Saturday 25 / July / 2026
MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman has highlighted its pioneering experience in supporting capacity building and promoting the implementation of the 1972 World Heritage Convention in African countries during a side event held on the sidelines of the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan, Republic of Korea.
The event, titled “Strengthening African Expertise in World Heritage,” took place during the committee session being held from July 19 to 29.
In a statement delivered by Ambassador Amna Salim Al Balushi, Oman’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, the Sultanate stressed that protecting world heritage and ensuring balanced representation on the World Heritage List require long-term strategic partnerships based on knowledge exchange, expertise sharing and the empowerment of national institutions.
She said such partnerships are essential for achieving sustainable development and preserving cultural and natural heritage for future generations.
Ambassador Al Balushi noted that Oman, in cooperation with UNESCO, has been implementing a strategic programme since 2021 aimed at supporting East African countries in strengthening the capacities of national institutions, developing specialised heritage expertise and enabling local communities to participate in the management of World Heritage sites.
She explained that the programme has produced significant results, including support for the inscription of new African sites on the World Heritage List, the updating of tentative lists for several countries and the training of around 250 heritage specialists from across East Africa.
These efforts, she said, have contributed to preparing qualified national professionals capable of managing heritage sites and preparing nomination dossiers in accordance with international standards.
The ambassador added that the initiative reflects Oman’s approach of promoting international cooperation and sharing expertise, while recognising that investment in capacity building is a key pillar for the effective implementation of the World Heritage Convention.
She said the programme also contributes to enhancing the representation of African countries on the World Heritage List and establishing a sustainable framework for the protection of cultural and natural heritage.
Oman reaffirmed its commitment to continuing support for international initiatives aimed at achieving the objectives of the World Heritage Convention, strengthening cooperation among States Parties and safeguarding humanity’s shared heritage for present and future generations.
