Zambia Elected Vice Chair of UNESCO World Heritage Committee 

Zambia has been elected as the Vice Chair of the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in July 2025 in Sofia, Bulgaria. 

The election was held during the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee in New Delhi, India, chaired by India’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Vishal Sharma.

In addition to Zambia, four other Vice Chairs and a rapporteur were elected to form the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee. This new role also designates Zambia as the Chairperson of Africa Group 5(a) on the World Heritage Committee for the upcoming year.

In this capacity, Zambia will coordinate World Heritage-related activities for 47 African States through its Permanent Delegation to UNESCO in Paris. 

According to a statement from Naomi Mweemba, First Secretary Press at the Embassy of Zambia in Paris, this election also means Zambia will host the 8th preparatory meeting of the African Members of the World Heritage Committee.

The meeting aims to increase the number of African heritage sites and cultural landscapes on the World Heritage List and address the removal of sites currently listed as in danger. 

It will also focus on enhancing the capacity of African experts to contribute significantly to discussions on the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and the development of heritage sites globally.