In honor of the Azerbaijani public figure Khurshidbanu Natavan, ICESCO and Heydar Aliyev Foundation are launching the ICESCO-Azerbaijan Natavan Excellence Award for best practice in promoting and profiling the best practice in the management and conservation of heritage assists in the Islamic World.

Effective conservation and management of heritage has a profound impact on people’s identity and guarantees future generation with a heritage to be proud of. Given the current concerns in the world caused by unsustainable developments, conflict and climate change humanity faces many challenges, which threaten the heritage of the world. Due to the rapid and numerous challenges, facing our heritage there is need for an environment, which encourages innovative and technologically sound thinking to ensure that our heritage provides for the current and future generations in the Islamic world.

The Award recognize and promote best practices in the conservation and management of tangible heritage and increase promotion and appreciation of the heritage in the Islamic world. It encourages excellent initiatives, which ensure remembering and celebrating the best of the heritage within our world. It aims to highlight the innovative practices in conservation and management of heritage in terms of skills used as well as social and economic impacts of the project on local communities.