International Course on Impact Assessment in a World Heritage Context

Organizers: ICCROM, IUCN and the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment 

We are seeking up to 25 participants to join the next English-language edition of the online International Course on Impact Assessment in a World Heritage Context (IAWH24). The course will explore how impact assessment and multidisciplinary cooperation can be useful for supporting better decision-making: both by identifying solutions for both protecting World Heritage properties, and by encouraging high-quality sustainable development.   

Why is this course needed? 

World Heritage properties continue to face pressure from various forms of development – including commercial and residential projects, energy projects, transport infrastructure and tourism development – and other significant changes that can affect their Outstanding Universal Value. State of Conservation reports often bring these issues to the attention of the World Heritage Committee, which has long requested impact assessments to inform better decision-making for the future of World Heritage. To respond to these Committee requests and comply with the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, States Parties, local authorities and World Heritage management teams have increasingly sought guidance and support to build capacities on impact assessment.  

The objectives of this course are to: 

• introduce participants to the updated methodology of the new Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessment in a World Heritage context;  
• equip participants with current knowledge of and skills to use impact assessments to inform decision-making regarding various factors affecting heritage in general and World Heritage properties in particular;  
• provide participants with knowledge on management and monitoring requirements and reporting mechanisms for World Heritage properties;  
• communicate the benefits of linking nature and culture and the role of impact assessments in heritage management planning effectively; and  
• promote the exchange of experiences and information in heritage management and conservation among practitioners. 

What is the content of the course? 

This online coursewill introduce participants to the methodology outlined in the updated Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessment in a World Heritage context (July 2022), which was prepared by the three Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Convention (ICOMOS, ICCROM and IUCN) in partnership with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. As a result, the course content will be aligned with the most recently-revised Operational Guidelines, policy documents approved by States Parties and decisions taken by the World Heritage Committee. 

The course will be structured around the 11 steps of the Toolkit and then expand on what makes an enabling environment for good impact assessment, and how this overall process can help improve the management of World Heritage. The course will tackle the following overarching topics: 

• Heritage Place Approach 
• Analyzing heritage values and attributes 
• Analysing the factors affecting the heritage place 
• Process and Principles of Impact Assessment in a World Heritage context 
• Methodology for Impact Assessment and its 11 steps 
• Creating an enabling environment for Impact Assessment 

Who is the course for?  

This course specifically targets:   

• heritage practitioners and individuals from institutions with responsibilities related to managing World Heritage properties, or other heritage places;   
• heritage practitioners involved in an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) or other type of impact assessment related to a World Heritage property or other heritage place;  
• impact assessment specialists working with heritage places and in particular World Heritage; 
• officials and decision-makers whose State Party has been requested to conduct an impact assessment by the World Heritage Committee; and  
• community members, other practitioners or heritage stakeholders involved in impact assessments at heritage places. 

Applications are open to all regions and professionals. Applicants from the Caribbean and SIDS countries fulfilling one or more of the above criteria will be prioritized in the selection process.  

Course schedule 

The course will take place in English and will be fully implemented online from 9 to 11 December 2024 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm Central European Time (Rome). Please check the timing in your own time zone.  

Theoretical and introductory presentations will be uploaded as asynchronous learning materials on the new ICCROM e-learning platform divided into seven learning modules. Participants will access these materials in advance so that they are familiar with the content and can fully engage in discussions and exercises during the live sessions.