Announcing the release of volume 3 of ‘A Story of Change’

Exposed to intersecting conflicts, climate change-induced disasters and health crises, the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan – collectively referred to as the MENAP region – is home to rich and diverse heritage. 

Over the past two and a half years, ICCROM’s First Aid and Resilience for Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis (FAR) Programme has trained a readily deployable team of 20 Cultural First Aiders (including four mentors) from the MENAP region in the framework of the Alliance for Cultural First Aid, Peace and Resilience project. Generously supported by the ALIPH Foundation, this cascading capacity development project was implemented in partnership with the Egyptian Heritage Rescue Foundation (EHRF) and the Zurich-based Centre for Security Studies (CSS).

These Cultural First Aiders are now equipped to respond during complex emergencies. They are trained to assess, document, secure and stabilize damaged heritage in tandem with humanitarian relief and recovery.

This cohort carried out field projects at 16 heritage places, seven of which are World Heritage Sites. They provided first aid to endangered heritage and improved the sites’ emergency preparedness. The field projects helped train another group of 262 Cultural First Aiders and proactively involved 624 residents in managing the risks to their local heritage.