Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO Prof. Peter Ngure steered the African Group during the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee which was held in New Delhi, India from 21 – 31st July 2024. Africa made steady progress in advancing its share of inscriptions on the prestigious UNESCO’s World Heritage List with five new inscriptions, namely: The Melka Kunture and Balchit Archaeological and Paleontological Site of Ethiopia, Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites of South Africa and the Emergence of Modern Humans: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa, the Royal Court of Tiébélé of Burkina Faso, and the Historical Town and Archaeological Site of Gedi for Kenya.
The session also saw the successful removal from the List in Danger of the Niokolo Koba site of Senegal after 30 years. The Africa Group successfully amended draft Decisions to reflect the efforts of African State Parties to include accuracy in the state of conservation draft decisions.
Being mandated by this Africa Group Plenary in April 2024 to 2024 to champion fundraising support for the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) for capacity-building, my Delegation, the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Kenya to UNESCO actively worked with the Africa World Heritage Fund (AWHF) to organise a fundraising side event in the margins of the 46th session in New Delhi, on ‘capacity-building for Africa’. The was attended by several Ambassadors/Permanent Delegates and high-level guests and showcased the wealth and facets of Africa cultural and natural heritage sites, the functions and responsibilities of the AWHF, and opportunities for donors to partner with the AWHF. In the partners segments, Ambassadors and State Party representatives spoke on their support for African world heritage, with donors pledging financial commitment to support heritage in Africa.
On the outcomes of the open ended working group 45 COM 11 on the World Heritage Convention, the Committee adopted the proposal of the State Party of Kenya to host a meeting in Kenya in May 2025 on the topic of heritage and authenticity in Africa. The meeting is expected to be a historic milestone on heritage authenticity and its fundamental role and contributions to scientific studies and the pragmatic management of cultural heritage. It follows a crucial 24 years after the meeting on Authenticity and Integrity in an African Context organized by UNESCO in Great Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe, in 2000, which concluded that the concept of heritage authenticity in Africa is unique and needed to be studied further. The regional conference will be on concept of heritage authenticity and conservation ethics and principles in Africa, for a better application of the World Heritage Convention to heritage in the African region.
The Committee also adopted the proposal of the Africa region for an Africa 2035 Programme: The African Committee members delivered a statement under the agenda item on the report of the Open-ended working group (45COM 11) on the world heritage convention, enunciating guidelines for the establishment of an Africa 2035 programme as requested by the Africa Group. The Statement requests that the Africa 2035 programme be developed by the World Heritage Centre in partnership with the African World Heritage Fund, with the support of the Advisory Bodies and heritage training institutions in Africa, and for a report to be made to the Committee on the item at the next committee session.
The mandate of the Open-ended Working Group 45 COM 11 has been extended into 2025. As such Kenya will also continue in its role as Vice Chair of the Open-ended working group and we look forward to further engagement with African State Parties to promote our heritage and uniqueness of continent. We are also honoured to congratulate Zambia on assuming the Vice Chairmanship of the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee to be held in Bulgaria in 2025 and Chairmanship for the Africa region, and also congratulate Ms. Joelle Bucyana of Rwanda for her election as Rapporteur for the 47th session of the world Heritage Committee.
