Safeguarding World Heritage in Africa
Implementing the Strategy for World Heritage in Africa (2022-2029)
Africa is home to an extraordinary wealth of natural and cultural heritage, encompassing stunning historical sites and places, vibrant traditions, iconic landscapes, and globally significant sites that shape its identity and inspire the world. Yet, the continent faces numerous challenges – from identification of these heritages to their effective protection, conservation and presentation.
In this regard, the adoption of the Strategy for World Heritage in Africa (2022-2029) by the World Heritage Committee in 2021 marked a significant milestone. Notable progress has since been made, particularly in increasing Africa’s representation on the World Heritage List and mentoring the next generation of heritage professionals. This has been achieved thanks to a number of targeted actions aimed at empowering African countries to manage and promote their heritage and support from partners, including the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) and the Advisory Bodies (ICOMOS, ICCROM and IUCN).
Leveraging two years’ experience for the transformative implementation of the 1972 Convention
As we celebrate these milestones achieved, we also reflect on the invaluable lessons learned over the past two years — insights that help us to make adjustments for more effective and transformative implementation of the Convention. Through careful analysis, we’ve identified three key aspects to drive meaningful change, ensuring a resilient and sustainable future for Africa’s heritage:
- Empowering Ownership – Strengthening capacity-building to foster African-led heritage preservation.
- Deepening Engagement – Enhancing networks, institutionalizing best practices, and streamlining procedures for greater collaboration.
- Enabling Self-Driven Growth – Cultivating sustainable frameworks that support long-term, continent-wide development.
Together, these efforts aim to safeguard and promote Africa’s heritage — not only as a pillar of cultural identity but also as a catalyst for social, economic, and environmental progress to achieve both the 2030 SDG goals and the Vision 2063, The Africa We Want.
Progress in the implementation of the Strategy and our partners
Advancing the development of World Heritage nomination dossiers
Africa remains underrepresented on the World Heritage List — a situation rooted in various challenges, including limited expertise and human and financial resources to sustain the World Heritage processes and procedures.
To address this imbalance and enhance Africa’s representation on the World Heritage List, UNESCO, in collaboration with the concerned States Parties, AWHF, Advisory Bodies, and partners, has been actively supporting the development of dossiers across the continent. When the Strategy was adopted in 2021, 12 countries had no inscriptions on the World Heritage List. Following the first inscriptions of Rwanda in 2023, UNESCO is continuing to support the 11 countries that currently have no sites inscribed: Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and South Sudan.
What has been achieved?
Milestones for States Parties with no properties on the List
Among the 11 African States Parties without inscribed World Heritage properties, four have made major strides. Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone will see their first nomination dossiers examined by the World Heritage Committee for possible inscription in 2025. Comoros and São Tomé and Príncipe have submitted their files for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 48th session (foreseen in 2026).
South Sudan, Eswatini, Djibouti and Liberia have actively engaged with UNESCO for technical and financial support to prepare their dossiers. Meanwhile, Somalia officially established its Tentative List in February 2024, while Burundi and Equatorial Guinea have also initiated the process.
Comoros submitted to the World Heritage Centre its first nomination dossier Les médinas des Sultanats historiques des Comores in January 2025
Guinea-Bissau submitted its first nomination dossier Écosystèmes côtiers et marins de l’Archipel des Bijagós - Omatí Minhô in January 2024
Empowering African heritage experts
African heritage experts play a vital role in safeguarding the legacy of the continent. Yet, a shortage of a new generation of African experts familiar with the World Heritage system and practices limits the ability of the continent to identify potential sites, develop nomination dossiers, bolster conservation and support a sustainable management system. African women, who are key custodians of African heritage, face additional barriers and challenges in leveraging their potential and leadership in heritage conservation and management.
Establishment of the Mentorship Programme for African Heritage Professionals
To enhance the capacity of young professionals in Africa with the knowledge and expertise required in the context of the World Heritage Convention, UNESCO has launched the Mentorship Programme for African Heritage Professionals, in close collaboration with AWHF and Advisory Bodies. The innovative programme focuses on developing a mentor-mentee training method to link expertise with knowledge, aiming to enhance engagement in African World Heritage protection and management.
Since its inception, the Programme has capacitated 60 mentees, including 30 women and 30 men from 46 African countries, creating a network of professionals in the field of African cultural and natural World Heritage. With the experience gained during the mentorship process, mentees are now actively engaged in supporting major activities in Africa, including the development of nominations, technical missions, and evaluations. These practices will amplify the impact of the programme and continue to empower heritage professionals in Africa.
Establishment of the African Site Managers' Network
The African Site Managers' Network (ASMN) was established as a continental network to connect World Heritage site managers across Africa. By facilitating knowledge exchange, experience sharing and collaboration, it strengthens their capacity to effectively implement the World Heritage Convention.
The ASMN website now hosts the Stewards of African Heritage platform, an initiative to profile World Heritage site managers and experts in Africa. To date, a preliminary list has already gathered 164 stewards on the platform.
Supporting the removal of sites from the List of World Heritage in Danger
UNESCO is actively collaborating with African States Parties, AWHF and Advisory Bodies to address the concerns of these endangered sites by strengthening the technical capacities of their management teams and relevant stakeholders. This includes supporting, through specific training sessions and workshops, the development of the Desired State of Conservation for the Removal of Properties from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR). Since 2023, thanks to the collective commitment of the local authorities and stakeholders and the kind support of the international community, two African World Heritage properties were removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger. In addition, the development of the DSOCR for nine endangered sites is receiving ongoing support from UNESCO and AWHF, while all 13 endangered sites are supported to carry out corrective measures.
Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi of Uganda removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2023
The Tombs of the Kings of Buganda at Kasubi in Uganda have been removed from UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger following successful restoration efforts. After a devastating fire in 2010 destroyed parts of the site, Uganda, with UNESCO's support and international funding, led an ambitious reconstruction program that concluded in 2023.
Niokolo-Koba National Park of Sénégal removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2024
Niokolo-Koba National Park in Senegal has been removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger, reflecting significant improvements in its conservation. Inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1981 for its unique biodiversity, the park faced threats such as poaching, mining, and invasive species, leading to its danger listing in 2007. With UNESCO and AWHF's support, Senegal implemented a robust action plan over the past seven years, enhancing wildlife monitoring, combating illegal activities, and addressing environmental challenges.
13 endangered African sites with ongoing corrective measures to achieve the DSOCR, including
Strengthening Capacity Building
UNESCO supports African States Parties and mobilises stakeholders and partners to take concrete steps on nominations, conservation and management. It is also fully engaged in building a sustainable system by strengthening the capacity of local authorities, experts, professionals and communities. This dual approach not only addresses immediate needs and threats but also fosters long-term resilience, creating a combined positive impact that ensures the sustainability of African cultural and natural heritage for future generations.
To develop a sustainable capacity-building approach for Africa in nominations, site management and conservation, as well as impact assessment and risk management, UNESCO has launched numerous capacity-building activities, in collaboration with AWHF and Advisory Bodies.
Online, July – August 2022
Harnessing good conservation practices for socio-economic development
Harnessing good conservation practices is crucial because it not only ensures the preservation of Africa’s cultural and natural heritage but also engages local communities in realising the impact of their heritage in driving socio-economic development through job creation in multiple sectors, such as tourism and education, and promoting inclusive growth among communities.
Alongside its partners, UNESCO has initiated numerous projects to strengthen sustainable conservation and management practices while ensuring that cultural and natural heritage remains an asset for fostering socio-economic development.
Rehabilitation of Majestic Cinema in Stone Town, Zanzibar (United Republic of Tanzania)
Income-generating activities serving local communities of Lopé and Ivindo (Gabon)
Workshop on Women. Heritage. Digital technology in Dakar (Senegal)
Promoting community-based sustainable tourism and conservation (Cameroon)
Enhancing sustainable tourism and conservation at the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve (Seychelles)
The ultimate goal of the approach for transformative impact is to secure the future of African heritage so that it contributes substantially and sustainably to cultural identity, socio-economic transformation and environmental and biodiversity protection.
Our partners
Australia, China, France, Germany, Japan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, the Sultanate of Oman, as well as the AWHF and Advisory Bodies (ICOMOS, ICCROM and IUCN).