WELCOME TO THE AFRICAN WORLD HERITAGE FUND (AWHF)
The African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) is an intergovernmental organisation created in 2006 by the African Union and UNESCO 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 is hosted by the Government of the Republic of South Africa on behalf of the African continent. As a Category II Centre under the auspices of UNESCO since 2010, the Fund is the only institution in Africa with a specific mandate to support the implementation of UNESCO’s Action Plan for World Heritage on the continent through capacity-building, technical and financial assistance to all African Member States of the Africa Union.
INVESTING IN AFRICA’S HERITAGE
The mission of the AWHF is to support the effective conservation and protection of natural and cultural heritage of outstanding universal value in Africa. Together with the African Members States of UNESCO and the African Union, the main aim is to develop a strategy to deal with the challenges that many African countries meet in implementing the 1972 World Heritage Convention.
The UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites in Africa are some of the most spectacular places on earth. The importance of preserving and promoting this cultural heritage escalates with each passing year. It is vital to raise awareness of this rich heritage while informing people of its value and gaining support for the conservation and development of these sites. We invite you to visit our website and learn more about the work of the African World Heritage Fund.
Upstream Support Of World Heritage In Danger
The AWHF runs a number of activities focusing on updating National and Tentative Lists of African State Parties and supporting the nomination of African properties to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The AWHF also provides grants to State Parties to assist in the finalisation of tentative lists and nomination dossiers.
Safeguarding World Heritage In Danger
The AWHF runs a number of activities focusing on improving management and conservation of properties by building capacity on management issues, risk preparedness, and documentation. The AWHF also provides grants to State Parties for projects related to improving conservation and management of World Heritage properties.
Building the Sustainability of World Heritage in Africa
The AWHF runs a number of activities on supporting and building capacity on sustainable tourism, entrepreneurship, and business planning. The AWHF also provides grants to State Parties on projects related to increasing benefits derived from heritage while ensuring their sustainability.
Did You Know?
Africa is underrepresented on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List with only 142 African Sites listed from 1223 in the world, thus constituting only 12.2% representation.
However, Africa is also over-represented on the World Heritage List in Danger with 21 African Sites from 52 World Heritage Sites listed in Danger in the world, thus constituting 40% of the List. The situation is challenging to reverse.