Women. Heritage. Digital Technology – Action to Safeguard the World Heritage in Africa

From 6-8 March 2025, UNESCO is organising an event entitled "Women. Heritage. Digital Technology" in Dakar, Senegal. Held in conjunction of the International Women’s Day, this event celebrates the vital role of African women in safeguarding and promoting heritage, particularly through the use of digital technologies.

Despite systemic barriers, including limited access to education, employment, lack of representation in decision-making, and the digital economy, African women remain key custodians of their heritage.  This is despite the fact that only three of 140 World Heritage site managers in sub-Saharan Africa are women.

This event therefore aims to address women's access to and leadership in digital technologies, creating opportunities and resources to bolster their contributions to heritage conservation and advocate for greater recognition in preserving and promoting World Heritage in Africa.

By highlighting women’s achievements with digital skills, the event fosters inclusive narratives, leadership opportunities, and sustainable conservation practices—ensuring a more equitable future for African heritage.

Who will participate?

The event is expected to bring together around 200 African women heritage professionals and youth, including:

• World Heritage managers
• Academics and heritage experts
• Representatives from African heritage NGOs
• Youth representatives and students

What can attendees expect?

The three-day event will feature practical workshops at Island of Gorée and Theodore Monod Museum. Participants will engage in hands-on sessions led by female professionals, focusing on digital tools such as photogrammetry, drone mapping, and visual storytelling. The event culminates in an official ceremony on the 8 March, with the presence of representative from the Senegalese Ministries of Culture and Education, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

A key highlight will be a panel discussion featuring African women engaging on the role of women, heritage, and technologies in shaping the future of conservation and promotion of African heritage. The event will also provide a platform for participants to share their experiences and insights gained during the practical activities the previous days.

This event is part of the implementation of the UNESCO project "Creating a Sustainable Heritage Ecosystem for Socioeconomic Development in Africa", funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in supports the implementation of UNESCO's Operational Strategy for Priority Africa (2022-2029), particularly its Flagship Programme 3, “Fostering cultural heritage and capacity development”.