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.

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. Thank you!

DID YOU KNOW?

As of July 2021, Africa is underrepresented on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List with only 139 Sites listed from 1154 in the world, thus constituting only 12% representation. However, Africa is also over-represented on the World Heritage List in Danger with 21 Sites from 52 Sites listed in danger in the world, thus constituting 40% of the List. The situation is challenging to reverse.

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CALL FOR APPLICATIONS!

Internship Programme at the African World Heritage Fund under the Climate Vulnerability Index for Cultural Heritage in Africa Project The CVI Africa Project is providing foundational training to a cohort of six African heritage professionals in climate change...

VACANCY NOTIFICATION – HEAD: PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

AWHF seeks the inclusion of a Head of Partnership Development. The core tasks will be to lead and manage stakeholder and partnership relations. The main responsibilities will be fundraising and communication which will be guided by the AWHF strategic plan. This is a...

CONGRATULATIONS DRC! Salonga National Park in DRC gets removed from the UNESCO World Heritage List in Danger / FÉLICITATIONS RDC ! Le Parc National de la Salonga en RDC est retiré de la Liste du Patrimoine Mondial de l’UNESCO en Péril

An aerial view of the Salonga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Picture: @African_WH_Fund/TwitterOn Monday, 19th July, the Democratic Republic of Congo secured a monumental heritage victory as Salonga National Park,...

CALL FOR GRANT EVALUATORS/APPEL A CANDIDATURE POUR L’EVALUATION DES DOSSIERS SOUMIS DANS LE CADRE DE L’OCTROI DE SUBVENTION

Each year the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) provides Conservation Grants to African State Parties to help implement projects and activities as well as Moses Mapesa Research Grants to supports young professionals conducting research at Doctoral or Masters levels....

THE AFRICAN WORLD HERITAGE FUND (AWHF) CELEBRATES AFRICA DAY 25th MAY – POST RELEASE

Africa Day 25th May saw African countries observing and celebrating the day invarious ways through different activities. These activities included, webinarsessions, panel discussions, speeches by pan-Africanists and political leaders,cultural entertainment, rallies,...

Call for Papers for the “International Symposium on Modern Heritage of Africa 22 – 24 September 2021, University of Cape Town, South Africa”

In line with the Global Strategy for a credible, balanced and representative World Heritage List, the AWHF has identified modern heritage as one of the marginalised heritage categories that needs attention. Africa’s cities, many of which are themselves products of the...

Call for Conservation and Moses Mapesa Grant Applications/ Appel a candidatures pour la Conservation et la subvention de Moses Mapesa! Deadline 8 August 2021!!

Each year the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) provides Conservation Grants to African State Parties to help implement projects and activities, which focus on improving the State of Conservation of World Heritage properties. We are now receiving applications for...

AFRICAN WORLD HERITAGE DAY – 5th MAY CELEBRATION POST RELEASE / JOURNÉE DU PATRIMOINE MONDIAL AFRICAIN – 5 MAI COMMUNIQUÉ

The annual African World Heritage Day – 5th May Celebration concluded on a successful note. This significant event took shape under the coveted theme, “World Heritage as a Lever for the Africa We Want” within the umbrella of the African Union (AU)...

AFRICAN WORLD HERITAGE DAY (AWHD) – 5TH MAY CELEBRATION / JOURNÉE DU PATRIMOINE MONDIAL AFRICAN – CÉLÉBRATION DU 5 MAI

THEME: "WORLD HERITAGE AS A LEVER FOR THE AFRICA WE WANT" 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 cultural and natural heritage of...

AFRICAN WORLD HERITAGE FUND (AWHF) STATEMENT OF SUPPORT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN (UCT) ON THE TRAGEDY OF THE RUNAWAY VELDFIRE AFFECTING THE CAMPUS

The African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) stands in solidarity with the University of Cape Town (UCT) on the tragedy of the runaway veldfire that has gutted parts of UCT and has destroyed iconic Cape Town landmarks and engulfed Rhodes Memorial. Please note the full...

AFRICAN UNION YEAR FOR ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE: WEBINAR ON HERITAGE AND TOURISM, AN ASSET FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (28 SEPTEMBER 2021)

In line with heritage month in South Africa, the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) will host a webinar centered around heritage and tourism. The theme of the webinar is “Heritage and Tourism, an asset for Sustainable Development”, which will be conducted under the...

Workshop on World Heritage and Sustainable Development in Africa: Implementing the 2015 Policy, 6 – 8 September 2021 (Online)

The African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) and the University of Kent in collaboration with the University of Yaoundé, the Ministry of Forests and Wildlife, the Ministry of the Environment, Nature Protection andSustainable Development, and the Ministry of Arts and Culture...

AWHF TO FEATURE AT THE INTRA-AFRICAN TRADE FAIR (IATF 2021) 15th to 21st November – Durban, South Africa

The African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) will feature as a partner at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2021 which will take place from 15th to 21st November in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The IATF 2021 will provide a lucrative platform for businesses to...

Extended 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee Side Event: Looking Into The Future: Highlights of the Regional Action Plan for Africa (2021-2027) / Événement Parallèle de la 44e Session Prolongée du Comité du Patrimoine Mondial: Regarder Vers l’Avenir: Points Saillants du Plan d’Action Régional pour l’Afrique (2021-2027)

The Extended 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee Side Event hosted by AWHF in partnership with UNESCO World Heritage Center (WHC) will take place on Friday, 30th July 2021 from 16:00 to 17:30 (Paris Time). The Webinar will take place on the Zoom platform,...

OUR WORLD HERITAGE – SUSTAINABILITY: HERITAGE AND CLIMATE CHANGE – 3RD JULY 2021

The UNESCO World Heritage Convention is an important international treaty that has for almost 50 years played a major role in expanding heritage legislation worldwide and identifying and promoting the protection of a growing list of the World’s most unique sites –...

44th Session of the Virtual World Heritage Committee – (16 to 31 July 2021) – 44e Session Virtuelle du Comité du Patrimoine Mondial – (16 au 31 Juillet 2021)

This year, the People’s Republic of China has the pleasure of hosting the extended 44th Session of the Virtual World Heritage Committee. The session is organized by UNESCO in cooperation with the Host Country, the People’s Republic of China. The session will be...

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