Protection Heritage to Build Peace: ALIPH's projects in Iraq

Protecting Heritage to Build Peace ALIPH'S PROJECTS IN IRAQ FEBRUARY 2021 Photo (c) ISMEO Hatra, Iraq, February 2020

ALIPH in Iraq Iraq has an exceptional tangible and intangible cultural heritage that traces a remarkable history and diversity of people, cultures, and religions: it is the cradle of civilization. However, this heritage has deeply suffered from terrorism, wars, and instability. Protecting this heritage means that jobs are generated, economic and social development can flourish, and tourism may begin again. Protecting this heritage also opens a path for dialogue, reconciliation, and peace building.

ALIPH was created in March 2017, after the massive destruction of cultural heritage in the Sahel Region and the Middle East. Iraq is therefore a priority country for the Swiss foundation and to this end, today, ALIPH supports 28 projects for a total amount of 9.2 million USD. These initiatives have been selected following calls for projects, or are emergency measures taken to protect cultural heritage in imminent peril, most recently, at Taq Kasra to stabilize the Arch of Ctesiphon. ALIPH also financed measures to help local cultural heritage actors overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many of ALIPH’s projects are in Mosul, notably the rehabilitation of the Mosul Museum and the "Mosul Mosaic" project to restore several places of worship.

Other projects are based throughout the Nineveh Plain and even up to the mouth of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Working with international and local actors, it is a priority for ALIPH to include field workers and local communities in all the projects.

ALIPH has been operational for just 30 months: the twenty-one major projects below bear witness to the scope of the foundation's action in Iraq in this short period of time.

5 Priorities Protecting Monuments and Sites Safeguarding Museums and their Collections Documenting and Interconnecting Heritage Fighting Looting and Illicit Trafficking Protecting Intangible Heritage

PROJECTS IN MOSUL

Photo (c) University of Pennsylvania Tutunji House, Mosul, Iraq, December 2020

PROJECTS IN NINEVEH GOVERNORATE

Photo (c) Fraternité en Irak Mar Benham Monastery, Khidr

PROJECTS IN REST OF IRAQ

Photo (c) Consultancy for Conservation Arch of Ctesiphon, Taq Kasra, December 2020

Valéry Freland Executive Director valery.freland@aliph-foundation.org +41 79 897 49 09

Sandra Bialystok Communications and Media sandra.bialystok@aliph-foundation.org +41 79 897 48 89

Mosul Museum Photos (c) SBAH