Seventh Annual Coordination Meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage-Related Category 2 Institutes & Centres
There are a total of 10 Category 2 Centres and Institutes (C2Cs&Is) under the auspices of UNESCO that extend the reach and effectiveness of the Organization’s activities and strategic programmes in the implementation of the 1972 World Heritage Convention. While these designated establishments are not legally part of UNESCO, they are associated with the Organization through arrangements approved by the Generally Conference and receive their funding from the Member State they are located in. C2Cs&Is are fundamental to developing regional collaboration and networking, in particular, C2Cs that specialize in technical domains related to World Heritage.
Some C2Cs contribute by facilitating capacity building programmes and knowledge sharing and research for Member States, while others assist by establishing foundations or provide funds to help support conservation activities carried out by other organizations. Some have a regional scope and others have specific domains.
Every year, C2Cs&Is conduct an Annual Coordination meeting attended by the regional centres and institutes, representatives from UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre, Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Committee. These annual meetings provide a platform for exchange between C2Cs&Is, allowing for a review and harmonization of activities in heritage-related fields, thereby promoting an interregional thematic framework and coordinated actions to develop and foster synergies in the implementation of the World Heritage Convention.
This year, the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage will be hosting the Seventh Annual Coordination Meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage-Related Category 2 Institutes & Centres from 22-24 April 2019, at its headquarters in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. This year’s meeting will continue to build upon the roadmap of cooperation and enhanced collaboration between C2Cs&Is and further enhance the regional cooperation and the relation between the C2Cs and other World Heritage stakeholders.
