The Role of Heritage Education in Post-conflict Livelihoods: Lessons from Mosul, Iraq

Abstract

This chapter explores the transformative role of heritage education in post-conflict livelihoods, focusing on Mosul, Iraq. It discusses the evolving United Nations definitions of “livelihoods” and the increasing recognition of culture and creative industries in post-conflict livelihoods. It highlights the role of intergovernmental organisations in implementing heritage-driven economic revival strategies, focusing on ICCROM Heritage Recovery Programme in Mosul implemented in the framework of the UNESCO “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” initiative. These strategies aim to generate livelihoods through tourism, cultural industries, and traditional craftsmanship, contributing to long-term stability and resilience in post-conflict regions. This chapter underscores the importance of heritage capacity building in increasing livelihoods after conflicts, as demonstrated by the preliminary success of the Mosul initiative, and concludes by emphasising the need for an integrated approach to heritage conservation and sustainable economic growth in post-conflict contexts.

1 The Evolving Definition of Livelihoods

The United Nations (UN) definitions of “livelihoods” have evolved significantly since their introduction in the 1990s to refer to maintaining quality of life, followed in 1992 by the emergence of “sustainable development.” Since then, the UN has considered the skills, resources, and activities people use to meet their needs and improve their well-being. It has enhanced its holistic understanding, progressively emphasising an integrated approach to livelihoods that recognises impoverished people’s diverse livelihood systems and subsequent needs.

UN and Intergovernmental Organisation (IGO) publications underscore the role of culture and creative industries in post-conflict livelihoods, promoting sustainable development, peace, reconciliation, and resilience in conflict-affected societies. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report links crisis-related livelihoods, such as emergency employment, through their positive impact on income and well-being to long-term peace and stability. In 2017, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) published a guide to advocate for implementing market-oriented approaches in refugee livelihood programmes to facilitate their economic inclusion engagement with host communities. In 2018 and 2020, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) published the “Culture in City Reconstruction and Recovery (CURE) Framework” and the “Culture in Crisis: Policy Guide for a Resilient Creative Sector,” focusing on culture in city reconstruction and recovery, promoting urban economic growth, inclusivity, resilience, and sustainability, and the second aiming to strengthen cultural and creative industries’ resilience to contribute to the livelihoods of artists and cultural professionals. In 2021, the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) published the PATH—Peacebuilding Assessment Tool for Heritage Recovery and Rehabilitation, which evaluates heritage’s role in peacebuilding and provides guidance on designing conflict-sensitive heritage livelihood-related projects. UNCTAD’s “Creative Economy Outlook 2022” report analyses the creative economy’s current and future state and how it can help achieve sustainable development. The 2022 “UN-Habitat Urban Recovery Framework (URF)” emphasises crisis-sensitive employment and livelihood initiatives for urban recovery. The 2022 “ICCROM Analysis of Case Studies in Recovery and Reconstruction” briefly mentions livelihoods as a factor in holistic heritage recovery.

The emphasis across these documents is on leveraging heritage as a cornerstone for economic recovery. They underscore the pivotal role of heritage in generating livelihoods after conflicts by promoting heritage-driven economic revival, including tourism, cultural industries, and traditional craftsmanship. These efforts empower local communities and contribute to long-term stability and resilience, aligning heritage conservation with sustainable economic growth in post-conflict regions.

2 Heritage as a Generator of Livelihoods

In response, UN organisations and international NGOs began implementing projects reflecting this shift in post-conflict situations, supporting and increasing livelihoods in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Jordan through cultural heritage development projects, the most notable of which is the UNESCO flagship initiative “Revive the Spirit of Mosul,” which all demonstrate the potential of cultural heritage to enhance livelihoods, contributing to sustainable development, social inclusion, and resilience. In the context of Syria, Yemen, Mosul in Iraq, and Mali, ICCROM has played a significant role in capacity building, training, and providing guidelines for protecting and restoring cultural heritage. These efforts have not only contributed to the preservation of cultural heritage but also to the improvement of livelihoods, social cohesion, and resilience in these regions. UNESCO’s work in culture to improve livelihoods is multifaceted and spans various global areas. The organisation’s initiatives primarily focus on leveraging cultural heritage to create employment opportunities, foster social cohesion, and promote sustainable development. One of the key projects is in Jordan, where UNESCO has created employment opportunities and provided skills training for 283 Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanians, addressing unemployment and boosting tourism in northern Jordan.

Similarly, in Yemen, UNESCO launched a project in 2018 that employs young Yemenis in heritage restoration and preservation while promoting social cohesion and resilience through cultural programming, surveying over 8000 historic buildings and 151 buildings, and enrolling over 2500 young workers (UNESCO 2023). Economic initiatives linked to living heritage that are established by UNESCO have the capacity to generate revenue for the communities, groups, and individuals impacted, in addition to enhancing livelihoods and decent employment opportunities in the local economy (UNESCO n.d.). It has been working on integrating conservation, sustainable tourism, and local livelihood opportunities. These efforts aim to improve communities’ livelihoods while preserving and promoting their cultural heritage. By integrating conservation and sustainable tourism practices, UNESCO understands that it can create a balance between preserving cultural heritage and boosting the local economy. By generating income through economic activities linked with living heritage, communities, groups, and individuals are empowered to improve their livelihoods. Through these efforts, UNESCO aims not only to preserve and promote cultural heritage but also to contribute to the overall development and well-being of the communities involved.

On the other hand, ICCROM is a unique intergovernmental organisation with an inspiring global mission to protect cultural heritage worldwide, and its individual mandate, expertise, and international outlook have made it essential to preserving our past since its creation in 1956. Its work in post-conflict recovery focuses on preserving and restoring cultural heritage, which is essential for rebuilding communities and promoting social cohesion. ICCROM and various other organisations play a crucial role in supporting sustainable livelihoods within communities that embrace cultural heritage. By collaborating with local communities, ICCROM helps develop strategies and initiatives that promote the conservation and management of cultural heritage while simultaneously fostering economic growth. ICCROM equips individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to engage in sustainable tourism practices through training programmes and capacity-building workshops. This empowers local communities to not only preserve their cultural heritage but also create economic opportunities that enhance their livelihoods and overall well-being.

ICCROM work includes workshops and training programmes on post-conflict recovery that aim to exchange ideas and experiences, case studies, and classroom activities on assessment, design, and recovery strategies. ICCROM collaborates with civil society organisations to improve people’s living conditions, address climate and environmental change, and promote sustainable development. They also make guides and publications about cultural heritage in post-war recovery, like the Cultural Heritage in Post-War Recovery guide, which stresses how important cultural heritage is in recovering from armed conflict and how it needs to be planned into recovery after a conflict. Lastly, ICCROM promotes an integrated and multi-hazard risk management approach to heritage conservation.

ICCROM’s post-conflict recovery programmes generally focus on restoring and protecting cultural heritage, which is an essential part of rebuilding communities and bringing people together. ICCROM collaborates with civil society organisations, organises symposiums, and develops tools and guidelines to promote sustainable development, address climate and environmental change, and enhance living conditions.

3 The UNESCO “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” Initiative

The “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” project, launched by UNESCO and supported by ICCROM, is a testament to the transformative power of heritage capacity building in post-conflict environments, thanks to financial support from the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the European Union. The project’s approach goes beyond merely providing employment; it fosters on-the-job learning opportunities, equipping professionals and workers with the necessary skills to contribute to the reconstruction efforts. The importance of heritage capacity building in increasing livelihoods after conflict cannot be overstated. This is particularly evident in the context of this project, which has been instrumental in the recovery and rehabilitation of Mosul, Iraq, following years of conflict. The project’s approach goes beyond simply providing employment; it also fosters on-the-job learning opportunities, ensuring the active participation of residents in the reconstruction efforts. A component of this initiative was the extensive on-site training that ICCROM designed for Mosul to successfully train young building professionals and revive traditional building crafts to conserve and restore historical monuments in Mosul in its ongoing post-conflict reconstruction phase. This initiative aims to restore and rebuild the cultural heritage of Mosul, Iraq, which was severely damaged and destroyed during the conflict with ISIS and actively involves collaborations with local communities, experts, and international organisations to ensure the preservation of historical sites, such as the Al-Nouri Mosque and the Al-Hadba Minaret, while also providing opportunities for social and economic development in the region.

4 The ICCROM Heritage Recovery Programme in Mosul

4.1 Overview

ICCROM designed the course in close collaboration with local stakeholders as a comprehensive capacity-building programme tailored to the specific needs in Mosul and delivered in two 9 month tracks for 50 young professionals such as architects and engineers, as well as 79 semi-skilled and skilled artisans in building crafts such as alabaster work and blacksmithing that give the city its unique character. The training methodology combined theoretical learning with practical site work and workshops. By equipping participants with specialised skills and knowledge, the HRP aimed to facilitate their integration into Mosul’s labour market, supporting heritage recovery and rehabilitation.

4.2 Building Capacity for Professional Development (Track 1)

Track 1 was designed to develop the expertise of 50 young architects and civil engineers throughout two training cycles, each lasting for 9 months and involving 25 participants. The main objectives of this track are to introduce participants to heritage management and conservation, train them in planning and implementing holistic heritage recovery processes, and equip them with the technical competencies and soft skills needed to participate in heritage recovery and reconstruction initiatives in Mosul. The second cycle was revised during a meeting at the Headquarters of ICCROM in Rome with the Course Team and core resource people to better adapt the curriculum to the needs of the Moslawis after the experience and feedback gathered throughout the first cycle. Figure 1 explains the flow in interrelations between the seven modules that constitute each cycle of Track 1:

Fig. 1

© ICCROM

Revised diagram of track 1.

• 1. Orientation: This module introduced the basic principles of urban heritage conservation, both tangible and intangible. It addressed heritage values and current heritage management and conservation approaches, focusing significantly on the Moslawi heritage. The goal was to understand Mosul’s complex and multifaceted heritage and the vocabulary used to describe cultural heritage.

• 2. Situation and Context Analysis: This module aimed to teach participants how to map and establish the context in a post-crisis environment, focusing on heritage recovery. It covered methods for conducting a situation and context analysis, identifying and mapping stakeholders, and addressing issues from security risk assessment to legal and institutional framework analysis.

• 3. Documentation: This module provided knowledge of principles and techniques for documenting and surveying cultural heritage at various levels. It included analysis at the regional/city level to identify various historical layers of the city, tracing remains of the historic fabric, traditional infrastructure, and urban patterns.

• 4. Assessing Cultural Heritage Significance and Values: This module provided an understanding of the methodology for assessing cultural heritage significance and values at city, neighbourhood, building, or component levels. The focus was on understanding the heritage attributes and associated values and their prioritisation to the recovery process.

• 5. Damage and Risk Assessment: This module concerned the identification of damages to historic buildings in the context of Iraq and, more precisely, Mosul City. It involved the development of the methodology for conducting damage assessment for cultural heritage at several levels and analysing and assessing different types of hazards and the elements at risk.

• 6. Recovery Planning: This module introduced the main aspects of recovery planning for Mosul from a management perspective. Topics included the broader impact of planned recovery actions on the historic urban fabric, planning principles for recovery, preparation of a Master Plan for Recovery, community and stakeholder engagement, and financial aspects of recovery.

• 7. Implementation and Monitoring: This module focused on the procedural steps and considerations for implementing micro-level planned recovery interventions. Topics included primary intervention considerations, stabilisation and security measures, impact assessment, implementing project-level interventions, and engaging community and other stakeholders in recovery implementation (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7).

  Fig. 2

  

  © ICCROM

  Field exercise on damage assessment.

  Fig. 3

  

  © ICCROM

  Interview with stakeholder.

  Fig. 4

  

  © ICCROM

  Value assessment fieldwork.

  Fig. 5

  

  © ICCROM

  Classroom studio work.

  Fig. 6

  

  © ICCROM

  Fieldwork practical exercise.

  Fig. 7

  

  © ICCROM

  Field visit to the top of the Al-Minaret.

4.3 Building Crafts Revival and Upgrading (Track 2)

The second track, Building Crafts Revival and Upgrading, was developed to “build back better” and allowed semi-skilled craftspeople to enhance their skills while contributing to restoration efforts. Based on the results of an assessment of crafts and craftspeople in Mosul, four traditional crafts were identified as needing priority recovery: alabaster work, stonemasonry, carpentry, and blacksmithing, and involved international experts in bringing back essential know-how that could have been lost as the industry favoured less expensive techniques and materials.

A needs assessment mapped the existing typology of crafts, the level of skills available in Mosul, the locations of craftspeople, their demographic, social and economic profiles, the impact of conflict on these crafts, and current challenges and needs. It helped identify the master craftspeople who led the workshops. The training takes into consideration affordability as well as the ground realities (ICCROM 2021b). To ensure sustainability, the programme establishes links with the building industry to guarantee the availability of traditional materials and, as much as possible, focuses on recycling usable materials from the rubble (ICCROM 2021a). Finally, for the knowledge and skills imparted to both professionals and craftspeople to be economically beneficial, the programme design was informed by thorough market research on the business opportunities and challenges of built heritage professionals and craftspeople with the hope to contribute to a truly holistic, sustainable, and resilient heritage recovery of Mosul.

The carpentry workshop took place over 51 days and covered personal safety; different types, sizes, shapes and origins of wood; measurements; wood cutting and basic joinery techniques; and producing and repairing doors, windows and furniture using modern and traditional techniques. The 66 day alabaster workshop focused on building techniques, carving and sculpting. Supported by local and international experts, trainees explored restoration using epoxy and various types of mortar. The 59 day workshop on stone masonry included plastering and construction of walls, arches, vaults and domes, including theoretical discussions on the characteristics of Mosul limestone to the tools, cleaning and practical sessions working with stone itself. Blacksmithing required additional resources as the need assessment revealed that hand-forged handrails and window protection without modern electric welding had been lost. Because similar techniques are present in other historic Arab cities, ICCROM involved a skilled master blacksmith from Cairo who undertook several missions to Mosul and initially conducted a 15 day Training of Trainers, a 52 day workshop for semi-skilled blacksmiths, and a second stage (ICCROM 2023) (Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11).

Fig. 8

© ICCROM

Female participants during the alabaster workshop.

Fig. 9

© ICCROM

Building a traditional dome during the stone masonry workshop.

Fig. 10

© ICCROM

Door production during the carpentry workshop.

Fig. 11

© ICCROM

Training of trainers of master blacksmiths.

5 Impact on Livelihoods and Economic Recovery in Mosul

The ICCROM Heritage Recovery Programme provided its graduates with the necessary skills to integrate into the labour force active in the reconstruction of Old Mosul in response to the growing labour market demand, enabling them to earn a living and contribute to the local economy. On one hand, this involved training architects and engineers in adapting heritage buildings and sites to new uses that align with the local community’s needs, and on the other, training Track 2 participants on the use of hybrid traditional and modern techniques and materials, increasing the sustainability and affordability of the heritage recovery process. In parallel, ICCROM raised the awareness of local contractors on the importance of using traditional materials in the recovery process and its cost-efficiency when coupled with hiring trained craftspeople.

Upon graduation, to encourage continued learning and facilitate practice, each Track 1 participant received a collection of seminal reference books in the field of heritage conservation. On the other hand, Track 2 participants received a start-up kit of essential tools for each craft to encourage practising the acquired skills. Further enhancing its action’s sustainability, ICCROM hired several graduates of both tracks as training assistants in subsequent training. At the same time, six architects and engineers managed to secure employment either with UNESCO, ICCROM or with contractors engaged in rehabilitation projects. Further evidence of the impact can be observed through post-training assessments among craftspeople: four out of five blacksmiths experienced a notable income increase, surpassing a twofold increment in some cases. Comparable patterns provide empirical support for the programme’s impact on livelihoods.

6 Key Success Factors

The success of the course in linking heritage capacity building with livelihoods and economic recovery in post-conflict Mosul, Iraq can be attributed to several key factors. Firstly, a participatory need assessment was conducted, which involved consultations with local stakeholders to ensure that the training provided was aligned with the real needs on the ground. This approach ensured that the programme was relevant and responsive to the specific context of Mosul. Secondly, the course adopted a multi-track approach targeting professionals and craftspeople. This strategy addressed Mosul’s diverse economic rehabilitation challenges, catering to different skill levels and occupational needs. The programme also employed a hands-on methodology, incorporating site visits and practical activities into the training. This approach provided authentic learning experiences and made the training relevant to the participants’ work.

Inter-generational knowledge transfer was another critical factor in its success. The programme leveraged the expertise of master craftspeople to promote continuity in traditional skills, ensuring that these valuable skills were not lost. The course also provided toolkits, books and mentorship to participants, enabling them to apply their knowledge and skills after graduation. This support was crucial in ensuring that the training had a tangible and immediate impact on the participants’ livelihoods. Local partnerships were also instrumental. The programme engaged with contractors, universities, and the government to facilitate participant recruitment and job placements. These partnerships ensured that the training was directly linked to employment opportunities. Finally, the course demonstrated flexibility in its training curriculum, adapting to evolving needs and employment trends in Mosul’s post-conflict economy. This adaptability ensured that the programme remained relevant and effective in changing circumstances.

7 Conclusion

The preliminary evidence of the success of the ICCROM Heritage Recovery Programme, as demonstrated by the number of graduates finding employment and initiating cultural development projects, shows that investment in local capacity building can yield extensive benefits in post-conflict reconstruction. It has improved livelihoods and empowered the youth of Mosul to regain a sense of identity and belonging through their cultural heritage. The approach and impact of the programme provide valuable insights for rebuilding initiatives in other conflict-affected areas. Heritage conservation can directly support economic recovery and community resilience if local capacities are mobilised through participatory, needs-based training.

As Mosul rebuilds, the professionals and craftspeople trained through the programme will continue to make invaluable contributions, fuelling the city’s revival. The most significant impact is the empowerment of Mosul’s youth to reconnect with their heritage. By equipping them with knowledge and skills, the programme enabled them to actively contribute to their city’s rehabilitation. It is helping lay the groundwork for the youth of Mosul to manage its heritage sustainably. The strategic focus on capacity building and livelihood creation aligns with the “building back better” approach of the “Revive Spirit of Mosul” initiative. ICCROM’s training programme embodies this holistic vision of forging a resilient future for Mosul’s citizens and cultural heritage. The programme serves as a model for heritage-based livelihood regeneration post-conflict. Investing in youth and artisans generates social and economic returns crucial for recovery. The local empowerment approach ensures that solutions are context-specific and sustainable.