About Us Print

CHDA is an international Non Governmental Organisation(NGO) dedicated to the preservation, management and promotion of cultural heritage in Africa through a programme of training and development support services. Its core value is in the preservation of Immovable, Movable and intangible Cultural Heritage in Africa.

Various programmes have been undertaken throughout the life of CHDA. These programmes include:

  • Training in Conservation of Movable Heritage, Training in Conservation of Immovable Heritage, and fund raising
  • Training in Public Programming and Education
  • Training in the development of nomination dossiers for World Heritage List
  • Training in Heritage Impact Assessment
  • Training in Exhibitions Design
  • Training in Collections Management & Storage
  • Training in Stakeholder participation

Vision:

To be a center of excellence in heritage development on the African Continent.

Brief Background:

In 1997, 25 museum professionals from English-speaking Africa met at the University of Ghana and formulated this vision of African museums:

African museums in the new millennium 2000 will be Attractive, Dynamic, Fruitful, Communicative, Creative, Autonomous and Educational. ICCROM, through the PREMA 1990-2000 Programme (Prevention in Museums in Africa), and other international and national institutions have been supporting museums and museum professionals to achieve this vision.

That is why ICCROM created:

  1. In 2000: PMDA - Programme for Museum Development in Africa, renamed CHDA – Centre for Heritage Development in Africa in November 2004, based in Mombasa, Kenya
  2. In 1998: EPA - École du Patrimoine Africain (EPA), based in Porto-Novo, Benin.
  3. Both CHDA and EPA share coverage of Portuguese speaking sub–Saharan Africa

The countries which have benefited from CHDA thus far are:
Angola, Botswana, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe

Since its inception, CHDA has been recognized for the quality and innovative character of its training and development support programmes and activities that it provides to professionals and institutions responsible for Movable and Immovable heritage in Sub-Saharan Africa.

CHDA has experience and successful goal orientation programmes such as:

  • Experience, Expertise and Resources developed through its co-ordination and delivery of the Africa 2009 3 month course with focus on design and development of Conservation Management Plans
  • Draft curriculum designed, implemented and evaluated at the Lesotho Course of 2008 on behalf of the African World Heritage Fund
  • Experience, Expertise and Infrastructure to design and implement training in-situ
  • Culture of multiple-partnerships & international expertise in its programs
CHDA is competent in various issues that touch on African Heritage such as;
  • Programs on Immovable Heritage
  • Programs on Movable Heritage
  • Training in-situ
  • Logistical Support and infrastructure
  • Network of professionals
  • Facilities
  • Multiple Partnerships and stakeholder management
  • Well resourced and expert knowledge within host institution, National Museums of Kenya
  • Commitment of ICCROM, NMK, WHC, CRAT-erre to supporting CHDA’s development

Through various partners CHDA is able to work closely with all relevant stakeholders in the training, preservation and management of Heritage and Culture.

PRIORITIES for 2009-2010

  • GOVERNANCE ISSUES 
Constitutional Review.
Constitution of the Board.
Policy Framework & Handbook.
Organizational Structure & Development Plan.
  • RESOURCE MOBILISATION
 Re-Visioning/transitioning exercise of Program to Centre.
Developing an Integrated strategy between Programs.
Developing & Implementing effective Marketing & Communications Strategy.
Optimizing Human Capital.
Attracting & Retaining grant funding.
Partnership Management.
  • Programs
Immovable Heritage.
Movable Heritage.
Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Activities conducted by CHDA

  • Training
Training in Public Programming and Education.
 Training in the development of nomination dossiers for World Heritage List.
 Training in Heritage Impact Assessment.
 Training in Exhibitions Design.
 Training in Collections Management & Storage.
 Training in Stakeholder participation.
  • Research and Publications.
  • Public Programmes
  • Missions.

Synergy

To ensure there is synergy between its various programs as they are inter-related and integrated within the practice of heritage on the continent.

To ensure that there is synergy and excellent working relationships between various agencies and organizations working towards the same and similar goals on the continent.

Access

To ensure that all of its activities facilitate access to heritage resources within local, national and international communities.

To ensure there is access to information about the work, opportunities for training within CHDA.

Visibility

To ensure that there is greater visibility within national and local government leadership, communities of the
relationship between heritage and socio-economic development and the need for conservation of heritage resources.

To ensure the sustained visibility of CHDA within the sector and inter-sectorial at local, national and international levels.

Sustainability

To ensure that the programs of CHDA are sustained to ensure maximum impact and continuity. To practice financial astuteness so as to sustain programming. To remain consultative in its approach to training identification and its growth strategy.