The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites Regional Workshop for Europe 30 September – 2 October 2018, Palermo (Italy) Thematic Session 3: Community engagement and community-oriented services. “The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The ideas and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors; they are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization”

1. Subtheme 3
Community engagement and
community-oriented services
Baker Jonathan
Programme specialist / Head of Science Unit
UNESCO Regional Bureaufor Science and Culture in Europe

2. Community engagement
recognized in the 2030 Agenda
UNESCO has been promoting community
engagement throughout its programmes
and designations:
• World Heritage Sites
• Biosphere Reserves
• UNESCO Global Geoparks

3. Community

4. How is “Community engagement issue”
presented in the pre survey responses?
15%
20%
20%
40%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%
Main lessons learned
Governance/management framework
Impact and main achievement
Ongoing or planned activities

5. Based on your pre survey responses…
Centre’s impact and main achieved results
Implementation of the geopark concept in local communities
Engagement of local communities at both individual and group level
Increasing community engagement with the WHS through volunteering, activities and events and exhibitions
Engaging in mutually beneficial partnership with local communities and businesses

6. Management
&governance
?
Assessment
tools?
Success story?
Harness
youth to
promote
innovation?
Community
-oriented
events?
Challenges
encountered?
Technology?
Interactive
methods?
Type of Site:
HINDER or HELP
community
engagement?
How to
include a
community-
based
perspective?
What to
improve?
Design of
visitor
centres?