Supported through the World Heritage Fund, the project has strengthened national capacities for implementing the World Heritage Convention by enhancing the understanding of its principles and mechanisms among national stakeholders, fostering dialogue and collaboration across government institutions, and establishing a stronger foundation for the identification, protection and sustainable management of Naoero‘s cultural and natural heritage.
The project also resulted in an assessment of priority heritage sites and recommendations towards potential World Heritage nomination, recommendations to strengthen the national heritage framework, and the preparation of a draft five-year workplan for heritage conservation, which provides a practical roadmap for future action. The plan outlines priority measures such as the systematic documentation of heritage sites, the establishment of a National Heritage Committee, the strengthening of the national legislative framework, public awareness and interpretation initiatives, the integration of heritage into school curricula, and greater community engagement and partnerships to support the long-term conservation of Naoero‘s cultural and natural heritage.
This project builds on the significant progress achieved since Naoero became the 196th State Party to the World Heritage Convention in July 2024. Following the approval of its first International Assistance request in February 2025, UNESCO supported the first national consultation meeting on the World Heritage Convention in May 2025, which introduced the Convention and the International Assistance project to national stakeholders and established a roadmap for its implementation. The successful completion of this project marks a further step in consolidating Naoero‘s efforts to strengthen the conservation and management of its rich cultural and natural heritage.
