ICUA Zadar has renewed its designation as category 2 centre under the auspices of UNESCO

The Executive Board of UNESCO approved the renewal of the designation of the International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA Zadar) as a category 2 centre under the auspices of UNESCO for the following eight-year period at its 215th session held in Paris from 5 to 19 October 2022 (215 EX/Decision 18.V).

As per the 2019 Strategy for Category 2 Institutes and Centres under the auspices of UNESCO (Document 40 C/79), it was suggested that UNESCO and the Republic of Croatia enter into a bipartite Agreement and that a Memorandum of Understanding be signed between UNESCO and ICUA Zadar. On behalf of the Croatian Government, the Agreement between the UNESCO and the Government of the Republic of Croatia regarding the continuation of the International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar, Republic of Croatia as a category 2 centre under the auspices of UNESCO was signed by the Minister of Culture and Media Ms Nina Obuljen Koržinek and the Director-General of UNESCO Ms Audrey Azoulay. The Memorandum of Understanding between UNESCO and the International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar regarding the renewal of the International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar, Republic of Croatia as a category 2 centre under the auspices of UNESCO was signed by the Director-General of UNESCO Ms Audrey Azoulay and the ICUA Director Mr. Mladen Pešić. The Renewal Agreement and the Memorandum of Understanding were signed in Pariz on 20 February 2023 and in Zagreb on 22 February 2023, and they regulate the framework for cooperation between the Parties, the contractual obligations entered into force on 4 May 2023 (on the date of receipt by UNESCO the Note Verbale No. 11/23 about the fulfilment of the internal legal procedures by the Government of Croatia concerning the entry into force this Agreement).

Following the request of the Croatian Government for the renewal Agreement in December 2020, the renewal procedure of the Centre was carried out between September and December 2021, in accordance with the 2019 Strategy. UNESCO's Intersectoral Review Committee selected a team of independent experts (Strategicus Consulting SRL was contracted to undertake the renewal evaluation through a public call). The assessment consisted of a detailed review of relevant documents provided by Centre and UNESCO, on-site missions were organized in Zadar (ICUA) and in Zagreb (Ministry of Culture and Media) for the Strategicus' evaluators (as well as the list of ICUA’s institutional partners, local stakeholders, UNESCO' experts and former ICUA’s trainees for interviews). Based on the positive report of the evaluators, Intersectoral Committee assessment and UNESCO Director General recommendation, the Executive Board approved the renewal of the designation of ICUA Zadar as category 2 centre (C2C). The Committee took into account several parameters: the extent to which the Centre's objectives as set out in the agreement signed with UNESCO were achieved, relevance of the contribution of the Centre's programmes and activities to the achievement of UNESCO's Approved Programme and Budget including global strategies and action plans as well as sectoral programms priorities, relevance of the contribution of the Centre's activities to the global development agendas, quality of coordination and interaction with UNESCO, both at Headquarters and in the field, with the Croatian Commission for UNESCO, other thematically related C2C, institution's organizational structure, management, human resources and accountability mechanisms, financial resources available as well as partnership developed and maintained with government agencies, public or private partners.

The International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar is one of 25 C2C related to the UNESCO culture sector, but the only C2C so far dealing with the protection of underwater cultural heritage and currently in the Republic of Croatia the only UNESCO centre. Its main task is to carry out activities and education in the field of research, conservation and restoration as well as a promotion of 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage at national and international level. Significant steps forward have been achieved in cooperation with other cultural and scientific institutions, with numerous activities achieved in our international activity efforts the Centre strives to consolidate the status of a modern and educational institution.