As one of the five “C”s of the World Heritage strategic objectives, capacity building involves the strengthening of various capabilities of people who have direct responsibilities for heritage sites. IHM provides capacity building in order to improve the knowledge, abilities and skills of a heritage management team to ensure a better conservation and management of a site. Capacity building also allows for better decision-making and policy-making, and encourages a more inclusive approach to managing heritage sites, creating a more dynamic relationship between the site, its context and its people.

Within the framework of a feasibility study, the IHM advises clients on the selection of cultural and natural heritage themes and concepts for future UNESCO World Heritage recognition. The World Heritage potential is assessed in a Feasibility Study and further options on how to proceed are provided.

In order to demonstrate the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of a heritage site, attributes of values must be identified. In attribute mapping, both tangible and intangible attributes are identified and mapped. This forms an essential basis for the nomination process, management plan, and various impact assessments.

Integrity and authenticity are essential components of a World Heritage nomination. These are best assessed through examining the state of conservation of a site by conducting a Visual Impact Assessments that point out certain aspects and vulnerabilities of the integrity and authenticity of a site. They can serve as a basis for Feasibility Studies and are carried out using programs such as GIS (Geo Information Systems).