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ICCROM Strategic Plan 2026–2031 · CARE Vision

Our Heritage. Our Future.

Heritage is not a luxury — it is a lifeline. With Conserve, Activate, Recognize, Engage at its core, ICCROM positions heritage as a living resource: a catalyst for resilience, sustainable development, and positive transformation for communities, Member States, and partners worldwide.

Discover the CARE vision Download the Strategic Plan
  • Conserve
  • Activate
  • Recognize
  • Engage
Conserve Activate Recognize Engage Resilience Diversity Youth Sustainability — Conserve Activate Recognize Engage Resilience Diversity Youth Sustainability —

Foreword

Heritage, cared for, becomes a force for people, planet, and peace.

Working with Member States and partners worldwide, we seek to transform how heritage is conserved, activated, and recognized — so that it becomes a catalyst for resilience, sustainable development, and positive transformation. Through the CARE framework and its nine priority areas, the Strategic Plan 2026–2031 turns heritage into an active resource, not a static legacy.

01 — The CARE Vision

Four strategic directions, one idea.

Scroll to journey through the CARE framework. Each direction protects, powers, evidences and connects heritage — together they turn it into a force for people, planet, and peace.

Restorers at work on a historic wall

Direction 01

Conserve

Upskill and adapt to meet new conservation challenges.

Strengthening conservation and risk management capacities, promoting people-centred and participatory approaches, and helping the sector prepare for future change.

  • Conservation & risk management capacities
  • People-centred, participatory management
  • Anticipation in the heritage sector
Craftsperson working with heritage materials

Direction 02

Activate

Accelerate positive change and sustainable socio-economic growth through heritage.

Leveraging heritage for durable climate solutions, social cohesion, and better lives and livelihoods — so that communities come together to resolve common challenges.

  • Heritage for durable climate solutions
  • Heritage for social cohesion
  • Heritage for better lives & livelihoods
Workshop notes and participants discussing heritage

Direction 03

Recognize

Strengthen policy inclusion and coherence, and support for heritage.

Building evidence of heritage’s societal value, encouraging cross-sector collaboration, and promoting its inclusion in policy and decision-making.

  • Evidence for the wider benefits of heritage
  • Cross-sectoral engagement around heritage
  • Heritage in broader policy areas
People gathered together at a heritage site by the lake

Direction 04

Engage

Build lasting cooperation around heritage, at every level.

Working with Member States, partners and communities worldwide, ICCROM embeds heritage in inclusive, rights-based cooperation — participation, capacity building and shared responsibility for sustainable development.

  • Member States & global partnerships
  • Community participation & capacity building
  • Heritage for sustainable development
“Our heritage is not a luxury — it is a lifeline. It connects generations, fosters peace, and drives social cohesion, resilience and development.”

— ICCROM, Strategic Plan 2026–2031

02 — Priorities

Resilience, diversity, youth, sustainability.

The CARE framework is woven through the themes that define our era. Across every direction, four cross-cutting priorities shape how heritage is put to work for people and planet.

Community heritage landscape
A

Resilience

Heritage strengthens communities facing climate change, conflict and rapid change — durable climate solutions, preparedness and anticipatory approaches.

Diverse cultural expressions
B

Diversity

Inclusive, people-centred and rights-based approaches ensure that heritage reflects and serves all communities and all forms of knowledge.

Young people engaged with heritage
C

Youth

Young people are custodians of tomorrow’s heritage — capacity building, participation and agency across generations keep it alive.

Traditional craft supporting sustainable livelihoods
D

Sustainability

Heritage drives decent livelihoods, sustainable tourism and responsible growth — a living resource for sustainable development agendas.

Get involved

Shaping better futures for all.

Together with our Member States, partners and communities, we ensure heritage is not only safeguarded — but unleashed as a resource to shape better futures for all.

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