Mobilization of the Dahshour World Heritage Site for Community Development

Project background

The Dahshour World Heritage Site for Community Development is a joint programme that is considered a model for cultural development as it combines cultural heritage aspects, natural heritage dimensions, and community development components. National governmental institutions and UN Agencies are working together with the total budget of 3,095,086 USD to make the Dahshour project a success.

The aim of the joint programme is to protect the area of the Dahshour pyramids and its eco-system while fostering sustainable development, cultural and ecological management, and revenue generation in the surrounding community.

Implementation strategy

The project has targeted five rural governorates of Upper Egypt, including Minya, Fayoum, Assiut, Sohag, and Sharqiyah, where food insecurity, vulnerability, poverty, and malnutrition are most profound in the country and where the highest concentration of child labour exist.

Objectives and expected outcomes

The project aims to address the promotion of sustainable development concepts and unemployment in Dahshour and its satellite areas (Dahshour, Manshiyet Dahshour, Zawyet Dahshour, Manshiyet Kaseb, Mazghouna), contributing to the following:

MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
MDG 7: Environmental sustainability
MDG 8: Support local and global development initiatives

The main objective/outcome of the project is achieving employment, especially of youth and women in heritage arts, crafts, and tourism; in addition to that, improving the creative industries and contributing to poverty-alleviation and empowerment. The main objective of the project will be implemented through the following:

• Socio-economic community profile surveyed and Local Economic Development (LED) forum operational to facilitate full community participation.
• Sensitization to entrepreneurship and capacity-building on decent work conditions conducted.

Implementing partners

• UN Agencies

  - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

  - United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO)

  - United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

  - United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

• National Counterparts

  - Ministry of Tourism (MoT)

  - Industrial Modernization Centre (IMC)

  - Social Fund for Development (SFD)

  - Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA)

  - Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA)