PATH: Peacebuilding Assessment Tool for Heritage Recovery and Rehabilitation

Undertaking heritage recovery in conflict settings is challenging and could lead to unintended consequences, as well as further discord. Is there a way to avoid such an outcome?

PATH - Peacebuilding Assessment Tool for Heritage Recovery and Rehabilitation, is a first-of-its-kind tool that enhances an understanding of the interplay between heritage and conflict dynamics in a given context.

Designed as a self-assessment and reflective tool, PATH enables its users to identify the cultural drivers of a conflict that could prolong it or make the conflict reoccur due to unresolved, or newer grievances.

The guiding questions and exercises in the Tool can be used at any stage of a heritage recovery and rehabilitation project. Additionally, it can be applied to diverse conflict contexts and different types of heritage.

It is intended to help heritage practitioners, peacebuilders and supporting organizations to take key decisions on which heritage gets preserved or rebuilt; where, when and by whom. Such decisions are key to maintaining peace and addressing the root causes of a conflict.

This publication came out of the interdisciplinary Culture Cannot Wait Workshop held at Brandeis University, designed by Kristin.