Dakar, Senegal: Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania to France and Permanent Representative of Tanzania to UNESCO, Hon. Saidi Othman Yakubu has chaired the 9th Meeting of African Member States in the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Dakar, Senegal.
The meeting brought together delegates from Senegal, Angola, Kenya, Namibia, Comoro, Togo, Gambia, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Malawi and Tunisia with the aim of coordinating the common positions of Africa towards the 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to be held in Busan, Republic of Korea.
Leading the meeting, Hon. Yakubu stressed the importance of African countries continuing to cooperate closely in order to protect, preserve and develop the natural and cultural heritage of the continent as well as ensuring that Africa’s voice is heard strongly in international forums discussing world heritage issues.
The meeting was also attended by the Head of the African Group in UNESCO and the Permanent Representative of Senegal in UNESCO, Hon. Ambassador Pierre Faye, together with the Executive Director of the African World Heritage Fund (African World Heritage Fund – AWHF), Dr. Albino Jopela.
In the discussion, the delegates discussed in detail the issues related to the world heritage sites in Africa, including the conservation status of the existing sites in the World Heritage List, strategies to remove the sites in danger, as well as how to increase the representation of African sites in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In addition, the delegates exchanged experiences about the challenges facing the world heritage sector in Africa, including the effects of climate change, the increase in human activities in heritage areas, the lack of conservation resources and the importance of strengthening community participation in protecting the heritage.
The meeting also discussed opportunities to increase cooperation between African countries, UNESCO and various development stakeholders to ensure that the heritage of the African continent is protected, maintained and used as a tool for sustainable development, tourism, employment and social welfare.
Hon. Yakubu explained that Tanzania will continue to cooperate with other African countries in developing the world heritage agenda and ensuring that the interests of the continent are prioritized in the discussions and decisions made within UNESCO.
Tanzania’s chairmanship in the meeting continues to demonstrate the country’s important role in promoting international cooperation, strengthening cultural diplomacy and advancing Africa’s agenda within UNESCO and its various institutions.
The meeting has been held in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), an African institution established to support conservation efforts, management and development of world heritage sites in Africa.
