The Urban Rehabilitation of the Medinas: The World Bank Experience in the Middle East and North Africa, September 2011

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Table of contents:
Foreword
1. Summary
2. Significance and decay of medinas in the Arab world
3. Defining contemporary medina users
4. Objectives of medina rehabilitation
5. Winners and losers in medina rehabilitation
6. Roles of the public, private, and non-profit sectors
7. Institutional framework and urban management
8. Urban planning and property titling
9. Cultural preservation, public space, and infrastructure upgrading
10. Pro-poor housing and welfare programs
11. Fiscal and financial mechanisms to promote private investments
12. Cultural tourism and the Medina Tourism Potential Index
References

Euromed Heritage Seminar online proceedings on Heritage Economics

Strengthening existing institutional and legal frameworks: seminar on “Heritage Economics and Financing Mechanisms”
(6-8 June 2010, Damascus, Syria)




Fourth seminar organised by RMSU for the strengthening of Mediterranean cultural heritage institutional and legislative frameworks.
A specialised workshop was organised in Damascus in connection with the activities of the Euromed Heritage 4 programme in order to meet the wishes of the partner countries for strengthening the institutional and legislative framework of their heritage policies.

Given the important role that heritage can fill as an economic and social resource, this workshop was about defining, in consultation with all parties concerned, the modalities for a development of the heritage in a modern policy of sustainable human development. And more precisely: a valuation that is consistent with its proper preservation and the safeguarding of its values.

On the one hand, the workshop examined various business models and formulated proposals for the regulatory framework on the process of decision making and the accompanying managerial imperatives.

On the other hand, very specifically, the workshop examined the range of financing techniques for the conservation and enhancement of heritage, with particular attention to forms of public-private partnership. An inventory of the different practices in European countries and in Mediterranean partner countries has served as the basis for the workshop.

In addition to a representative from each partner country, the workshop brought together experts from UNESCO, ICCROM, the Council of Europe, the European Investment Bank, the Aga Khan Trust and ICOMOS.

Download (PDF, 3 MB) - Euromed Heritage website

"Connecting", the Euromed Heritage 4 newsletter: new issue online

Connecting n. 5, the EH 4 newsletter, is now available.



This edition focuses on gastronomy and food which are an essential aspect of Mediterranean culture. High moments in peoples’ lives are organised around food and sharing it with family and community members. You will learn about this unique Mediterranean heritage, made of fresh ingredients, freshly baked bread, a rich selection of wines, olive oil in a whole range of fruitiness and flavours, and a dash of “farniente” to go...

Main features:

- Food practice as heritage - by Christiane Dabdoub Nasser, RMSU Team Leader

- The Mediterranean cuisine: a delight in the unity and diversity - by Josseline Rigot, Culinary Reviewer

- For the protection of the living heritage in the Mediterranean - interview with Fleur Perrier de la Bathie, coordinator of Euromed Heritage 4 project “Medliher”

- Slow food picks up pace - by Christiane Dabdoub Nasser, RMSU Team Leader

- Selection of EH 4 best pictures

Download the complete newsletter (PDF, 1.7 MB)

Previous issues

EUROMED Heritage - Seminar proceedings online

Strengthening the institutional and legislative frameworks: seminar on “Prevention and fight against illicit traffic of cultural properties”
(9-11 November 2009, Beirut, Lebanon)



Second legal seminar organised by RMSU in collaboration with the Beirut Office of UNESCO, under the patronage of the Lebanese Directorate of Antiquities
The objective of this second seminar, organised by RMSU in the framework of its activity of strengthening of the institutional and legal framework, was to compare the existing legislations and specialised services in the Mediterranean partner countries with the norms set by major international conventions such as the Hague Convention of 1954, the UNESCO Convention of 1970, and the UNIDROIT Convention of 1995, as well as the codes of ethics for the management of collections, whether private or museum collections, and for the trade in cultural properties (Codes of ICOM and UNESCO).
The seminar examined how these norms have been implemented in the national legislations, how the data base of UNESCO of cultural heritage legislation is being updated and consulted, and the mode of cooperation with the services of INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization (WCO).
The discussion linked with the issues related to inventories, a subject already dealt with in December 2008 at the occasion of the first seminar, and in particular the use of the norm “Object ID”. In addition, the seminar invited Dr. Sophie Vigneron from Kent University (UK), rapporteur of the Seminar on manuscripts organised in April 2008 in Alexandria by Manumed EH 4 project.
Eventually, this seminar was combined with a special training session for about ten Lebanese professionals.

Download the results of the seminar

Expert Workshop on the Study and Conservation of Earthen Architecture - Final report available

Expert Workshop on the Study and Conservation of Earthen Architecture and its contribution to sustainable development in the Mediterranean Region: Final Report.
Edited by Maddalena Achenza, Claudia Cancino, Mariana Correia, Amila Ferron and Hubert Guillaud

The final report of the expert workshop held in Villanovaforru, Sardegna, Italy, 17-18 March 2009, on the study and conservation of earthen architecture, is available on the GCI website.

Download the report

Workshop on inventories/Atelier sur les inventaires: proceedings

Strengthening institutional and legal frameworks: workshop on inventories (10-12 December 2008, Paris)
First legal workshop on cultural heritage inventories in Mediterranean Partner countries organised by the RMSU in collaboration with the France-UNESCO Cooperation Agreement

These Proceedings present the documents related to the workshop on INVENTORIES that took place in Paris, at UNESCO Headquarters. It is the result of a fruitful co-operation between the Euromed Heritage programme of the European Union and the Agreement France-UNESCO.

Download the proceedings and the recommendations

MOSAIKON: A Regional Strategy for the Conservation of Mosaics in the Mediterranean

ATHAR-MOSAIKON: Conservation and Management of Mosaics on Archaeological Sites 3–21 May 2010 Tyre, Lebanon Application deadline: 30 November 2009

Project Objectives

MOSAIKON is a partnership of four institutions: the Getty Conservation Institute, the Getty Foundation, ICCROM (the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property), and the International Committee for the Conservation of Mosaics (ICCM).

The objectives of MOSAIKON are:

- to strengthen the ICCM and the network of professionals concerned with the conservation, restoration, maintenance, and management of the mosaics heritage;
- to provide training to a variety of individuals involved in mosaics conservation and, more generally, with the management of archaeological sites and museums with mosaics;
- to work with national and international bodies to provide a more favorable legislative, regulatory, and economic environment for the conservation of mosaics in the Mediterranean; and
- to promote the dissemination and exchange of information.

Read more about the project in the Getty Conservation Institute website and in the ICCROM website