Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

Please download the full brief from the PDF link below.

Stone town seafront rehabilitation: forodhani park

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) has been active in Zanzibar since 1989, successfully completing the restoration of the Old Dispensary and the Old Customs House, upgrading of housing, as well as the rehabilitation of Kelele Square. Inspired by His Highness the Aga Khan’s commitment to the preservation of historic cities in the Muslim world, AKTC has been working in places such as Cairo, Delhi and Kabul to restore and rehabilitate public spaces and historic buildings proving that public spaces can be self-sustaining and become catalysts for economic and social development and overall positive change.

In Zanzibar, the Trust works with the Government and international partners such as the Government of Sweden and the Ford Foundation to provide training workshops on conservation practice and traditional construction methods for craftsmen, building professionals and Government officers working in Stone Town. Nearly 100 people were trained. Eleven buildings – many of them on the point of collapse – were restored as part of a programme to show the building techniques needed to preserve this World Heritage Site.

Over the last 20 years, these cultural revitalisation efforts have been carefully integrated into the broader economic and social programmes of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) – reflecting His Highness the Aga Khan’s belief that development is a complex process that requires multiple inputs.
The Aga Khan Development Network’s work in Zanzibar dates to the signing of a Protocol of Co-operation for Development between the Network and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar in 1988. AKDN’s efforts include the Raha Leo Health Centre (a public-private partnership), which records over 13,000 patient visits per year, many from Stone Town residents. The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development has restored and converted historic seafront buildings into the Zanzibar Serena Inn, while the Aga Khan Foundation is involved in programmes on education, training and health, including pre-schools in Zanzibar and Pemba, an educational Resource Centre and the training of hundreds of teachers.

Forodhani Park

The restoration of Forodhani Park is part of a comprehensive programme for seafront rehabilitation in Stone Town. It is intended to be a logical extension of Kelele Square already completed by AKTC.
The restoration was undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in cooperation with the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar and took approximately 18 months. The aim of the project was to upgrade social and recreational amenities in this historic park setting while providing for economic activity that will contribute to the sustainability of the Park.

The objective of this project was to restore and secure the city’s major urban open space while improving the quality of civic life for Zanzibaris. The project components include:
• Restoration of the walkways, infrastructure and landscape of the Park;
• Improvement of infrastructure, including lighting, sewerage and drain-

age;
• Upgrading of civic amenities;
• Restoration of the seawall in front of the Park;
• Stimulation of economic activities and small enterprise, with improvements for vendors; and,
• Promotion of related socio-economic development.

The impact of the Park restoration has been:
• Creation of 200 new jobs in the construction phase;
• Stimulation of the local economy through Park reconstruction costs of approximately US$2.4 million;
• Generation of employment opportunities in the informal sector; and,
• Creation of a more attractive environment for Zanzibaris and visitors.

Seafront Rehabilitation PRoject: Phase ii

With the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar’s support, AKTC will launch Phase II of the Seafront Rehabilitation Project that will see the upgrading of the seafront from Forodhani Park to the historic port in partnership with the World Bank. Originally established to arrest the serious physical and environmental decline of the historic seafront district of Stone Town, the Seafront Rehabilitation Project will become an important springboard for the overall cultural and economic revitalisation of this critical zone of the town’s unique fabric.

Indian Ocean Maritime Museum

The proposed Indian Ocean Maritime Museum will also be a part of the redevelopment of Zanzibar’s Stone Town and its waterfront. The museum programme will be constructed around the theme of the Indian Ocean as a context for the exchange of goods, ideas and myths between diverse civilisations. It will also showcase the maritime cultures of the Indian Ocean, including the display of naval vessels and other artefacts that illustrate the history of the commercial and cultural contacts between Africa, the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent.

Aga KH an Developm ent Network

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a group of development agencies with mandates ranging from health and education to architecture, culture, microfinance, rural development, disaster reduction, the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalisation of historic cities. It is dedicated to improving living conditions and opportunities for the poor, without regard to their faith, origin or gender.
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture, the cultural agency of AKDN, works in concert with other AKDN agencies to bring a variety of activities and disciplines to bear in order to stimulate positive change that leads to the overall quality of life.