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Overview of the Programme

Local communities play a vital role in Heritage Conservation. Recognizing their vital role, the World Heritage Committee adopted ', in 2007 at its 31st session in Christchurch, New Zealand. underscores the direct connection between heritage conservation and sustainable development.

Heritage sites are not just remnants of the past; they are dynamic spaces where history, culture, and local traditions continue to evolve. UNESCO’s World Heritage, Sustainable Development, and Local Communities project funded by the Korean Funds-in-Trust aims to bridge the gap between heritage conservation and sustainable development by ensuring that local communities actively participate in and benefit from heritage protection.

Heritage sites often serve as cultural and economic hubs, providing opportunities for education, tourism, and traditional livelihoods. However, many communities living around these sites face challenges such as economic marginalization, loss of traditional skills, environmental degradation, and a lack of representation in decision-making processes. This programme addresses these challenges by integrating community engagement, cultural heritage preservation, and sustainable economic practices.

Through this initiative, UNESCO collaborates with national and local governments, heritage professionals, and community organizations to create long-term strategies that promote cultural sustainability. 

The programme focuses on:

• Empowering Local Communities: Ensuring that residents have a say in heritage conservation efforts and benefit from related economic activities.

• Sustainable Livelihoods: Strengthening traditional skills, such as crafts and performing arts, and integrating them into contemporary markets.

• Education & Awareness: Conducting heritage walks, storytelling sessions, and training programmes to instil a sense of pride and responsibility in younger generations.

• Heritage-Led Sustainable Tourism: Developing responsible tourism strategies that protect heritage sites while providing economic opportunities for local stakeholders.

• Environmental & Infrastructure Improvements: Addressing concerns such as pollution, waste management, and conservation of historic structures.

By integrating community-driven approaches into heritage conservation, the programme aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:

• SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth

• SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities

• SDG 17: Partnerships for sustainable development

This programme is currently being implemented in three significant World Heritage sites:

• Taj Ganj, Agra, India – Focusing on revitalizing traditional crafts and enhancing local economic opportunities.

• Jaisalmer Fort, Rajasthan, India – Addressing sustainable tourism management and local heritage preservation.

• Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka – Promoting intercultural dialogue and community-led conservation efforts.

Project Background

Taj Ganj, once a thriving Mughal-era commercial hub, evolved as an artisan settlement closely linked to the . Generations of craftsmen specialised in Parchin Kari (marble inlay work), embroidery, and other traditional crafts, contributing to Agra’s rich artistic legacy. However, economic shifts, modernization, and mass tourism have led to a decline in these heritage crafts, leaving artisans vulnerable.

The lack of formal training, market access, and sustainable livelihoods has further marginalized artisans, many of whom work as labourers for large businesses rather than independent creators. Additionally, poor socio-economic conditions, limited welfare benefits, and occupational hazards (such as eye strain and respiratory issues from marble dust) have made it difficult for artisans to sustain their craft.

The project aims to bridge this gap by strengthening artisans’ capacities, providing market linkages, and promoting heritage-based tourism that directly benefits the local community.

Objectives

• Strengthen artisans' livelihoods by improving market access and product innovationProvide skill-building workshops and access to public welfare schemes

• Conduct heritage walks to engage youth in cultural preservation

• Provide skill-building workshops and access to public welfare schemes

• Enhance visitor experiences through sustainable tourism initiatives

Key Activities

Empowering Artisans as Skilled Entrepreneurs - Stone Inlay Artisans

• Design development and skill upgradation workshops to foster creativity through diverse product exploration, specialized design training, and innovation.

• The project also focuses on Entrepreneurship development and encompasses training on social media marketing strategies and skills development for improved customer service.

• Facilitating market linkage for the local artisans and creating new avenues of income. 

• Enhancing communication skills involves offering English language training for artisans and conducting workshops on negotiation techniques for effective customer interaction, especially with international visitors or tourists.

Outreach Activities

• Conducting heritage walks in Taj Ganj, Agra, involves organizing guided tours for community children and youth, fostering cultural exchange and community engagement.

Well-being of the local community of Stone Inlay Artisans

• Awareness-raising initiatives to assist artisans and their families in accessing government welfare schemes and providing support with documentation and enrolment

• The project also focuses on improving English language training of community youth and children. 

Project Background

is one of the few "living forts" in the world, with a thriving local community residing within its walls. However, the fort faces increasing threats due to unregulated tourism, poor infrastructure management, and environmental degradation. Overcrowding, pollution, and a lack of proper conservation planning have led to serious concerns about the long-term sustainability of the site.

There is limited awareness regarding the conservation and management of living heritage sites. Jaisalmer Fort, with its unique identity as a thriving "living fort," highlights the need for a balanced approach that equally prioritises heritage preservation and the well-being of its residents. UNESCO brings strategies to address these challenges, emphasising community involvement and sustainable practices tailored to living heritage contexts.

Objectives

• Empower local communities to actively participate in heritage conservation

• Develop sustainable tourism management strategies to reduce overcrowding and pollution

• Support the economic viability of traditional crafts, folk music, and camel pastoralism

• Improve urban planning to address infrastructure challenges inside the fort

Key Activities

• Workshop on Framing Building Guidelines – aimed at strengthening heritage-sensitive development policies.

• Traditional Building Crafts Workshop – to revive and sustain Jaisalmer’s unique architectural craftsmanship.

• Developing Visitor Itinerary and Circulation Plans – to ensure a structured and immersive experience while reducing overcrowding impacts.

Project Background:

, a historic capital of Sri Lanka, stands as a symbol of multicultural heritage and post-conflict reconciliation. With Buddhist and Hindu monuments coexisting within the site, Polonnaruwa serves as a powerful space for dialogue between different ethnic and religious communities in Sri Lanka.

However, many local communities remain disconnected from the site, lacking opportunities to engage with their heritage or benefit from conservation efforts. The project aims to involve both Sinhala and Tamil communities in heritage management, capacity-building, and sustainable tourism initiatives.

A key focus of the project is to conduct workshops with local communities at heritage sites, such as Shiva Devalaya No. 2, a significant monument within this World Heritage site. These workshops aim to actively involve local communities in conservation efforts and the sustainable development of Polonnaruwa. By fostering collaboration among Sinhala and Tamil communities, the project seeks to bridge cultural divides and cultivate a more inclusive approach to heritage management.

Objectives

• Foster intercultural dialogue between Tamil and Sinhala communities through heritage conservation

• Train local youth in conservation and heritage guiding to create employment opportunities

• Revitalize traditional craftsmanship by involving local artisans in restoration efforts

• Enhance community participation in heritage decision-making processes

Key Activities

• Heritage walks and educational programs to engage local communities with the significance of the site

• Skill development training for youth, enabling them to become official heritage guides

• Community-led discussions and consultations to incorporate local perspectives in conservation efforts

• Creating a sustainable tourism model that directly benefits local communities, ensuring long-term engagement