Completion of the Workshop on Preliminary Assessment Requests for National Focal Points from the Asia Region
On 21-22 October 2024, a workshop on Preliminary Assessment Requests for National Focal Points from the Asia region took place in Chengdu, China. The event was organised by ICOMOS and ICOMOS China, in partnership with the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration and WHITRAP.
The workshop aimed to provide technical assistance for implementing the World Heritage Convention in Asia, with a particular focus on exploring opportunities within the nomination process. Over 2 days, national focal points from the region were introduced to the Preliminary Assessment process and trained in preparing and submitting effective nomination requests.
The workshop featured presentations by ICOMOS representatives and group activities led by experts from ICOMOS China and WHITRAP. Participants received training on the key principles and procedures of the World Heritage Convention, including the specifics of the Preliminary Assessment and its distinctions from the nomination process. Core concepts such as Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), integrity, authenticity, protection and management requirements, and the importance of engaging local communities were also covered. Group work then allowed attendees to discuss common challenges as well as the essential elements for the preparation of Preliminary Assessment requests and their transition into the nomination process, from the preparation of a Tentative List entry to the submission of a nomination file.
ICOMOS President Teresa Patrício, ICOMOS China President Song Xinchao and ICOMOS China Secretariat Director Haiming Yan gave introductory remarks during the opening ceremony of the workshop. ICOMOS World Heritage Evaluation Unit Director Gwenaëlle Bourdin and ICOMOS World Heritage Advisors Luisa De Marco and Jun Zheng then delivered presentations covering the workshop’s key themes.
The Preliminary Assessment process
In 2021, the World Heritage Committee adopted a 2-phase nomination process to enhance nomination quality and strengthen dialogue between States Parties and Advisory Bodies. Called Preliminary Assessment, this new step constitutes an independent desk review conducted by ICOMOS and IUCN, without a site visit and based on available information, to determine whether a property has the potential for a successful nomination.
Preliminary Assessment aims to prevent future geographic imbalances in the World Heritage List by enabling countries with fewer financial and human resources to submit stronger nominations.