Urban Heritage Regeneration Accelerator
A nine-month program equipping stewards of World Heritage Cities with the financial, strategic, and governance tools to advance heritage-led urban regeneration.
Lamu, Kenya
What Is the Heritage Accelerator?
The Urban Heritage Regeneration Accelerator is a program of the Cultural Heritage Finance Alliance (CHiFA), organized in partnership with the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC).
Historic cities hold extraordinary economic, cultural, and social value — yet translating that value into investable, community-centered development remains one of the defining challenges of our time. The Accelerator exists to close that gap.
Over nine months, cohort teams from four World Heritage Cities worked alongside expert mentors, outside speakers and peer cities to develop heritage-led regeneration frameworks, define pilot projects, and structure capital strategies ready for private and public investment.
“From preservation focused on single sites and monuments — to heritage as investable infrastructure at the district level.”
The Pilot Projects
Each team’s pilot project is designed to catalyze the broader regeneration of their historic city or district and structured to attract investment from a broad range of sources.
Baeza
Conversion of a historic convent into a senior living home — simultaneously serving the city’s aging population and creating employment opportunities to retain its youth.
Tunis
Restoration and reopening of a historic hammam in the medina’s southern faubourg as a cultural wellbeing experience and social hub — a strategically placed catalyst for wider district regeneration.
Lamu
Activation of a traditional Swahili house as the Old Town’s flagship cultural and artisanal center — reviving craft skills, reconnecting residents to their heritage, and showcasing Lamu’s living culture to visitors.
Cuenca
New affordable housing units designed to retain long-time residents and preserve the historic center’s local character — capitalized through a dedicated fund capturing value from development and tourism flows.
Final Showcase
Urban Heritage Regeneration Accelerator — Final Showcase
March 25, 2026 · Virtual · Presented by CHiFA
Interested in the Heritage Accelerator?
Contact us to learn more about the program, future cohorts, or partnership opportunities.