The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) will fund with €2.4 million the project “Conservation and management of Tell Es-Sultan (Ancient Jericho)”, in Palestine, thanks to a three-year agreement between Italy and UNESCO.
The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) Jerusalem Office, the Consulate General of Italy in Jerusalem, UNESCO Ramallah Office and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA), celebrated the signing of the agreement between Italy and UNESCO to enable the implementation of the project “The Conservation and management of Tell Es-Sultan (Ancient Jericho)” funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation with a total of €2.4 million.
This agreement is part of a larger multi-stakeholder partnership, through which a collaboration is established between Israel’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, UNESCO, the Sapienza University of Rome and the Italian Agency of Development Cooperation, Jerusalem Office.
The project aims to ensure the effective conservation and management of the cultural resources within the area and to promote sustainable tourism development that benefits the site and the local communities. Through the generous funding of Italy amounting at Euros 2.4 million, the project partners shall leverage their respective expertise to implement the designated project interventions under the overall supervision of a steering committee chaired by MoTA.
The Consul General of Italy in Jerusalem, Mr. Giuseppe Fedele stated “today, the signing of this agreement is a further step forward in our longstanding commitment to support the protection, conservation and valorization of Palestinian cultural heritage. This achievement was made possible through the commendable work of the Italian archaeological missions which, over the years, made their expertise available to Palestinian professionals and institutions, in particular the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities»
«Once again, thanks to this additional funding, the outstanding professionalism of major Italian archaeologists from La Sapienza University and the synergies with all the partners involved, Italy will significantly contribute to the enhancement of Tell es-Sultan, also for the benefit of local communities and with the aim of boosting the socio-economic development of the Jericho Governorate» concluded Mr. Fedele.
The Director of AICS – Jerusalem Office, Guglielmo Giordano, expressed great satisfaction. «The initiative constitutes a unique opportunity to work with local communities to create jobs through urban redevelopment initiatives and the promotion of local businesses”. Mr. Giordano also said that “the project aims at an innovative management of the Tell es-Sultan site, enhancing its potential as a fundamental site for the history of humanity, witness to the creation of the first urban community. I am sure that its enhancement will attract an increasing number of tourists, strengthening the link between culture and economic development, a link in which the Italian Cooperation has always believed».
«I would like to warmly thank Italy for the generous support to cultural heritage in Palestine. –said Noha Bawazir, UNESCO Head of Office and Representative to Palestine – LThe agreement signed today will help complement in a strategic way UNESCO’s activity in support of the conservation, management and promotion of Tell es-Sultan as a site of significant values and great potential. Through its World Heritage Fund, UNESCO supported Palestine in preparing necessary studies for the elaboration of a Nomination Dossier for a possible inscription of the site on the World Heritage List».
Dr. Ahmed Rjoob, the General Director of the World Heritage Directorate at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, extended his thanks and gratitude to the project partners; The Italian Government, the Italian Agency of Development Cooperation, Jerusalem Office, the Sapienza University of Rome and UNESCO Ramallah Office for their support to the State of Palestine in the conservation and development of its Cultural Heritage. (SOURCE: AICS – Jerusalem office)
