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Themed “Capacity Building for the Ethiopian National Memory of the World Committee and Memory Institutions,” the training workshop convened a diverse group of experts, scholars, archivists, government officials, and representatives from memory institutions across the country. While the event focused on enhancing technical competencies in heritage preservation, its most significant outcome was the formal creation of the National MoW Committee — a body that will spearhead Ethiopia’s efforts to safeguard its manuscripts, historical documents, archives, and oral traditions.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Rita Bissoonauth, Director of the UNESCO Liaison Office to the African Union and ECA and UNESCO Representative to Ethiopia, underscored the long-term significance of the Committee’s work:

“Your decisions, your initiatives, and your collaboration as a National MoW Committee have the potential to shape how Ethiopia’s story is told — both now and for generations to come.”

The establishment of the Committee marks a transformative step in Ethiopia’s cultural preservation journey. It will serve as a national coordinating platform for memory preservation initiatives, including the development of a national documentary heritage registry, and will advocate for the nomination of Ethiopian heritage to UNESCO’s global Memory of the World Register. This ensures that future generations have access to the country’s invaluable historical records.

Ms. Misako Ito, UNESCO Regional Advisor for Information and Communication in Africa, highlighted the limited representation of African heritage on the MoW Register and emphasized that Ethiopia’s establishment of a national committee will enhance Africa’s presence. It will also strengthen the work of the African Regional Committee for the Memory of the World (ARCMoW).

Key institutions represented at the workshop include the Ethiopian Archives and Library Service, Ethiopian Heritage Trust, Heritage Conservation Association, Ethiopian Heritage Authority (EHA), Addis Ababa University, the Ethiopian National Commission for UNESCO, major religious institutions, and individual heritage experts — all united by a shared commitment to preserving Ethiopia’s cultural memory.

This initiative not only elevates Ethiopia’s role in the global Memory of the World Programme but also reaffirms UNESCO’s enduring commitment to supporting nations in protecting and celebrating their documentary heritage.

Mr. Aderaw Genetu, Communication and Information Programme Officer at UNESCO Addis Ababa, noted that Ethiopian partners and UNESCO are working to develop a national framework for the preservation of Ethiopia’s documentary heritage. As part of the first phase, over 2,500 documentary heritage items will be identified and catalogued from Tana and Tigray monasteries, laying the groundwork for future preservation and recognition efforts.

The training was designed to enhance participants’ understanding of the Memory of the World (MoW) Programme, equipping them with the skills needed to identify, preserve, nominate and promote Ethiopia’s documentary heritage. It also aimed to foster collaboration and networking among committee members and key stakeholders.