IUCN has been an Advisory Body to the World Heritage Convention since inception in 1972. In this role it conducts a broad range of statutory work (such as evaluating nominations for inscription and conducting reactive monitoring), in addition to wider activities in support of this role (such as the World Heritage Leadership Programme and World Heritage Outlook).

At its 50th anniversary, the World Heritage Convention faces a number of challenges: there is a funding crisis; decisions to inscribe sites are increasingly driven by politics rather than science; and there is a worrying trend to ignore recommendations provided by the technical Advisory Bodies, including IUCN. Yet the Convention remains one of the most high-profile instruments for protecting natural and mixed heritage sites, and is equipped with a range of unique instruments to help ensure strong management practices.  It is against this backdrop that IUCN is undertaking an organisation-wide restructure, providing the impetus to take stock and reflect on IUCN’s future engagement with the Convention including its role as an Advisory Body.

 In order to support this work, Aleph was engaged by the IUCN to conduct a strategic review of its role within the World Heritage Convention. A broad range of qualitative interviews and workshops was conducted with key stakeholders across the conservation and heritage landscape, including the World Heritage Centre, UNESCO, IUCN Secretariat and Regional Offices, Indigenous Peoples’ Groups, ICOMOS and ICCROM.

Read the full report here.