Gloria K. Borona, Head of Marketing, Communication and Outreach attended a workshop on Heritage and Poverty Alleviation in Sao Tome from 2-6 March ,2009. The workshop was organized in the framework of Africa 2009 Gloria made a presentation on TARA community projects with the Tuareg in Niger, the Iteso people in Kakapel, Kenya and the Abasuba people in Mfangano Island, Kenya. In addition she presented the proposed TARA community projects in Turkana, Northern Kenya and Kondoa, a World Heritage Site in Tanzania.

This workshop was an opportunity to share experiences from across the Africa continent as several participants presented case studies of their countries showcasing the opportunities, challenges and success stories of heritage management and economic development. The conclusions of the workshop were that heritage is a resource whose potential needs to be harnessed to spur economic development and that heritage practitioners should present quantifiable information to stakeholders (government, local communities & private sector) on what contribution heritage can make to economic development.

(2-3-09)