Call for applications: 6th World Heritage Site Managers' Forum

Understanding the achievements, challenges and opportunities of the World Heritage Convention 

Leveraging the role of communities at all levels of protection and management of World Heritage 

Enhancing capacities to manage change through resilience thinking and impact assessment in the context of World Heritage 

Strengthening sustainable tourism and development through effective management and heritage-based entrepreneurship 

Integrating innovative technologies for the conservation of World Heritage 

Fostering peer learning and networking of site managers regionally and globally 

Promote international cooperation of World Heritage site managers and coordinate worldwide actions in favour of the protection and conservation of humankind's historical heritage through activities and interventions aimed at raising the awareness of States Parties to this heritage 

Reinforce and support the international network of site managers that defines, improves and promotes conservation principles, standards, research, responsible practice and innovation about the protection of worldwide heritage. 

Assist site managers through appropriate guidance to harness the potential of World Heritage properties and heritage in general. 

Contribute to sustainable development, notably through the active involvement of local communities at all levels of protection and management of World Heritage and increase the effectiveness and relevance of the World Heritage Convention. 

Strengthen the enabling environment by advocating policies, strategies, frameworks and tools that support sustainable development as an essential vehicle for protecting and managing cultural and natural heritage of Outstanding Universal Value 

Directly expose the site managers to the issues discussed during the World Heritage Committee sessions on the state of conservation (SOC) reports 

World Heritage site managers, and persons working within the site management from all natural, cultural and mixed World Heritage properties, may apply. 

Only one (1) participant per World Heritage property. An exception will be made for transboundary or transnational properties, for which only one (1) person per State Party involved may be accepted. 

Priority will be given to applicants from World Heritage properties whose state of conservation reports are included for discussion at the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee.  

Site managers who have not yet had the opportunity to attend previous editions of the World Heritage Site Managers" Forum will be given preference. 

Selection will also be guided in view of balancing regional, age and gender distribution of participants as well as typologies of World Heritage properties represented. 

The working language of the Forum will be English. Interpretation will be provided in French during the plenary sessions of the Forum only. 

The selected participants should commit themselves to attend the whole duration of the Forum.  

Selected participants will be responsible for their round-trip travel costs to and from New Delhi, India, as well as their accommodation and living expenses during the entire Forum. Information on specific hotels near the venue of the WHSMF24 or the location of the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee will be provided to the Forum participants for their individual reservations.  

Selected participants are strongly encouraged to seek financial support from their institutions and other sources, such as governmental institutions, employers and other funding agencies. 

The Host Country has secured limited funds to fully support the participation of some of the selected site managers, notably from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Islands Developing States (SIDS)1 to attend the Forum. Please note that this grant is not automatically awarded. You will only be notified of your grant status only when the selection result is sent to you. 

Applications should be completed and submitted in English or French only. Applications in languages other than the above-mentioned will not be considered. 

Applicant should provide a description of responsibilities and duties performed by the applicant at the World Heritage property (max. 500 characters).  

A professional curriculum vitae in PDF format (max. 2 pages). 

An electronic version of your valid passport in JPG or PDF format.