UNESCO Toolkit in Italian: a practical tool for World Heritage Sites

The Enhancing Our Heritage Toolkit 2.0, developed jointly by UNESCO, ICCROM and ICOMOS, is now available in Italian. This toolkit provides a tested self-assessment methodology to help site managers, institutions and local communities evaluate management effectiveness and ensure the long-term safeguarding of a site's heritage values.

Having the Toolkit in Italian makes the operational procedures more accessible and supports the adoption of common practices across Italy’s UNESCO sites, strengthening planning and diagnostic capabilities.

Benefits for UNESCO sites in Italy

• Systematic evaluation: offers indicators and templates to identify strengths and management gaps.
• Community engagement: encourages integrating local perspectives into conservation priorities.
• Shared standards: facilitates alignment with internationally recognized site-management practices.

How to use it: five practical steps

• 1. Set up a working group including site managers, local authorities, experts and community representatives.
• 2. Gather data and documentation on conservation, governance, tourism management and finances.
• 3. Conduct the self-assessment using the indicators and tools provided in the Toolkit.
• 4. Develop an action plan prioritizing feasible, sustainable measures.
• 5. Monitor and review periodically to adapt management strategies based on results.

For managers of Italy’s UNESCO sites, the Italian version of the Toolkit offers a concrete way to make site management more transparent and measurable, improve stakeholder communication, and guide decisions that protect heritage values over the long term.