Because of the uniqueness, authenticity and integrity of the Old city of Bethlehem, and in order to meet the protection criteria required to include the historic center of Bethlehem in the UNESCO World Heritage List and to ensure the development of the city and the common interest of the community. The Bethlehem Area Conservation and Management Plan (BACMP) is a common base that will contain these wishes, ideas and proposals within a shared vision of the future.

The project funded by the Government of Italy through the Italian Cooperation, under the technical supervision of the UNESCO and the guidance and support of Social Design, which represents the Italian Team of Experts. It is implemented with the full participation of the Municipalities of Bethlehem, Beit-Jala and Beit-Sahour.

The first of its kind in the region, the Project will contribute to fill the gap related to the shortage of local scientific and technical specialists in the field of architectural conservation and urban planning. At its conclusion, the project should provide the three Municipalities -the main beneficiaries of the project- with a tool for the management and urban development of the old cores.