Small Island Developing States are home to some of the world’s most distinctive cultural, natural, marine, coastal, and landscape heritage. Their heritage reflects ocean civilizations, living traditions, biodiversity, climate resilience, community memory, and the deep connection between people and place.

UNESCO recognizes 39 SIDS, representing more than 70 million people across the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Caribbean and Pacific regions. Yet, as of January 2026, only 24 SIDS had World Heritage sites, with a total of 38 UNESCO World Heritage properties across SIDS. This shows an important gap: many SIDS still have limited or no representation on the World Heritage List, despite holding heritage of potential Outstanding Universal Value.

UNESCO is already working to address this challenge. UNESCO provides the global framework, standards, procedures, and international platform through which countries engage with the World Heritage Convention.

The World Heritage Pathway Capacity-Building Programme, led by the Chartered Culture and Education Institute (CCEI) and sponsored by the Republic of Azerbaijan, is designed to complement this important mission.

This programme adds practical, early-stage, country-focused support. It helps countries prepare before they enter the most demanding stages of the nomination process. It does not replace UNESCO procedures or national decision-making. Instead, it helps countries build the expert capacity, documentation readiness, institutional coordination, and confidence needed to move toward a stronger World Heritage pathway.

A Practical Pathway from Heritage Potential to Nomination Readiness

Many SIDS do not lack heritage. They lack a clear pathway.

The first challenge is often knowing how to begin: which sites to prioritize, how to assess potential Outstanding Universal Value, how to prepare or revise Tentative List entries, how to train national experts, and how to organize a credible readiness roadmap.

This programme responds to that need by offering a structured pathway from early interest to practical preparation. It combines country-level support, in-country or hybrid training, e-learning, diagnostic review, expert mentoring, and practical tools.