Call for application: TABE’A Programme Training Series: Tentative Lists and Nomination preparation for Natural World Heritage sites

Background

Tabe’a is partnership regional programme for natural World Heritage in the Arab States between IUCN and Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage. It is designed to meet the specific needs of states, stakeholders and sites within the region, and to ensure that the World Heritage Convention contributes to nature conservation programme and to benefit nature and people.

The Arab region is home to a wealth and diversity of natural heritage, with desert landscapes and marine being particularly noteworthy. The number of natural sites currently listed is, however, the smallest of any of the UNESCO regions by a considerable margin. Thus a key priority area of the Tabe’a program is to address the underrepresentation of the natural heritage of the region on the World Heritage List by providing training on preparing nominations, in particular those parts of the nominations that are most challenging.

Workshop Objectives

The Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) is often one of the weak components of nominations, and can jeopardize the success of the nomination. Common problems include:

• Lack of objectivity in the analysis of the values;
• Not making a determined effort to look for the values of the sites at a global level;
• Only using limited information and sometime outdated;
• Lack of understanding of the World Heritage Criteria and its application; and
• Not selecting the best value of the site to build the argument.

The workshop aims to equip participants with necessary skills and knowledge to avoid such problems and successfully develop a Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) that clearly demonstrates why the nominated property should be inscribed on the World Heritage List. The training will introduce participants to advanced concepts, procedures, and sources of information associated with the preparation of OUV. Participants will also learn how to compile relevant scientific data and information to support the preparation process. The workshop will follow a “learning by doing” approach enabling participants to tackle challenges together and debate issues that are relevant to their particular context. For this purpose, as part of the application processes, participants are required to prepare a case study of a potential World Heritage site (see section below on Application, point 3).

Who should apply?

The workshop is designed for a maximum of 20 participants from the Arab Region and it is open to professionals currently involved in the preparation of a natural World Heritage nomination or planning to so do so in the near future. Participants should have at least five years of practical working experience in a field related to nature conservation. Preference will be given to professionals currently working on a nomination dossier.

The workshop will be conducted in both Arabic and English. Candidates must therefore have a good technical knowledge and command of written and verbal Arabic and English.

Travel, Accomodatioon and Living Expenses

Participants are responsible for their round-trip travel costs to and from Manama (Bahrain), and for all living expenses, including accommodation, for the entire duration of the workshop. Candidates are strongly encouraged to seek financial support from their employers or from other sources. A limited number of scholarships will be available.

Financial Assistance

The organizers will offer a limited number of scholarships to selected candidates who are unable to secure funding from any other sources.

Full scholarships covered by the programme will include:

1. Air fair
2. Accommodation
3. Meals

Depending on the availability of funds, travel grants or accommodation might also be offered. When completing the Application Form, candidates are required to specify if they are able to cover their expenses or if they require financial support.

Application

In order to apply:

1. Please fill out the application form and send it together with following documents by e-mail.
2. Short Personal Statement: applicants are requested to provide a text (no more than 1000 words) including:
   1. a brief description of their previous professional experience in areas related to nature conservation and in World Heritage in particular and;
   2. reasons for applying to the workshop, what the applicant hopes to learn from it and if it will benefit the preparation of a particular nomination.
3. Case study: applicants are required to submit a two page (maximum) Case Study describing a natural heritage site with which they have experience. Preference should be given to Case Studies related to the focus of the workshop, which are currently in the process of being nominated or are included in a Tentative List and are expected to be nominated in a near future.
   The Case Study must contain, the following sections, under the same headings (the percentages indicate relative importance of each section):
   1. Description of the site (20%)
      This should consist of a general overview of the property and refer to the significant features of the site associated with its potential Outstanding Universal Value. It should also include the description/definition of the spatial area. Maps or other similar data do not need to be presented at this stage but will be required later.
   2. Description of the site’s potential Outstanding Universal Value (60%)
      This should include the description of the site’s values and why the site could be considered to be of potential ‘Outstanding Universal Value’. It should also outline the similarities the selected site has with other sites in the region and at the global level and the possible reasons that make it stand out.
   3. Description of the current management and integrity issues (20%)
      This should contain a description of the site’s conservation status and existing management system and/or management arrangements (international, national, local, traditional, etc.). Please reflect whether or not the existing arrangements adequately protect and promote the values of the site and address (potential) threats to its integrity.
      Case Studies will be distributed to all participants prior to the workshop, as well as being incorporated into the Workshop literature. Some selected Case Studies may be used for practical exercises during the Workshop. In such cases, the participant who submitted the Case Study will act as a ‘data provider’ to the team.

Application Deadline

Applications must be received by Thursday, 27th July 2016 to ensure inclusion in the selection process. No application will be processed after the established deadline.

Who we are?

IUCN
IUCN was founded in October 1948 as the International Union for the Protection of Nature (or IUPN) following an international conference in Fontainebleau, France. The organization changed its name to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources in 1956 with the acronym IUCN (or UICN in French and Spanish). This remains our full legal name to this day. Our vision is a just world that values and conserves nature. Our mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.

ARC-WH
The Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) is a Category 2 Center under the auspices of UNESCO, and an autonomous, independent Bahraini institution based in Manama, Bahrain. The ARC-WH was established by an agreement signed on February 5, 2010 between the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), respectively by Mai Bint Muhamad Al Khalifa, Minister of Culture and Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General. The Centre’s mission is to strengthen implementation of the 1972 World Heritage Convention in the Arab States Region, by strengthening application of the decisions and Recommendations of the World Heritage Committee for the benefit of World Heritage properties in the region.