# https://icomossdgwg.com ## Posts - [ICOMOS SDGWG Webinar for International Monuments Day](https://icomossdgwg.com/icomos-sdgwg-webinar-for-international-monuments-day/): In honour of the International Day for Monuments and Sites (#IDMS), the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and ICOMOS-SDGWG invites you to a critical international panel discussion: Living Heritage & Emergency Response #Culture isn’t just about old buildings; it’s about the #livingtraditions, #indigenousknowledge, and #communityresilience that sustain us during crises. From #earthquakes in Mexico to #conflicts and #climate-related #disasters in New Zealand and Pakistan, our global experts will explore how we can integrate #heritage into the heart of emergency management. 🎙️ Meet our Distinguished Panelists: Dr. Usman Sami – Integrating Living Heritage into Pakistan’s Disaster Management.Arch. Luna Rajab […] - [Task Team 8: SDG5 & Heritage International Women’s Day Webinar](https://icomossdgwg.com/sdg5-heritage-international-womens-day-webinar/): Celebrating Women in Heritage: Knowledge, Resistance, and the Reframing of Resilience On 7 March, the Task Team 8, SDG5 and Heritage (Gender Equality & Heritage) of the ICOMOS SDG Working Group hosted a webinar celebrating the role of women in heritage and their vital contributions to sustainable development. Organised by Team Task 8, the session brought together practitioners, researchers, and heritage professionals from across the globe to reflect on how women’s knowledge, leadership, and lived experience shape the protection and continuity of cultural heritage. The speakers of this event were: Susan Barr, Shireen Allan, Arpita Ghosh, Chilangwa Chiawa, and Karla […] - [ICOMOS SDGWG Newsletter Issue 01](https://icomossdgwg.com/icomos-sdgwg-newsletter-issue-01/): ICOMOS SDGWG is proud to share the first issues of its newsletter with you. The ICOMOS SDG WG newsletter will be published quarterly a year. This is our first attempt to broaden our activities, engage with more audience and involve more people.  In this newsletter, you can read about the recent bi-monthly update of the working group, recent practices and events taken place in the heritage and Sustainable Development Goals intersection. You can also find information about upcoming events, webinars, job opportunities, etc.  This is our first issue published. We would love to hear your feedback or any comments, and […] - [Call for Abstracts- ICOMOS GA2026: Redefining Emergency Response Through Community Leadership](https://icomossdgwg.com/call-for-abstracts-icomos-ga2026-redefining-emergency-response-through-community-leadership/): ICOMOS Sustainable Development Goals Working Group is delighted to invite you to submit your abstracts for the ICOMOSGA 2026 Conference, titled ‘Redefining Emergency Response Through Community Leadership’.  Organised by ICOMOS, the SDGs working group will discuss the papers dedicated to the ‘Local First Responders: Community and Indigenous Leadership in Heritage Response for the SDGs’ in its session. Working on the four Sustainable Development Goals   (SDG 5, 10, 11, and 16), this session will focus on discussion around how local communities act when the official systems fail to respond in a crisis. To get more information about the session, please […] - [2026 Partnership Forum of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) | UN headquarters, NYC, USA](https://icomossdgwg.com/2026-partnership-forum-of-the-economic-and-social-council-ecosoc-un-headquarters-nyc-usa/): 2026 Partnership Forum of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) | UN headquarters, NYC, USA On 27 January, ICOMOS, through its International Scientific Committee on Water (ISC Water), in collaboration with the ICOMOS SDG Working Group, took part in the ECOSOC session “SDG Action Segment for Goal 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation.”ISC Water President Meisha Hunter highlighted how traditional water systems, combined with modern infrastructure, can strengthen water security, support livelihoods, and help achieve SDG 6. From pre-Incan canals in Peru to Oman’s Aflaj systems, living water heritage proves that investing in stewardship, partnerships, and rehabilitation delivers tangible results for […] - [From Global Goals to Local Action: ICOMOS Nigeria’s Roadmap for Gender Equality and Poverty Reduction in Sukur](https://icomossdgwg.com/from-global-goals-to-local-action-icomos-nigerias-roadmap-for-gender-equality-and-poverty-reduction-in-sukur/): By Kenneth Aidelojie PhD In the Sukur Cultural Landscape of northern Nigeria, a UNESCO World Heritage site, female education is the cornerstone of sustainable development. The ICOMOS Sustainable Development Goals Working Group (SDGWG) provides the global policy framework for this transformation, emphasizing that heritage is not just a relic of the past but a driver for SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 1 (No Poverty).ICOMOS SDGWG Objectives and the Nigerian Context The ICOMOS SDGWG aims to localize the UN 2030 Agenda by integrating heritage conservation with socio-economic empowerment. In Nigeria, these objectives focus on “People” and “Prosperity” ensuring that heritage […] - [Season’s Greetings](https://icomossdgwg.com/seasons-greetings/): Season’s Greetings to you all! Thank you to my colleagues across ICOMOS and the SDGWG for the dedication, collaboration, and impact you brought in 2025. Wishing you a restful holiday season and a happy, healthy, and inspiring 2026. Warm wishes for continued progress together, toward a more sustainable and inclusive future. Meilleurs vœux de saison à toutes et à tous! Un grand merci à mes collègues de l’ICOMOS et du SDGWG pour leur engagement, leur collaboration et l’impact de leur travail tout au long de l’année 2025. Je vous souhaite de très belles fêtes de fin d’année et une heureuse […] - [RIHN 20th International Symposium: “Knowledge and Training for Green Transformation”](https://icomossdgwg.com/rihn-20th-international-symposium-knowledge-and-training-for-green-transformation/): At the RIHN 20th International Symposium: “Knowledge and Training for Green Transformation,” Naima Benkari presented a contribution on capacity building and community-based education for vernacular heritage conservation and management in the Gulf, framed through an area-capability approach. This approach positions threatened vernacular settlements not only as sites at risk, but as training grounds for “green human resources”, where conservation practice, institutional collaboration, and community knowledge are developed together. The presentation drew on a field-school model in Oman’s arid settlements, developed through cooperation between Sultan Qaboos University and the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, where documentation and management planning became the […] - [20th International Symposium of the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN)“Knowledge and Training for Green Transformation”](https://icomossdgwg.com/20th-international-symposium-of-the-research-institute-for-humanity-and-nature-rihnknowledge-and-training-for-green-transformation/): ICOMOS is pleased to announce that SDGWG Focal Point Dr Naima Benkari will be an invited speaker at the: 20th International Symposium of the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), titled “Knowledge and Training for Green Transformation”, 10–11 December 2025 in Kyoto, Japan. Her presentation: “Capacity Building and Community-Based Education for Vernacular Heritage Conservation and Management in the Gulf”, directly reinforces the objectives of the ICOMOS Triennial Scientific Plan 2024–2027, “Disaster and Conflict Resilient Heritage – Preparedness, Response and Recovery”, by focusing on skills development, community empowerment and resilience-building for heritage at risk. The strong convergence between the symposium […] - [Keynote Spotlight: “Heritage that Pays Its Way Fairly — From Advocacy to Shared Practice”](https://icomossdgwg.com/keynote-spotlight-heritage-that-pays-its-way-fairly-from-advocacy-to-shared-practice/): On the 5th and 6th of November this year, our very own Dr Naima Benkari presented a keynote speech at the WHITRAP/HeritAP’s Annual meeting 2025.  In her keynote, she talked about “Heritage that Pays Its Way Fairly — From Advocacy to Shared Practice”.  In her presentation, Dr Naima Benkari revealed that the Sustainable Development Goals are off track — and heritage communities are feeling it. In this keynote, the ICOMOS Sustainable Development Goals Working Group (SDGWG) makes a clear case: culture is not a nice-to-have. It is infrastructure for identity, resilience, and fair livelihoods, and it deserves a full place […] - [Heritage, Peace, and Sustainable Futures: ICOMOS SDGWG Highlights from the 2025 Lumbini Symposium](https://icomossdgwg.com/heritage-peace-and-sustainable-futures-icomos-sdgwg-highlights-from-the-2025-lumbini-symposium/): The ICOMOS Scientific Symposium in Lumbini, Nepal (16–17 October 2025) featured the ICOMOS Sustainable Development Goals Working Group (SDGWG) session titled “Heritage, Peace, and Sustainable Futures: Advancing Cultural Resilience.” Held on 17 October, this session brought together scholars and practitioners who explored the transformative role of heritage in promoting peace, inclusion, and sustainability within the post-2030 development agenda. The joint SDGWG Task Team 6 presentation by Dr. Naima Benkari, Olga Partina, Dr. Andris Kairiss, Donovan Rypkema, Dr. James Ritson, Andrew Mason, and Gabriel Caballero, “Lost in the Metrics? Critical Reflections on Cultural Indicators in the Post-2030 Agenda,”offered a critical review […] - [Living Heritage / Living the Heritage: at Mondiacult 2025](https://icomossdgwg.com/living-heritage-living-the-heritage-at-mondiacult-2025/): Living Heritage / Living the Heritage At #Mondiacult2025, ICOMOS gathered communities, institutions, and heritage professionals from across the globe to reaffirm one truth: heritage is not static—it is living, resilient, and vital for our collective future. Our side event, co-organized by ICOMOS SDGWG and Ithra, became more than a panel: it was a platform for those too often left unheard, and for cultures rarely mainstreamed. It applied the inclusivity it calls for and embodied the multilateralism it claims essential — showing that only by listening to all voices can humanity move toward sustainable peace and prosperity. It was also a […] - [MONDIACULT 2025 OFFICIAL SIDE EVENT](https://icomossdgwg.com/mondiacult2025_official_side_event/): Where SALA 120-121, BARCELONA INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTER (CCIB), BARCELONA, SPAIN When Wednesday, October 1st01:30 PM – 02:30 PM (EUROPE/ZURICH) - [ICOMOS Annual General Assembly, Lumbini, Nepal](https://icomossdgwg.com/icomos-annual-general-assembly-lumbini-nepal/): This year, the ICOMOS Annual General Assembly, Advisory Committee meetings, and Scientific Symposium will be held in Lumbini, Nepal, from 11 to 19 October 2025. Organized by ICOMOS Nepal, the events will take place at one of the world’s most sacred sites. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, Lumbini is revered as the birthplace of Lord Buddha. The Asoka pillar inscription and the enduring remains of Buddhist viharas and stupas, dating from the 3rd century BC to the 15th century AD, provide invaluable evidence of the origins and nature of Buddhist pilgrimage centers. The choice of this […] ## Pages - [](https://icomossdgwg.com/2155-2/): Task Team 3: National Liaisons SDGWG TT3 Annual Activity Plan 2026 – Summary National Liaisons and Localizing Heritage and the SDGs In 2026, TT3 will focus on establishing the essential structures and relationships needed to support ICOMOS National Committees (NCs) in integrating heritage into national SDG localization processes. The emphasis will be on foundational coordination, practical guidance, and light but effective capacity-building, developed in close cooperation with NCs and relevant International Scientific Committees (ISCs). Key activities include preparing a TT3 Introductory Note on heritage and SDG localization, identifying and engaging interested NCs, and helping them appoint heritage–SDG focal points. A simple mapping template will […] - [My account](https://icomossdgwg.com/my-account/) - [Checkout](https://icomossdgwg.com/checkout/) - [Cart](https://icomossdgwg.com/cart/) - [Shop](https://icomossdgwg.com/shop/) - [Preeti Gaonkar](https://icomossdgwg.com/preeti-gaonkar/): Preeti Gaonkar is a cultural strategist and impact specialist with over two decades of experience across Asia, Europe and the Middle East. She has worked extensively in cultural diplomacy and international relations through the intergovernmental platforms of the Asia–Europe Foundation (ASEF) and the Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM), shaping cross-regional initiatives that connect policymakers, diplomats and cultural leaders around culture, global cooperation and shared futures. Her work spans leading cultural institutions and intergovernmental networks, from shaping evidence-based impact frameworks and global partnerships at Ithra (King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture) to leading cross-regional dialogue and collaboration through ASEF. - [Farah Abushullaih](https://icomossdgwg.com/farah-abushullaih/): Farah Abushullaih, Head of Museums at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), has been instrumental in shaping the cultural landscape of Saudi Arabia. Her work at Ithra includes leading the Islamic Art Conference, the Ithra Art Prize, and richly curated exhibitions, which connects Saudi artists with international cultural platforms and networks. Abushullaih’s academic background in Museum Anthropology and her passion for storytelling have allowed her to bridge Saudi heritage with global contemporary narratives, fostering cross-cultural engagement and inspiring curiosity. Her initiatives have significantly contributed to the Kingdom’s cultural transformation, ensuring that the Arab art scene continues to thrive […] - [Publications](https://icomossdgwg.com/publications/): ICOMOS Publications Other ICOMOS Publications Mondiacult 2025 Posters HeritAP Annual Meeting 2025 Booklet - [Dr. Naima Benkari](https://icomossdgwg.com/dr-naima-benkari/): Dr. Naima Benkari     Dr. Benkari is an Associate Professor at Sultan Qaboos University and an Associate Research Fellow at the Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo. Her teaching and field practice span Europe, North Africa, and the Gulf, with recognised expertise in vernacular construction systems and their integration into contemporary architecture, urban morphology, and the built heritage of the Arab world. A long-standing member of ICOMOS, she serves as the organisation’s International Focal Point for the UN SDGs, aligning heritage practice with the 2030 Agenda and advancing heritage-led sustainable development. Within the UNESCO World Heritage system, she […] - [Team Task 2: UN HLPF & Culture 2030 Goal](https://icomossdgwg.com/team-task-2-un-hlpf-culture-2030-goal/): Team Task 2: UN HLPF & Culture 2030 Goal Team Members - [News](https://icomossdgwg.com/news-2/) - [About](https://icomossdgwg.com/about-2/): ABOUT - [Events](https://icomossdgwg.com/events/): EVENTS - [Home](https://icomossdgwg.com/): LATEST NEWS Contact Us - [Contact](https://icomossdgwg.com/contact/): Contact Us We’re Ready, Let’s Talk. Contact Info Address 123 Fifth Avenue, NY 10160, New York, USA Email Us contact@example.com​ Call Us 800-123-456 Follow Us [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)