Activities >> Sites

Niger: Conservation of AGADEZ and ZINDER

Background

Following the Global strategy meeting organized in Niamey in September 1999, a request was made by the national authorities for assistance to build capacity within the Ministry of Culture to conserve the Immovable Cultural Heritage of Niger. As a response, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs agreed to fund several preparatory missions that were carried out in 2000. These missions included investigations of Agadez, Zinder, and Niamey.

Objectives

The long-term objective is to assist the Direction du Patrimoine et des Musées to build capacity for the conservation of Immovable Cultural Heritage in Niger. In the short term, it has been agreed to use Agadez as a pilot project to:

• implement preventative conservation works;
• prepare a management plan for the old city centre;
• prepare a nomination dossier for inscription of Agadez on the World Heritage List;
• provide training to nationals professionals of Niger.
  

Structure

The project is being implemented by the Direction du Patrimoine et des Musées in conjunction with CRATerre-EAG. Besides the Projet Situé itself, professionals from the Direction du Patrimoine Culturel et des Musées have benefited from training and other exchange opportunities offered by the AFRICA 2009 programme. This multifaceted collaboration ensures a good synergy with all partners involved. In 2001, work started with the compilation of the information gathered in 2000 and the creation of a comprehensive report. In 2002, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre began to provide support for this project, starting with the provision of assistance under the France-UNESCO agreement. These funds were to assist the national authorities in preparing a work programme and a preparatory assistance request for the elaboration of the nomination file. The French Embassy also began involvement with the provision of fund to the Direction du Patrimoine et des Musées for the restoration of the Mosque and the Palais du Sultan. This funding was also used to start documentation work needed prior to the elaboration of the nomination file. It is foreseen in the future that both academic and operational activities will be carried out simultaneously to ensure that realities at Agadez will be properly taken into account for the elaboration of the management plan.

Results

Two professionals from the Direction du Patrimoine et des Musées have had training at the AFRICA 2009 Regional Course in addition to the two trained earlier.

• The first stakeholders meeting has been organized in Agadez.
• A programme of work for the preparation of the nomination has been prepared.
• Conservation works have been implemented both at the Mosque and Palais du Sultan.
• A survey of the characteristics of the town has been started.
• A request for a preparatory assistance programme has been prepared and accepted by the World Heritage Committee.