Lake Malawi National Park

Malawi

M'Zab Valley

Algeria

Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata

Mauritania

Mana Pools National Park

Zimbabwe

Kerkouane

Tunisia

Twyfelfontein

Namibia

Thimlich Ohinga

Kenya

Barberton Makhonjwa

Mpumalanga – South Africa

Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad

Algeria

Lalibela

Ethiopia

Investing in heritage

WELCOME TO THE AFRICAN WORLD HERITAGE FUND

The African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) is an inter-governmental organisation that was launched in 2006 with the mission 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. Thank you!

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.

| News

MESSAGE DE CONDOLEANCES PAR RAPPORT AU DECES DE SIX (6) GARDES FORESTIERS DU PARC NATIONAL DE VIRUNGA EN RDC

C'est avec une grande tristesse que le Conseil d'administration, les parrains/marraine et le personnel du Fonds pour le patrimoine mondial africain (FPMA) ont appris le décès brutal de six gardes du parc national des Virunga en République démocratique du Congo...

CONDOLENCES MESSAGE ON THE TRAGIC PASSING OF SIX (6) PARK RANGERS AT VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK IN DRC

It is with great sadness that the Board of Trustees, Patrons and staff of the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) learnt of the brutal passing of six rangers at Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)....... Click on the FULL MESSAGE by Mr....

Professor Joseph Olabiyi Yai’s passing – Tribute by Mr. Vusumuzi Mkhize, Chairperson of the AWHF Board/Vusumuzi Mkhize, Président du conseil d’administration du FPMA

It was with great sorrow that I learned the demise of Professor Joseph Olabiyi Yai on 5th December. Prof. Yai was one of the founding Board Members of the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) from 2006 - 2009. He was 80 years old. Prof Joseph Olabiyi Yai was a...

28th AWHF Board of Trustees Meeting in DRC (30th November – 4th December 2020 / 28e Réunion Ordinaire d’Administration du FPMA en DRC (30e Novembre – 4e Décembre 2020)

Every year, the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) holds two Board of Trustees Meetings, one in June-July in South Africa (host country) and the second one in November-December in another African country. This year in December 2020, AWHF in partnership with the...

COVID 19 SUPPORT: SOSAfrican Heritage – CALL FOR PROPOSALS

COVID19 Support #SOSAfrican Heritage Call for Proposals The German Commission for UNESCO invites UNESCO World Heritage Sites and other UNESCO designated sites such as Biosphere Reserves in Africa to submit proposals for financial support projects that help UNESCO...

AFRICA DAY – 25 MAY 2020

As the continent celebrates Africa Day under the theme “Health & Security in the Context of Covid-19” the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) will host a webinar on “Cultural Perspectives for Peace Building in the Context of Covid-19 in Africa”. The occasion will...

AFRICAN WORLD HERITAGE DAY CELEBRATIONS – Zoom/Webinar Seminar (5th May) CONTENT

On behalf of the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) and the organising team of the African World Heritage Day Celebrations, Mr. Souayibou Varissou, Executive Director of AWHF expresses his sincere gratitude to you for tuning into the Zoom/Webinar Seminar held on 5th...

AFRICAN WORLD HERITAGE DAY – 5TH MAY: Call for Participants for the Online Webinar/ZOOM Conference

AWHF together with UNESCO, Faraja Africa Foundation and the partners above, we wish to commemorate the Africa World Heritage Day (AWHD) is an opportunity for people around the world to celebrate one of Africa’s most precious resources: its irreplaceable cultural and...

5TH AWHF REGIONAL YOUTH FORUM – CALL FOR APPLICATIONS 2020

DEADLINE: February 23, 2020 Applications are open for the 5th African World Heritage Youth Forum, a capacity building exercise focusing on Youth, Entrepreneurship and Heritage Sustainability in Africa. The Forum places an emphasis on entrepreneurship skills...

| Events

African World Heritage Day

5th May 2019

AWHF Stakeholders event

May 2019

43rd Session of the World Heritage Committee Meeting.

30th June 2019

Roundtable Discussion on “Sites of Memory and World Heritage Convention

AFRICAN WORLD HERITAGE DAY – 5TH MAY

VenueThe workshop will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Theme: “World Heritage and Innovation in Africa” Proclaimed during the 38th session of the General Conference of UNESCO, the African World Heritage Day (5th May) is an occasion to celebrate the exceptional...

REGIONAL YOUTH FORUM – 28th April – 5th May 2020

Every year, young people from all over the African continent come together to discuss and debate their involvement in World Heritage management:
• The forums culminate in a series of recommended actions which are highlighted in the “Youth Forum Declarations”.
• These actions take into account experiences and unique perspective of youth as well as the challenges facing young people in protection and promotion of World Heritage.
About 30 young participants are selected between ages 18-28 years old, from different African
countries.

DID YOU KNOW?

As of July 2019, Africa is underrepresented on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List with only 137 Sites listed from 1121 in the world, thus constituting only 12% representation. However, Africa is also over-represented on the World Heritage List in Danger with 22 Sites from 54 Sites listed in danger in the world, thus constituting 41% of the List. The situation is challenging to reverse.

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