Generously supported by UNESCO and Japan Funds-in-Trust
In the framework of UNESCO’s emergency assistance programme for Ukraine and accordance with 215 EX/Decision 5.I.F of UNESCO’s Executive Board, UNESCO launched the multisectoral project ‘Support for Ukraine in Culture and Education through UNESCO’ in February 2023. With the support of the UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-Trust, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine (MoCIP), and in close coordination with UNESCO and ICOMOS, the ICCROM-FAR team trained heritage professionals, carried out in-situ damage and risk assessments using standardized methodology, and drafted hazard-specific risk scenarios.
Through this project, participants gained the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to contribute to protecting and recovering cultural heritage in Ukraine. They were equipped with expertise and guidelines to ensure urgent protection of World Heritage sites and other cultural properties.
- From 26 to 30 July 2022, UNESCO, ICOMOS and ICCROM, in partnership with MoCIP and with the support of the UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-Trust, conducted an in-person training with 25 heritage professionals from eight at-risk regions in Ukraine.
- From 29 July to 1 August 2023, a mission to Odesa led by Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi, UNESCO’s Representative to Ukraine, was carried out with several experts, including from ICOMOS and ICCROM, to assess damage and risk to cultural heritage in Ukraine.
- On 3 and 6 October 2023, an online workshop, “UNESCO-ICCROM methodology unification workshop for on-site damage and risk assessment in Ukraine”, in accordance with the Action Plan for Culture in Ukraine (August 2023) and coordinated by UNESCO and MoCIP, was organized to bring together national and international partners to harmonize damage and risk assessment methodologies for Ukraine.
- From 23 to 27 October 2023, a five-day hands-on training workshop, supported by the US Department of State’s Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) and in close cooperation with MoCIP, Maidan Museum, Heritage Emergency Response Initiative (HERI) and Agency for Cultural Resilience (ACURE), was held in L’viv, Ukraine, to train 25 heritage professionals in preliminary visual inspections in the immediate aftermath of a critical incident at a heritage site.
Expected outcomes
- Identification, analysis and synchronization of all in-situ damage assessment initiatives underway in Ukraine by national and international partners.
- Comprehensive and standardized in situ damage and risk assessment forms for immovable heritage in English and Ukrainian adapted and updated in cooperation with national and international multidisciplinary partners and endorsed by MoCIP.
- A 5-day in-person workshop on conducting on-site damage and risk assessment using the standardized forms prepared.
- Identification of sites with MoCIP and coordination with all actors for expeditions.
- A data analysis report with recommended actions, priorities, costs and timeline.
- Online consultations and follow-up, including expeditions for 3D documentation.
