FAC-AFRICA Course 
First Aid to Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis

Dates: 12-28 November 2018
Application deadline: 29 March 2018 
Place: Bamako, Mali
Working languages: English and French 
 
Organizing partners
UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 
ICCROM - International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration 
of Cultural Property
 
Overview
Culture cannot wait. Be it the rescue of the ancient manuscripts in besieged 
Timbuktu or the careful salvage of destroyed temples in the earthquake that 
struck the Kathmandu Valley, affected communities always strive to protect 
their cultural heritage following an emergency. 
Yet, where does one start, and who can help affected communities in recovering 
their heritage? Questions such as how and when to intervene in an unfolding 
humanitarian crisis continue to be problematic for national agencies tasked 
with both the humanitarian relief and at-scale recovery of cultural heritage. 
 
The Training
First Aid for Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis (FAC) emphasizes coordinated 
emergency preparedness and response for tangible and intangible cultural 
heritage. It is based on a field-tested three-step framework for providing 
first aid to cultural heritage, which can be adapted to any emergency context, 
be it the result of conflict or disaster, and is especially useful in planning 
at scale responses for securing and stabilizing different types of cultural 
heritage during complex emergency situations. 
Developing a culture of preparedness, ongoing risk management, collaboration as 
well as coordination with mainstream emergency actors forms a core component of 
the training. The training identifies areas of joint programming between 
culture and humanitarian sectors to make certain that the affected communities 
participate in their own recovery. 
The training is mostly hands-on. It aims to enhance participants skills for 
emergency management, crisis communication, and providing people-centered first 
aid for cultural heritage. Using the recent conflict in Mali as a central case 
study, this course will offer insights gained in recovering cultural heritage 
in tandem with humanitarian recovery. Participants will have the first-hand 
experience of interacting with communities engaged in recovery, reconstruction 
and peace building processes. The rich cultural and social context of Mali will 
provide participants with a unique opportunity to understand the complex and 
interminable links between people and heritage during crises.
 
Expected outcomes
At the end of the training, participants will be able to:
Take action to develop coordination mechanisms between local cultural heritage 
institutions and agencies in-charge of managing emergencies;

Analyse a given emergency situation, and identify actors as well as priorities 
for providing first aid for cultural heritage;

Carry out on-site damage and risk assessments for cultural heritage in 
emergency situations;

Secure, salvage and stabilize a variety of cultural materials and structures; 

Communicate successfully with the various emergency actors involved;

Work in multi-disciplinary teams to provide first aid for cultural heritage;

Improve emergency preparedness for cultural heritage in and beyond their 
respective institutions.

 
Who should apply?
Professionals from the fields of cultural heritage (movable, immovable, 
tangible and intangible);

Professionals responsible for disaster risk management, crisis response and 
emergency management (military, civil defence or civil protection);

Those who have prior experience of working in an emergency situation or are 
responsible for protecting cultural heritage from disasters are especially 
encouraged to apply. Previous experience of, and/or ability to train others is 
desirable. 

 
Maximum intake: 24, of which 19 selected from African countries (including 4 
from Mali) and 5 from countries outside. 
 
Training Team
The multi-disciplinary and international training team will include 
professionals who have been working in emergency situations for protecting 
cultural heritage or have experience in managing emergencies as well as 
facilitating rescue operations. 
 
Travel, accommodation and living expenses
Participants are responsible for their round-trip travel costs to and from 
Bamako (Mali), and for all living expenses. Tea and coffee breaks as well as 
lunches will be offered. To cover the cost of living, including accommodation, 
participants should plan for a minimum allowance of approximately 100 USD per 
day. Candidates are strongly encouraged to seek financial support from sources 
such as governmental institutions, employers and funding agencies. 
 
Financial Assistance
UNESCO will offer up to 15 full scholarships covering round-trip travel, 
accommodation and meals during the course for professionals from African 
countries. Up to 4 participants from Mali are entitled to a partial scholarship 
to cover their local travel within Bamako or travel to Bamako accommodation and 
meals. ICCROM will provide a limited number of scholarships to the selected 
candidates from outside Africa. 
 
Application
In order to apply:
Please fill out the on-line application form 
<https://www.iccrom.org/courses/fac-africa-2018>and send it together with your 
personal statement by e-mail to: [email protected] and [email protected]. 

Personal Statement: applicants are requested to provide a text of no more than 
750 words explaining:
Why you would like to participate in this course;

How you intend to apply as well as disseminate knowledge and skills gained to 
improve first aid for cultural heritage locally;

If applicable, highlighting previous experience in working in an emergency 
situation, and lessons learned.

 
FAC-AFRICA 18
Collections Unit - ICCROM
Via di San Michele, 13
00153 ROME, ITALY
Fax: +39 06 58553349
Email: [email protected] and [email protected] 
 

Isabelle Verger
Collections Unit - ICCROM 
Via di San Michele, 13
I-00153 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 58553410
http://www.iccrom.org
 


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