Upstream process

In relation to the nomination of sites for inscription on the World Heritage List, “Upstream processes” include advice, consultation and analysis that occur prior to the submission of a nomination and are aimed at reducing the number of nominations that experience significant problems during the evaluation process. The basic principle of the upstream processes is to enable the Advisory Bodies and the Secretariat to provide support directly to States Parties, throughout the whole process leading up to a possible World Heritage nomination. For the upstream support to be effective, it should ideally be undertaken from the earliest stage in the nomination process, at the moment of the preparation or revision of the States Parties’ Tentative Lists.

Source(s): Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention