Picture credit score: WAM
The UAE Ministry of Tradition and Youth and the Ministry of International Affairs have introduced a fund to help world heritage, doc preservation and capability constructing initiatives at a variety of websites in Africa.
The announcement was made at an occasion organized by the Africa Group at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, which coincides with the celebration of Africa Day on Might 25 and Africa Week.
The fund might be launched in collaboration with the Worldwide Alliance for the Safety of Heritage in Battle Areas (ALIPH) and the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), the state information company reported, WOW.
The Ministry of Tradition and Youth will characterize the UAE and develop into a platinum associate of the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF).
AWHF, an intergovernmental group created in 2006 by the African Union and UNESCO, helps the efficient conservation and safety of Africa’s cultural and pure heritage.
It additionally addresses the challenges confronted by African States Events within the implementation of the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Conference, particularly, the under-representation of African websites on the World Heritage Listing and the conservation and administration of those websites.
The UAE’s contributions additionally purpose to strengthen the capacities of native communities, whereas ALIPH, which the UAE co-founded in 2017 in collaboration with France, will implement three tasks in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Ethiopia.
The UAE is dedicated to preserving the heritage
In an announcement, Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Tradition and Youth, mentioned: “Within the UAE, we’re dedicated to preserving human heritage in all its varieties and strengthening partnerships with worldwide organizations which might be actively working on this area, from our perception within the significance of preserving this heritage for future generations and the function it performs. Heritage performs a big function in intercultural dialogue, enhances variety, tolerance, coexistence and peace in societies.”
He said: “By way of these efforts, we’re eager to transcend conservation and restoration tasks and operations in Africa. We want to make these tasks sustainable and assist construct capability and create job alternatives for the area people and contain them in all these tasks.”
The launch of the fund additionally coincides with the UAE’s declaration of 2023 because the ’12 months of Sustainability’, and the nation’s internet hosting of the Convention of the Events to the UN Framework Conference on Local weather Change (COP28) in November this yr, an occasion which is able to embody discussions of local weather change and its influence on tradition and society.
Final November, the Ministry of Tradition and Youth, by means of the Nationwide Fee for Schooling, Tradition and Science of the United Arab Emirates, signed an settlement with the Islamic Group for Schooling, Science and Tradition to inscribe African heritage video games on the Consultant Lists of Cultural Heritage immaterial. ICESCO and UNESCO World Heritage. As well as, in January, the Ministry and the Arab League Instructional, Cultural and Scientific Group (ALECSO), signed an settlement to help African Arab international locations to submit joint purposes for inclusion on the identical checklist.
Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State on the Ministry of International Affairs, mentioned: “The launch of this fund on Africa Day has large cultural significance. It’s a day that not solely commemorates the colourful African tradition and spirit of Africa, but in addition marks the sixtieth anniversary of the institution of the Group of African Unity, now referred to as the African Union. This convergence of historic landmarks amplifies the significance of our collective efforts to protect and have fun Africa’s wealthy heritage.”
Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan delivers welcome remarks at #Africa_Day occasion on the Ministry of International Affairs #WamNews https://t.co/QlWf5Sf57O pic.twitter.com/kDOTrymi96
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Dr. Thomas Kaplan, Chairman of the ALIPH Basis Board of Administrators, mentioned: “The UAE – a co-founding member and world chief within the safety of cultural heritage – has been a champion of the Basis’s mission since its inception. began about six years in the past. Our joint efforts additionally deliver into essential focus absolutely the urgency to guard the wealthy and numerous cultural heritage of the African continent whereas main the cost to guard websites and monuments in Sudan, Ethiopia and the DRC within the face of the twin menace of battle and local weather change.”
Souayibou Varissou, Govt Director of the African World Heritage Fund, mentioned: “We’re assured that with the help of the UAE Ministry of Tradition and Youth, we will higher serve the continent to make sure the efficient implementation of World Heritage. Conference in Africa. This consists of capability constructing, threat administration and heritage tourism programmes, and the UAE’s invaluable help will enhance our capability to have a long-term influence on the inscription of African websites on the World Heritage Listing and the conservation and administration of these websites as an asset. for the sustainable progress of native communities.”
Tasks in Africa
These tasks might be carried out in cooperation with native governments, alongside native and worldwide companions. One of many tasks that may profit from the initiative is the restoration of the Nationwide Cultural Heritage Stock of the DRC.
The restoration work of this undertaking is being carried out in two phases. The primary part has already been accomplished awarded by ALIPH with the help of the Ministry of Tradition and Youth of the United Arab Emirates, with the assistance of the Worldwide Council for Monuments and Websites, reported WOW.
The undertaking has to date skilled 29 specialists from related DRC establishments within the area of documentation and stock preparation. The second part of the undertaking is scheduled to start in 2024.
A major a part of the fund might be allotted to the revitalization of one of many oldest preserved Sudanese mosques in Dongola, which has been included within the Indicative Listing of UNESCO World Heritage Websites.
This undertaking was undertaken by the College of Warsaw along with the Polish Middle for Mediterranean Archeology (PCMA) in partnership with the Nationwide Company for Antiquities and Museums.
Conservation work on the Dongola Mosque started earlier this yr and can proceed for 3 years, with the undertaking additionally offering on-the-job coaching alternatives for Sudanese specialists, creating 60 jobs within the course of for town’s residents.
One of the vital important tasks below the present program would be the restoration of the Yemrehana Krestos Church in Ethiopia, which is taken into account one of many nation’s most symbolic websites within the Amhara area. It features a palace and a church relationship from the Eleventh-Twelfth centuries.
