Priorities for International Cooperation Reflection on Periodic Reporting 24-25 January 2007

International Cooperation Priorities for Asia and the Pacific

Challenges/1 Donors prefer to finance specific projects on the ground with “concrete and visible” results However, need for resources to sustain the processes, which are the key contribution expected from UNESCO

Challenges/2 Donors want to finance only “activities”, not the human resources to manage them However, implementation of activities within UNESCO system requires significant resources for administration and management

Challenges/3 The UN reforms calls for a One-UN delivering system in the field. There will be less and less “UNESCO” projects… However, the role of heritage within the broader context of development is not yet firmly established

Four points/1 Concentrate on the contribution of heritage to sustainable development, i.e. no more restoration projects without a demonstrated strategy for social, economic and environmental sustainability

Four points/2 Ensuring the link between field based activities and policy development and dissemination. The latter should have prominence since the role of UNESCO is firstly to be a laboratory of ideas

Four points/3 Standardize processes and types of activities to reduce costs for formulation, negotiation, management and evaluation. It is too costly to develop every time new, ad hoc activities for small amounts…

Four points/4 Funds do not need to go through UNESCO and WHC. Only ideas should. Regional Funds for WH Conservation should be managed by region-based technical bodies capable of delivering, working in consultation with UNESCO Field Offices and WHC