Cities and heritage meeting: “Changing Cities and Heritage Management: New Players? New Practices?”
22 May 2013 - 24 May 2013
Seminar on Economics and Heritage Conservation
10 Dec 2012 - 14 Dec 2012
World Heritage and Tourism Destination Management
9 Oct 2012 - 9 Oct 2012
International Meeting on the Cultural Landscapes of Agropastoralism
1 Oct 2012 - 5 Oct 2012
Second thematic meeting of experts on the agro-pastoral cultural landscapes in the Mediterranean
12 Nov 2009 - 14 Nov 2009
International workshop on cultural heritage inventories in the Mediterranean countries, a collaboration with the Euromed Heritage IV programme of the European Union
10 Dec 2008 - 12 Dec 2008
European Colloquium: "Heritage focused territorial planning"
4 Dec 2008 - 6 Dec 2008
Round Table: "Bridges: from construction to a heritage approach"
26 Nov 2008 - 28 Nov 2008
Call for candidates: International intensive training session for francophone site managers
24 Jun 2008 - 29 Aug 2008
First Workshop "Creating the Enabling Environment" to develop guiding principles and policies for World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism
6 Mar 2008 - 8 Mar 2008
Sectors
Government NGO Research Institution Public Other Construction, property, architecture, planning Tourism & Hospitality Government agency University
Country
France
Priorities
Art and Culture Built / Monumental Heritage Community Development Conflict Resolution Education and Youth Environmental Conservation Immaterial Heritage (oral traditions) Other
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