ICCROM is advancing efforts to empower young people and strengthen heritage management in Africa. From 17 to 21 February 2025, ICCROM, in collaboration with the Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy, hosted a Strategic Planning Workshop in Kigali, Rwanda. The workshop brought together 20 representatives from Heritage Hubs across Africa, including Egypt, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa and Zimbabwe to establish a platform for joint action and collaboration dedicated to the sustainability and impact of the Heritage Hubs.
The first phase, held online from 17 to 18 November 2024, engaged around 40 participants in activities designed to assess the current status of the Heritage Hubs and lay the groundwork for future initiatives. Building on this foundation, the second phase in Kigali focused on in-depth discussions, technical work, and collaborative planning to achieve the following objectives:
- Assess the progress and impact of Heritage Hubs initiatives.
- Consolidate a solid and integrated action plan, in line with sustainable development initiatives.
- Explore opportunities for collaboration and synergies for a broader impact.
- Implement technical work aimed at orienting the Heritage Hubs towards long-term sustainability.
Since its launch in 2020, ICCROM’s Youth.Heritage.Africa programme has been at the forefront of empowering young people through heritage by engaging in strategic partnerships with heritage institutions, universities, and youth hubs across Africa. These collaborations have led to the establishment of Heritage Hubs in Egypt, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa, with two more in the pipeline in Côte d'Ivoire and Zimbabwe. Through this workshop, ICCROM and partners laid the groundwork for transitioning the Heritage Hubs into autonomous, self-sustaining entities by 2030.
Key outcomes of the Kigali Workshop
The workshop concluded with several important achievements aimed at strengthening the Heritage Hubs network and ensuring its long-term sustainability:
- The establishment of the Heritage Hubs Technical Working Group to oversee strategic implementation and coordination.
- The refinement of the resource mobilization strategy to ensure sustainable funding and partnerships for Heritage Hubs.
- The drafting of a strategic concept document outlining objectives, activities, governance structures, and funding strategies for the next five years.
The Kigali strategic planning workshop reinforced the importance of sustainability and collaboration, ensuring that the Heritage Hubs continue to contribute to a transformative, resilient heritage ecosystem to drive innovation and socio-economic development for a prosperous and sustainable Africa.