Analysing Power Dynamics in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage Sites:: The case of UNESCO’s WHEAP program in Mali.

As climate change continues to threaten cultural heritage in Africa, creating conservation strategies for their protection is of urgent need. Given the history of colonialism and dispossession of cultural heritage in Africa, understanding the power dynamics between international actors within cultural heritage protection, and local communities is relevant. Therefore the research attempts to analyse how conservation efforts, particularly of climate-threatened heritage, can reinforce or challenge unequal power dynamics between the local community members and external actors. This thesis examines UNESCO’s Earthen Architecture protection Program (WHEAP), and its conservation efforts in Mali’s world heritage sites of Timbuktu and Djenné. The methodology followed the qualitative analysis of the project initiatives’ documentation. The analysis followed the theoretical framework which evaluated the followig factors: Funding & resources, Conservation Practices and Strategies, Community...Show moreAs climate change continues to threaten cultural heritage in Africa, creating conservation strategies for their protection is of urgent need. Given the history of colonialism and dispossession of cultural heritage in Africa, understanding the power dynamics between international actors within cultural heritage protection, and local communities is relevant. Therefore the research attempts to analyse how conservation efforts, particularly of climate-threatened heritage, can reinforce or challenge unequal power dynamics between the local community members and external actors. This thesis examines UNESCO’s Earthen Architecture protection Program (WHEAP), and its conservation efforts in Mali’s world heritage sites of Timbuktu and Djenné. The methodology followed the qualitative analysis of the project initiatives’ documentation. The analysis followed the theoretical framework which evaluated the followig factors: Funding & resources, Conservation Practices and Strategies, Community Engagement, Knowledge systems, Economic and Social Impact. The study contextualizes the sites by identifying the main threats from climate change and gives an account of past protection projects. The findings reveal mixed results but show that the program showcased a good level of inclusion of the communities and their traditional knowledge. At a first glance, the thesis underscores the need to protect African cultural heritage, especially given its higher vulnerability from climate change, but does so while emphasizing equitable and just relationships between local custodians of a particular heritage and external actors. Furthermore the research helps identify good practices which can inform future multilateral climate-centered heritage protection projects while ensure more just and community based practices.Show less

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Analysing Power Dynamics in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage Sites: The case of UNESCO’s WHEAP program in Mali.