11th Africa 2009 director's seminar

The 11th, and final, Africa 2009 directors’ seminar was hosted by the Centre for Heritage Development in Africa in Mombasa from 28 September – 2 October 2009. The seminar was held at the Whitesands Hotel in Mombasa. The seminar was the last main event of the Africa 2009 programme and also marked the formal closing of the programme. The theme of the seminar was ‘Africa 2009: flashback to the past, step into the future’. There were 30 African national heritage directors – or their representatives – present at the seminar. Also in attendance were the Director-General of ICCROM, Mr Mounir Bouchenaki. In attendance were representatives of the technical (ICCROM, UNESCO-WHC, CRAterre-ENSAG, CHDA, EPA) and financial partners. The seminar was declared open and closed by a representative of the Kenyan Minister for National Heritage, Mrs Ann Gakuria.

The objectives of the seminar were:

To allow participants at the 11th regional course to present the results of the Course to the Directors;
To reflect on the achievements of Africa 2009;
To reflect on the possible directions for a new programme after 2009;
To present a draft of a programme after 2009;
To officially close the Africa 2009 programme;

Copies of the draft management plans from the 11th regional course were presented to representatives of the local communities in which the management planning process had been carried out.

Presentation of draft management plans of the 11th regional course to a representative of the local community (L-R: Bwanderehema Ali Farouk, Ann Gakuria, Vincent Maumela, Dr Idle Farah)
Directors reflected on national gains from the activities of the programme in its 10 years of existence, while identifying the current needs that require attention in their various countries. There were presentations and personal reflections on different aspects of the programme’s strategic objectives in the past 12 years – networking, community participation, research and publications, the involvement of women, programme impact across the continent, and the aspect of contributing financially to the success of the programme. A strong message that came across in these, and other presentations, was a general sense of satisfaction with the achievements of the programme and the realisation of its objectives.

Directors and participants in working sessions
CHDA and its francophone counterpart, EPA, presented a draft document on a future programme orientation beyond 2009. This was well received by the directors present and it formed the basis for group work and discussions on needs and orientations for the new programme beyond 2009. The group work also raised points for the final Recommendations of the seminar.
CHDA and EPA directors (Deirdre Prins-Solani and Alain Godonou) making a presentation on a future programme beyond 2009
Seminar participants on a visit to the Jumba la Mtwana Heritage site in Mombasa
The seminar closing ceremony was held in the grounds of the Fort Jesus Museum. Certificates were presented to the participants of the 11th regional course and there were goodwill messages from various quarters regarding the past programme and future orientations.