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REVIVING THE WORLD HERITAGE SITE OF ERBIL CITADEL

In October 2019, the European Union, through the Regional Trust Fund established in response to the Syrian crisis (Madad Fund), signed an agreement with UNESCO for a joint project in Jordan and Iraq worth USD 12.2 million. Successfully completed in May 2024, the project aimed to “ensure dignified and sustainable livelihoods and create economic opportunities for Syrian refugees, vulnerable Jordanians, and Iraqis in the cultural heritage sector”. In Iraq, the project focused on the Kurdistan region of Iraq with an allocated budget of USD 5.3 million. An important part of the funds was channeled into interventions at the Citadel of Erbil. In continuity with earlier UNESCO interventions, the objective of the project activities at the Citadel was the safeguard and revitalization of the site. Following the completion of the Madad project, the Governorate of Erbil signed an agreement with UNESCO donating USD 110K to continue providing technical supervision and monitoring of the urban improvement works on the central alleyway of the Citadel being executed under a partnership agreement between the HCECR and a private donor, the KAR, scheduled to be completed in April – May 2025. As a follow up on their collaboration with the HCECR, UNESCO and the KAR are now proposing a long- term public-private partnership to carry out interventions at the Citadel of Erbil that will extend efforts to preserve and revitalize this unique World Heritage site. Within the general framework set out by the Sustainable Development Goals approved in 2015 by the UN member states in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the specific objective (Outcome) of the Project “Public-Private Partnership for the Revitalization of the Citadel of Erbil” will participate of SDG 11.4: Strengthened efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. Four project outputs articulate the activities of the project: Output 1: Conservation and Rehabilitation. Key heritage structures within Erbil Citadel preserved and restored, the accessibility and functionality of the site as a cultural and touristic venue improved and the experience of visitors at the site enhanced. Output 2: Promotion of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) - Economic Development and Job Creation. A framework encouraging sustainable financing and investment in place for long-term revitalization of the Erbil Citadel. Output 3: Capacity Building and Training. Local capacities in heritage conservation, management, and sustainable tourism enhanced. Output 4: Promotion, Visibility and Public Engagement. Public awareness participation in the conservation and promotion of the Citadel of Erbil increased through cultural events and awareness campaigns. The project will focus on two areas of support: public-private partnerships, on one hand, and capacity building of the institutions and actors, public and private, involved in the rehabilitation, safeguard and promotion of the Citadel’s cultural assets, on the other. Developing local awareness, skills, knowledge, and technical capacity on the management of tangible and intangible heritage is a precondition for the authorities to lead a locally driven process of the site’s recovery. The approach and activities of the project address and support both areas simultaneously to produce synergies and mutually enriching results.