Italian
In Rome, the international conference that concludes the WHAPS program: training, cooperation, and dialogue to enhance African heritage within the Mattei Plan for Africa
ROME – At Palazzo Poli, the international conference was held yesterday, Monday, November 3, which concluded the training program WHAPS – World Heritage in Africa: Processes and Strategies, promoted by the National School of Heritage and Cultural Activities and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM).
The initiative is part of the Mattei Plan for Africa, within the policies of the Ministry of Culture aimed at strengthening cultural relations between Italy and the African continent through cooperation projects, training, and skills exchange.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, as well as numerous international organizations engaged in the protection of cultural heritage, including UNESCO, IUCN, Ecole du Patrimoine Africain, African Site Managers Network and Great Zimbabwe University.
During the day, African and Italian experts and professionals shared strategies and experiences dedicated to the protection, enhancement, and representation of African cultural heritage in the UNESCO World Heritage Lists.
The debate revealed a common vision: training and international cooperation are essential tools to strengthen the role of professionals in safeguarding heritage as a lever for sustainable growth and intercultural dialogue.
Onofrio Cutaia, Extraordinary Commissioner of the National School of Heritage and Cultural Activities, emphasized:
“Investment in skills and the sharing of experiences is essential for the future of the conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage. With this initiative, the National School of Heritage and Cultural Activities responds to the guidelines of the Ministry of Culture within the framework of the Mattei Plan for Africa and renews its commitment to the African continent, for the creation of communities of practice among professionals from Africa and Italy.”
Launched in March 2025, the program WHAPS involved 30 cultural heritage professionals from 26 African countries and Italy, aiming to enhance the skills necessary to tackle the complexity of the nomination processes and the management of sites listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Lists.
Aruna Francesca Maria Gujral, Director-General of ICCROM, highlighted:
“The WHAPS program represents ICCROM’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the skills of African professionals and institutions through targeted capacity-building initiatives that enable the effective and sustainable identification, conservation, and management of heritage, for the benefit of community development and growth.”
The event represented not only the conclusion of the training program but also a moment of revitalization for cultural cooperation between Italy and Africa, confirming our country’s role as a key partner in international cultural diplomacy and in building a stable and shared dialogue with institutions and African communities engaged in the protection of their heritage.
