Culture and Heritage: levers for social cohesion and economic development
As a fundamental element of sustainable cities, culture is rooted at the heart of our cities and societies. It contributes to the construction of a common identity, to the economy, to the environment, and to the well-being of the local population. As such, it plays a key, cross-sectoral role in creating prosperous, balanced and resilient cities for future generations. Far more than a mere ornament, it is an essential pillar and driver of economic development. It is also a vehicle for social cohesion, strengthening ties within the same community and contributing to the resilience of populations in the face of shocks, crises, and disruptions.
Expertise France, as part of the AFD Group, is committed to supporting its partner countries in their efforts to promote their cultural heritage, thereby contributing to the development of sustainable, harmonious, and prosperous cities. Its activities in this field focus particularly on support for cultural entrepreneurship and creative industries, museum cooperation and the restoration and enhancement of heritage sites.
Promoting heritage as a lever for economic development in towns and cities
Heritage promotion enables cities to increase their cultural influence and acts as a lever for their economic development, notably through the generation of income from tourism, the creation of jobs and new entrepreneurial opportunities, and attractiveness to investors. Expertise France is actively involved in this approach, mobilizing experts for the benefit of its partners.
In Benin, the example of the Abomey museum :
The Beninese government has drawn up a strategy, implemented by the National Agency for Heritage Promotion and Tourism Development (ANPT), aimed at making tourism an economic development sector. The project to create a museum of the epic of the Amazons and kings of Danhomè and to valorise the site of the royal palaces of Abomey is part of this strategy.
The private sector will play a central role in the development of this project, and Expertise France is supporting the artisans whose shops are located around the site to develop their activity and their capacities and thus guarantee a complete offer in the vicinity of the museum.
The training of these craftsmen for rehabilitation will really harness a lot of tourism. This training has made it possible to reconcile the past with the present. [...] We're very happy to be able to hold on to our traditions because that's what we're going to be able to market tomorrow and forever, so we need to safeguard them. 
(Statement by Dah Zewanon Guezo, President of the Abomey Craftsmen's Collective, given at our latest Rendez-vous de l'Expertise on the theme of sustainable cities.)
In Tunisia, the revitalization of the Carthage site (Heritage 3000 project)
Every year, Tunisia's heritage attracts millions of visitors and is a major source of revenue for the country. As a result, there are a number of major issues at stake for the local authorities when it comes to promoting the country's heritage. With this in mind, the Tunisian government is seeking to diversify the country's tourism potential through the "Tounes Wijhetouna" program, financed by the European Union.
Through concessions awarded by the General Authority for Public-Private Partnerships (IGPPP), the State allows the private sector to exploit buildings of historical interest. This integrated approach combines research, social studies, and consultation to find a function for the building by linking it to its social and economic environment. The commercial use of these sites must be primarily for cultural or artistic purposes.
As part of the Patrimoine 3000 Project - funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France - an architectural competition was organized on behalf of the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs, with the primary aim of identifying the best concept for enhancing and revitalizing the archaeological site of Carthage.
The competition was a great success, not only putting the site - and more broadly Tunisia - in the spotlight, but also capitalizing on Carthage's international popularity to promote the forthcoming opening of the museum. This will draw visitors, and encourage the production of by-products as well as the opening of shops and restaurants, thus creating an ecosystem that will foster the town's economic development.
Conceptual illustration of the laureate of the architectural competition: BEZ+KOCK ARCHITEKTEN
Culture as a vector for social cohesion
Culture also plays an essential role in fostering social bonds by reinforcing the sense of collective identity and cohesion within communities. With this in mind, Expertise France is involved in projects that use culture as a vector for social cohesion.
In Haiti : murals to raise awareness about the importance of civic participation
The Urbayiti program aims to promote the economic and social development of Haiti and contribute to the resilience of the population by improving the management and quality of life in cities. Part of the program's approach is to use art as a lever to increase citizen participation by raising awareness of the need to protect the environment and respect public spaces.
The role of the murals is to help raise public awareness, so that every day we see the message, we make it our own and act accordingly. It's one of the ways of reaching out to the public; to see images with a message. So there's a lot of awareness-raising that can be done, and artists can make a real contribution to urbanization in this area
(Marie Michelle Sylvie Rameau, former mayor of Les Cayes)
(Re)discover our "NOUVEAU REGARD" video, dedicated to the Urbayiti murals :
In Lebanon, art to promote social cohesion
In Lebanon too, as part of the ACT project, Expertise France has used art as a means of fostering social cohesion in a complex neighborhood. In Tripoli, in collaboration with the French association Artivista, Expertise France has helped students from Saint-Joseph University and the NGO MARCH to create murals to strengthen social ties and encourage dialogue on transparency and corruption.
Watch the Replay of our latest Rendez-Vous de l'Expertise :
The challenge of sustainable cities: how to build resilience into the cities of tomorrow?
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