The Training of Resource People on Impact Assessment in a World Heritage Context took place from 8 to 10 May 2023, organized by the ICCROM-IUCN World Heritage Leadership (WHL) programme and the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO, Shanghai Center (WHITRAP Shanghai). This 3-day training was facilitated through hybrid sessions, including an international online venue and an offline venue for Chinese participants in WHITRAP Shanghai. Two special sessions, including case sharing and review of the Chinese translation of Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, were held in the offline venue. There are 8 resource people and 25 participants with practical and/or research experience in the field of impact assessment for World Heritage. Participants came from 18 countries including China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, India, Myanmar, Norway, Albania, and etc, with countries in the Asia-Pacific region accounting for 80% of the total.

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The course team consisting of 8 resource people made online presentations and gave speeches during the training, including Ms. Carolina Castellanos (WHITRAP Expert and consultant), Ms. Sarah Court (Impact Assessment Focal Point, World Heritage Leadership), Ms. Nicole Franceschini (Programme Officer, World Heritage Leadership), Ms. Eugene Jo (Programme Manager, World Heritage Leadership), Ms. Li Hong (Programme Specialist, WHITRAP Shanghai), Ms. Riki Therivel (Director, Levett-Therivel), Mr. Gamini Wijesuriya (Special Advisor to the Director-General of ICCROM; Special Advisor to the Director of WHITRAP Shanghai) and Ms. Kathy Zischka (World Heritage Conservation Officer, IUCN). Participants were recommended by ICCROM, WHITRAP Shanghai or relevant institutions working in the Asia and the Pacific region.

The three-day training was composed of different sessions. An opening ceremony was held on 8 May, and Professor Shao Yong from College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University gave an opening speech. Ms. Nicole Franceschini and Ms. Li Hong welcomed and introduced the whole training. Then course team gave an introduction to the Impact Assessment in a World Heritage Context, including the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, an overview of the methodology and terminology of Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment.

Based on the overall introduction on the first day, the next day’s training focused on the exchange of experience of participants with Impact Assessment. Besides, the course team gave further lectures on initial steps of Impact Assessment, such as triggering an Impact Assessment and Screening and Scoping, and demonstrated how to use the tools of the Impact Assessment Guidance in a capacit

On the last day of training, the course team and participants shot a wide discussion on the design, delivery, and difficulty in capacity building, as well as questions on Impact Assessment. In the end, there was a special session on the discussion between the course team and Chinese participants on the review of the Chinese translation of the Impact Assessment Guidance.

The three-day training is a new start on the capacity building of resource people on Impact Assessment in a World Heritage Context. It aims to enable the participants to better understand the IA Guidance, to equip the participants with current knowledge, methodological approaches, and skills in developing the capacity building activities of impact assessments, and to promote the exchange of experiences and practices in heritage management and conservation.