UNESCO/Global Network GRANT FOR GEOPARKS in and the Arab States

M’Goun UNESCO Global FOREWORD

Since the UNESCO Global Geoparks resilient territories, as demonstrated merged in 2015 with the International during the current pandemic. Geoscience Programme, these Yet, the concept remains largely exceptional sites have received unknown in Africa and the Arab increased international recognition and States, despite their rich and diverse interest. They have demonstrated their geological features and enormous important contribution to sustainable potential to create Geoparks. development, by reconciling the protection of the geological heritage UNESCO is therefore strongly of international value with local committed to engaging with the GGN economic activities, mainly through in a dedicated strategy to promote geo-tourism. Geoparks promote the Geoparks and build capacity and interlinkage between their geological, is proud to launch the GGN Grant natural and cultural heritage and raise initiative, together with our local awareness for natural hazards and partners. We trust that soon these climate change. We believe in their regions will see more UNESCO bottom-up approach, driven by the Global Geoparks, in support of our commitment of local communities and common heritage, planet Earth. indigenous peoples. It makes them

Shamila Nair-Bedouelle UNESCO Assistant Director-General for the Natural Sciences

The Global Geoparks Network The UNESCO/GGN Grant for Geoparks (GGN) was founded in 2004 under in Africa and the Arab States. the auspices of UNESCO aiming UNESCO and the GGN call on to encourage networking and all African and the Arab State international collaboration between initiatives to take advantage of rural territories with an important this grant and the knowledge and geological heritage and in need experience of more than 20 years of new sustainable development of building and managing Geoparks policies. Since that moment the all around the globe and all together GGN has been expanded everywhere work for the benefit of our local with succesfull results but with less communities and our planet. impact in Africa and Arab States. We would like to thank all aspiring In order to encourage and support Geoparks’ teams in Africa and local authorities and communities, the Arab States who actively and in this part of the world, for the with great enthusiasm support development of UNESCO Global this initiative and work for the Geoparks candidatures, the GGN in development of this new vision. close collaboration with UNESCO launched, in 2021, a new initiative:

Professor Nikolaos Zouros Global Geoparks Network President UNESCO Global Geoparks

A collaboration agreement UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, By raising awareness of the importance 2001 is signed between UNESCO Division of Earth Sciences and unified geographical areas where of the area’s geological heritage in history the European Geoparks Network sites and landscapes of international and society today, UNESCO Global geological significance are managed Geoparks give local people a sense of 17 European and 8 Chinese with a holistic concept of protection, pride in their region and strengthen their 2004 geoparks get together at UNESCO headquarters in education and sustainable development. identification with the area, Paris to form the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) A UNESCO Global Geopark (UGGp) uses The creation of innovative local its geological heritage, in connection with enterprises, new jobs and high quality During the 38th General all other aspects of the area’s natural and training courses is stimulated as new 2015 Conference of the Organisation, the 195 Member States of cultural heritage, to enhance awareness sources of revenue are generated UNESCO ratified the creation and understanding of key issues facing through geoturism, while the geological of a new label, the UNESCO Global Geoparks, expressing society, such as using our earth’s resources of the area are protected. governmental recognition of resources sustainably, mitigating the the importance of managing effects of climate change and reducing outstanding geological sites and landscapes in a holistic manner. natural disasters-related risks.

At present, there are in 2021 169 44 UNESCO Global Geoparks countries

UNESCO supports efforts in all partner of UNESCO for the operation countries to establish UNESCO of the UNESCO Global Geoparks. Global Geoparks all around the Global Networking serves to develop models world, in close collaboration with the of best practice and set quality- Global Geoparks Network (GGN). Geoparks standards for territories that integrate The Global Geoparks Network is a the protection and preservation of Network non-profit and non-governemental Earth heritage sites in a strategy organization founded in 2004 as an for regional sustainable economic international partnership developed development. All UNESCO Global under the umbrella of UNESCO. The Geoparks are institutional members Global Geoparks Network is the official of the Global Geoparks Network. Geoparks in Africa

M’Goun While the UNESCO Global Geoparks UNESCO Global Geopark MOROCCO concept has generated much interest among countries in several parts of the world, other regions remain underrepresented. The concept is strong in and , and the interest is growing quickly in Latin America, due to sustained promotion campaigns. But, at this moment, of the

169 existing UNESCO Global Geoparks Ngorongoro Lengai UNESCO Global Geopark only two are based in the African and the Arab States Region (Ngorongoro- Lengai in Tanzania and M’Goun in Morocco). Both play an important role to inspire similar initiatives in the region and support them with advice and exchange of good practices. A continent full of possibilities

Rich geological heritage Multicultural Dynamic population Africa has a very diverse and rich One of the most culturally and A young and dynamic population geological heritage, spanning all historically rich and diverse continents, confronted with high unemployment ages and many of it of international home of unique archeological and rates. This leads to a strong drive to important significance. Its landscape historical sites of global renown that explore development opportunities is shaped by very active tectonic and are closely linked to the geological to escape from poverty. African volcanic activities and possesses heritage of the region. It still managed youth could be a strong asset in the unique geomorphological features. to preserve to a large extent its establishment and management of natural heritage, despite intensive UNESCO Global Geoparks in Africa. land-use and resource exploitation.

Strong relation with UN Africa also has the advantage that it has a strong working relation with UN entities like UNESCO. Through the World Heritage Programme for example, Africa created 104 World Heritage sites, of which almost the half (50) are natural or mixed World Heritage sites.

Ngorongoro Lengai UNESCO Global Geopark TANZANIA UNESCO/Global Geoparks Network GRANT FOR GEOPARKS in Africa and the Arab States

The UNESCO/Global Georparks Network Grant is a tailor made consultancy service specifically dedicated to support local teams to develop a UNESCO Geopark project. The grant includes several steps and actions. GGN Experts will advise and accompany the granted territory from the initial idea to the official application as UNESCO Global Geopark. All services provided through the grant will be free of charge for the territory.

Analysis of the territory Field mission Two GGN Experts will be The two GGN Experts will conduct dedicated to each granted a 10 day mission to the granted territory. They will hold digital territory. During this mission, the meetings with the granted experts will visit the main sites of territory to analyze the context the granted territory, engage with and prepare the field mission. local communities, government representatives, local associations, potential Geopark partners and other relevant stakeholders.

On-line assistance Training After the mission, the GGN This grant also includes the Experts will prepare a report participation of the granted with the different steps that the territory’s Managers in the granted territory will need to take yearly UNESCO Global Geoparks and the challenges it will need intensive courses as well as their to resolve. The experts will keep integration into the UNESCO on providing guidance through mentorship and knowledge digital meetings in view of a formal exchange programme. submission of an application file. Supporting local initiatives

We target emerging Geopark initiatives in Africa and the Arab States, but also existing nature parks and national parks with geological features of international value, intermunicipalities, associations involved in rural development and other management bodies that would like to start developing a viable Geopark.

The assessment criteria will in the first place be based on:

the presence of an existing management body and of people with interest in the UNESCO Global Geoparks concept and able to engage in this endeavour and support the initiative;

the presence of geological heritage of international value;

the basic understanding and affinity of candidates with the UNESCO Global Geoparks concept.

Secondary criteria will relate to government support, funding perspective, tourism potential, security and community involvement.

How to present a candidature

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Interested candidates should Complete the attached form The three best proposals will download the form from the link and send it before 30 April 2022 be notified by 15 May 2022. http://globalgeoparksnetwork.org/ to [email protected] and application-form-africa-grant.pdf [email protected]

April, 30th 2022

For any further information regarding this UNESCO/Global Geoparks Network Grant or the UNESCO Global Geoparks in general, please contact m.patzak@.org, [email protected] or [email protected].

Useful information related to UNESCO Global Geoparks can be found on the following websites:

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/earth-sciences/unesco-global-geoparks

www.visitgeoparks.org

http://www.globalgeoparksnetwork.org UNESCO/Global Geoparks Network GRANT FOR GEOPARKS in Africa and the Arab States

GLOBAL GEOPARKS NETWORK Musée Promenade Montée B. Dellacasagrande 04000 – Digne les Bains – http://www.globalgeoparksnetwork.org

© Photo copyrights – UNESCO: page 2; M’Goun UGGp: pages 1, 4, 5; Discovery UGGp: page 3; Araripe UGGp page: 3; Haute-Provence UGGp: page 3; Qeshm UGGp: page 3; Yimengshan UGGp: page 3; Rinjani-Lombok UGGp: page 3; Ngorongoro-Lengai UGGp: pages 4, 5; Global Geoparks Network: pages 2, 6. Pexels: (Shelagh Murphy: page 5; Monstera: page 6; Henrik Le-Botos: page 7).