KIMIA and CESF in Jordan with the RE-BUILD project: training and technologies for the conservation of historical heritage

KIMIA is a partner of RE-BUILD, an international project for high-quality architectural restoration as a driver for economic development in construction and tourism in Jordan. RE-BUILD is co-financed by AICS - Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and is implemented by CESF - Building Center for Safety and Training in Perugia.

The main objective of the project is the transfer of technical and operational knowledge in the field of restoration and structural consolidation, through the use of traditional products and innovative technologies applicable to the country's building and historical-monumental heritage.

The RE-BUILD project also aims to promote the safety of Jordanian workers in the construction sector through courses on basic safety, scaffolding assembly, and the role of the site supervisor/foreman. The program also includes support activities for local CSOs through specific training courses on design, administration, and more.

Finally, RE-BUILD has the additional goal of promoting entrepreneurship and employment in the tourism and construction sectors through training and mentoring programs that will guide beneficiaries toward the creation of new start-ups.

The project objectives will be pursued through educational courses that will take place over a three-year period in Jordan at local training centers and, in the field, within the archaeological park of Petra and at Kerak Castle (12th century). The start of the training courses will be preceded in February 2026 by an initial course in Perugia, which will be attended by 10 Jordanian trainers.

“RE-BUILD is a unique project that confirms KIMIA's commitment to supporting technical training at an international level, ensuring that heritage conservation is never just a local action, but a global responsibility,” says Alessandro Belli, CEO of KIMIA. "A responsibility that will also have benefits in terms of professional and employment opportunities. For this reason, we will work closely with CESF and the other foreign partners involved to spread awareness in Jordan of new methods of intervention and the use of traditional and innovative materials for the conservation of historical and monumental heritage. These materials have been used for decades to protect buildings in seismic areas in Italy and many of the world's most extraordinary architectural and cultural assets. I would like to thank AICS for believing in the project and CESF director Cristiana Bartolucci for involving us in a project that will certainly bring prestige to our country and have important benefits for Jordan”.

The Jordanian partners involved in the RE-BUILD program are PDTRA - Petra Development & Tourism Region Authority, the NGO SELA for Training and Protection of Heritage, the Municipality of Kerak, the Order of Engineers of Amman, and the German/Jordanian University of Amman. The Italian partners, in addition to CESF and KIMIA, are the Municipality of Gubbio and the Centro ELIS Association.

“We are really proud to be working on such an important project and are currently collaborating with CESF Perugia to define in detail the training programs, technical activities, materials, and products that will be used during the courses,” explains Federico Picuti, Head of Training, Communication, and Partnerships at KIMIA. "We will bring our experience to Jordan and introduce cutting-edge products and systems. However, we will act in full respect of local architectural characteristics, promoting the knowledge and use of durable materials that are compatible with the local heritage. It is no coincidence that, back in April this year, our technicians took part in a technical conference in the capital Amman and carried out site inspections in Petra in collaboration with restorers from the NGO SELA and CESF. This field survey allowed us to gain an in-depth understanding of the state of conservation of the local heritage and to understand the practices and needs of local restorers".

For the courses in Jordan that will take place over the next three years, specific venues equipped for practical training activities in restoration and structural consolidation will be used. The venues will be granted to CESF Perugia and its partners thanks to the agreement signed in November 2025 by the CESF representative in Jordan, Adnan Al Sawair, and the Director of the VTC, Ahmad M. Al-Gharaibeh, in the presence of the Minister of Labor, Khaled Al Bakkar, the Italian Ambassador to Jordan, Luciano Pezzotti, the First Secretary of the Embassy, Giorgio Bassotti, the head of ICE - Italian Trade Agency Jordan, Elisa Salazar, and the Dante Alighieri School, Maria Rosaria Papa.

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This publication was produced with the contribution of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of CESF and do not necessarily represent the views of the Agency. The opinions expressed in this publication do not commit AICS in any way, which is not responsible for the use that may be made of the information contained therein.