1. The African World Heritage Fund

The African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) is an intergovernmental organization created in 2006 by the African Union and UNESCO to support the effective conservation and protection of cultural and natural heritage of Outstanding Universal Value in Africa. The main objective of the AWHF is to address the challenges faced by African States Parties in the implementation of the 1972 World Heritage Convention, specifically, the underrepresentation of African sites on the World Heritage List and the insufficient conservation and management of these sites. The Fund became a Category II Centre under the auspices of UNESCO in 2010 hence, an official partner of UNESCO. The Fund is hosted by the Government of the Republic of South Africa, at the Development Bank of Southern Africa, on behalf of the African continent.

2. Conservation Grants

Each year, the AWHF provides conservation grants to African States Parties to support the implementation of projects and activities aimed at enhancing the sustainability and state of conservation of World Heritage properties. In addition, AWHF offers preparatory assistance to sites on national heritage lists, supporting their inclusion on Tentative Lists and the development of nominations for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

3. Eligibility

1. Projects activities are restricted to African World Heritage Sites as declared by UNESCO, and sites to be, or included on the National Tentative List.
2. Project proposals MUST address challenges affecting the State of Conservation of the selected World Heritage property. Projects addressing the conservation issues raised in the State of Conservation (SoC) reports and the decisions made by the World Heritage Committee have added advantage.
3. Projects focusing on entrepreneurship initiatives, youth development or addressing sustainability issues at African World Heritage properties.
4. Projects aiming at enhancing the legibility and accessibility of World Heritage properties through digital technologies.
5. This grant is for Government institutions involved in the management and protection of World Heritage Sites. Civil society organizations working in close cooperation (formal partnership) with responsible government institution are also eligible.
6. The application must be approved by the Head/Director of heritage institution/organization accompanied by a cover letter endorsing the project.