Lezing Brendan Cassar (UNESCO Kabul): Recent Activities of UNESCO and the Current Status of Cultural Heritage in Afghanistan

Within the context of ongoing political discussions concerning “recognition” of the de facto authorities, questions have been raised concerning the nature of what international assistance could or should be given to Afghanistan in support of cultural development and heritage management. For many the notion of continuing support for Afghan heritage was extremely complicated and fraught, while others suggested a focus merely on diaspora communities within the fine arts and music, leaving tangible heritage in Afghanistan at risk.

Restrictions on direct support imposed by the international community, whether financial or in terms of capacity development for governmental authorities, meant that the traditional methodology of supporting governmental heritage institutions directly in Afghanistan and conducting activities in tandem with the government could not be pursued in any case, and that alternatives had to be considered. The overarching principle for some form of conditional assistance or support for “heritage” per se, was and remains that these cultural assets; be they archaeological, architectural, skills based or artistic in nature, are the legacy of all Afghans across generations, and it is therefore incumbent upon the international community to act where we are able and allowed to do so, particularly where the risk of loss or deterioration of those assets remains high.

Furthermore, any activities that could be undertaken must necessarily address the dire economic needs of local populations who had seen an overall decline in international assistance since 2021, decreasing employment opportunities and where development indicators across all sectors remain some of the lowest globally.

Within this context, activities have successfully focused on supporting community livelihoods through the maintenance and improvement of cultural infrastructure to promote conservation and safe public access, concrete actions to promote climate resilience, and actions to enhance the cultural and creative industries. Noteworthy results have included improvement of conditions at both World Heritage Properties and other sites, engaging and training women in artisanal production, full 3D documentation and modelling of a number of heritage sites across the country, activities to strengthen  protection of movable heritage using AI technologies in museums, as well as the rehabilitation of traditional water management systems, known as karez, in southern and south-eastern Afghanistan, to provide better access to water for domestic and agricultural use.  

Brendan Cassar is Head of the UNESCO Culture Programme in Afghanistan. A heritage professional with more than twenty years of experience across South Asia and the Middle East, he has led major initiatives in cultural heritage protection, reconstruction, and sustainable management in regions affected by conflict and natural disasters. Prior to his current role in Kabul, he worked at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and managed UNESCO cultural programmes in Iraq, the Gulf States, and Yemen. His work has included the reconstruction of heritage sites in Mosul, safeguarding World Heritage properties, and the development of innovative approaches to heritage conservation and community engagement across the region.