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.

| News

19th – 23rd August 2019

Venue: Robben Island Museum, South Africa Purpose The workshop aims to discuss ways to operationalize declaration and recommendations relating to the implementation of the 2015 World Heritage Policy on Sustainable Development in the context of AU Agenda 2063, National...

25th AWHF Board of Trustees Meeting

Venue: Nelspruit, South Africa Purpose Two regular AWHF Board Meetings are held each year every six months. In 2019, the 25th and 26th Board Session respectively will take place in South Africa and Mali. The first one will be on 24th to 27th July in Nelspruit, South...

43RD SESSION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE MEETING

VENUE: BAKU AZERBAIJANDATE: 30 JUNE – 10 JULY VENUE: BAKU AZERBAIJAN INTRODUCTION The Republic of Azerbaijan has the pleasure of hosting the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee. The Committee Session will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan from 30 June to 10...

UNESCO, AFRICA, CHINA FORUM 2019

VENUE: UNESCO, PARISUNESCO, AFRICA, CHINA FORUM 2019 Sub-Saharan Africa contains a remarkable variety of natural and cultural heritage that contributes to our understanding of human and natural evolution and history and many of the planet’s last remaining wilderness...

| Events

19th – 23rd August 2019

Venue: Robben Island Museum, South Africa Purpose The workshop aims to discuss ways to operationalize declaration and recommendations relating to the implementation of the 2015 World Heritage Policy on Sustainable Development in the context of AU Agenda 2063, National...

Regional workshop – June 2019

Harmonization of Tentative Lists in East Africa region for countries in need of technical support to update /finalize Tentative List (August, Kigali, Rwanda)

African World Heritage Day

5th May 2019

4th regional World Heritage Youth Forum

World Press Freedom Day – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia(3rd May)
Youth Seminar (4th May)
African World Heritage Day (5th May)

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 – 29 April – 3 May

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.

AWHF STAKEHOLDERS EVENT – 25TH APRIL 2019

Since its formation, the Fund has channeled most of its resources towards improving the management of World Heritage Sites (WHS) in Africa hence, contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that target to protect the planet, end poverty and ensure prosperity for all, as well as the Africa Union Agenda 2063 “The Africa We Want”. To continue with our mandate, the Fund needs to raise resources to assist in solving the complex conservation challenges facing World Heritage Sites. This goal can be achieved through partnership with the States Parties, Business Leaders and Individuals.

DID YOU KNOW?

As of July 2018, Africa is underrepresented on the World Heritage List with only 136 Sites listed from 1092 in the world, thus constituting only 12%. Africa is also overrepresented on the World Heritage List in Danger with 22 Sites from 54 Sites listed in danger in the world, thus constituting 40% of the List. The situation is very hard to reverse.

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