Deadline: 29 September 2023
Registration for the 7th African World Heritage Youth Forum 2023 are now open. The 7th edition of the African World Heritage Youth Forum brought together young African leaders to share their perspectives, experiences and solutions for tackling the challenges posed by climate change.
By empowering young people to play a leading role in conservation efforts and promoting intercultural dialogue and collaboration, the Forum will help build a strong network of young leaders committed to Climate Action and the conservation of World Heritage properties for the benefit of present and future generations.
The 7th edition of the African World Heritage Youth Forum will be held under the theme "Engaging African Youth in Climate Action for World Heritage Conservation", with an online phase taking place from 23 to 28 October 2023, followed by a face-to-face meeting in Cairo, Egypt, from 20 to 24 November 2023.
Objectives
The Forum aims to empower young people to develop tools to effectively communicate the impacts of climate change and the implications of actions on World Heritage properties to various audiences, including policy makers, civil society, the private sector and local communities, with subsequent benefits for the conservation and management of World Heritage properties in Africa.
Expected results
- Greater awareness and understanding of the impacts of climate change on World Heritage properties in Africa;
- Adoption of the African Youth Declaration expressing youth aspirations and a roadmap guiding Youth Climate Action for World Heritage Conservation in Africa;
- Strengthening intercultural dialogue and collaboration among young Africans to find solutions and take collective climate action for the conservation and protection of World Heritage; and
- Greater visibility of the role of African youth in Climate Action for the protection and promotion of Africa's heritage through wide media coverage (national and international) and the presentation of results on international platforms, such as the 45 sessions of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.
Forum Format
The Forum will comprise three distinct but interconnected main phases. The first phase will be an online session centred on the theoretical basis for general frameworks for World Heritage conservation and Climate Action in Africa. The first phase will result in participants developing proposals for climate heritage initiatives to improve the state of World Heritage conservation in Africa.
In the second phase, participants will take part in practical activities, group discussions and guided visits to a World Heritage site in Egypt (Historic Cairo). During this five-day meeting, participants will finalise and present their Climate Action projects as part of the Forum's official closing ceremony. The third and final phase of the Forum will consist of monitoring the implementation of the projects through the involvement of various stakeholders and partners.
Eligibility
- Open to African citizens aged between 18 and 35 at the time of application;
- Minimum certified post-secondary education and/or qualification;
- Fluency in English (the Forum's working language);
- Personal attributes: motivated, active individuals interested in World Heritage and Climate Action, eager to implement the results of the Forum in their home countries.
- Professional attributes:
- Active leader/defender of Climate Action in Africa;
- Committed to the conservation and promotion of African heritage (natural and cultural); and
- Familiar with and active users of digital media and communication platforms such as social media (YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram), websites, blogs, video conferences (Zoom, MS Teams), etc.
- African regional representation and gender balance will be prioritised.
Application
Each candidate must submit the following application pack:
- The online application form;
- Declaration of interest video (45 seconds); and
- Curriculum Vitae (maximum 4 pages) describing the candidate's current position, qualifications, areas of specialisation, professional experience in the field of cultural and/or natural heritage (including World Heritage), climate action, publications/reports, etc.
The application pack must be submitted via portal of the African World Heritage Fund until 29 September 2023.
For more information, visit 7th African World Heritage Youth Forum .
