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2nd Regional Course on the Conservation and Management of Immovable Cultural Heritage
Benin 2000

Background: From 28 August through 17 November the second AFRICA 2009 regional course of AFRICA 2009 was carried out in Porto Novo, Benin, at the premises of the Ecole du Patrimoine Africain (EPA). The stated aim was to bring together a group of approximately 20 African heritage professionals to work towards creation of a greater awareness of the most important issues in the area of conservation planning and management. The course also aimed at deriving a deepening of knowledge of the problems and challenges that are faced in carrying out conservation work in African contexts.

Course Objectives: (1) to give participants the tools to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of a given immovable cultural heritage site and its management system, and taking into account the specific context, develop appropriate and realistic solutions; (2) to examine some of the issues facing conservation of immovable cultural heritage at the national level, with the aim of introducing gradually, the most important approaches within the participants' home organizations.

Structure: The 3 month long course was conceived as a forum for active interchange among participants, guest instructors/facilitators, and staff. Didactic method varied depending on subject matter and needs and included classroom lectures, moderation, group exercises, stakeholder meetings, and site visits. Special attention was paid to moderation, a participative method of instruction. The technique was introduced early in the course and used throughout as a means of ensuring a dynamic exchange of information. The central feature of the course was a 7-week hands-on site management planning exercise which involved intensive work by the participants on two sites in Porto Novo. Other topics for the course included: Introduction to African Immovable Cultural Heritage, Introduction to World Heritage Convention, History and Theory of Conservation, Documentation and Inventory, Conservation and Sustainable Development, Legal and Administrative Frameworks, Sustainable Tourism, and Partnership, Financing, and Awareness.

Results:

• 18 French speaking professionals from 15 countries in the region successfully completed the training.
• 7 professionals from Africa and 10 from outside Africa took part as instructors.
• Draft management plans were created for 2 sites in Porto Novo.
• Equipment and didactic material for the course were purchased and left at EPA.
• A significant number of professionals and other stakeholders in Porto Novo benefiting from working on the management planning exercise and tourism roundtable.
• 17 articles were written in the local press about the course.

For more information on the course, see the final report (Pdf 3,51 MB).