The African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) has officially opened applications for its 2026 grant programme, providing funding opportunities to support heritage conservation, World Heritage nominations, research, education, and emergency interventions across Africa.

Eligible institutions from African countries that have ratified the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention are invited to submit applications before 31 July 2026.

The AWHF plays a critical role in strengthening the protection, conservation, and sustainable management of Africa’s cultural and natural heritage sites.

Through its grant programme, the Fund supports initiatives that contribute to the preservation of UNESCO World Heritage properties and the advancement of heritage-related research and education throughout the continent.

Supporting Africa’s Heritage for Future Generations

Established to enhance the conservation and protection of Africa’s rich heritage resources, the African World Heritage Fund aligns its grant-making procedures and criteria with UNESCO’s International Assistance mechanisms under the World Heritage Fund.

The programme is designed to maximize impact at site level by supporting projects that address key challenges facing World Heritage properties while strengthening local and national capacities for heritage management.

As a general principle, AWHF assistance requires recipient organizations to secure matching funding from other sources, ensuring greater sustainability and ownership of funded initiatives.

Four Types of Grants Available

The African World Heritage Fund currently offers four major categories of grants aimed at addressing different needs within the heritage sector.

1. Nomination Grants

Nomination Grants support State Parties in preparing and submitting successful nominations for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

These grants help countries strengthen documentation, research, technical studies, and preparation processes required for World Heritage nominations. Subject to available funding, nomination grants may be accessed throughout the year.

2. Conservation Grants

Conservation Grants are designed to address management and conservation challenges affecting existing World Heritage Sites.

Projects funded under this category should preferably respond to issues highlighted in UNESCO World Heritage State of Conservation reports and contribute to improving site protection, management effectiveness, monitoring systems, and long-term sustainability.

Applications for the 2026 Conservation Grant programme are currently open.

3. Education Grants

The Education Grant, also known as the Moses Mapesa Education and Research Grant, supports Master’s and PhD students conducting research related to World Heritage.

The programme assists postgraduate students completing academic research and thesis projects in heritage-related fields, helping to strengthen Africa’s next generation of heritage professionals, researchers, and conservation leaders.

Applications for the 2026 Moses Mapesa Education and Research Grant are now being accepted.

4. Emergency Grants

Emergency Grants provide rapid support to World Heritage properties facing disasters, emergencies, or urgent threats that require immediate intervention.

These grants help protect endangered heritage sites and facilitate urgent conservation actions when unforeseen circumstances arise. Subject to funding availability, emergency assistance may be requested throughout the year.

Who Can Apply?

The grant programme is open exclusively to applicants from African countries that have ratified the UNESCO 1972 World Heritage Convention.

Eligible applicants include:

Government institutions responsible for managing and protecting World Heritage Sites.
Heritage authorities and agencies involved in conservation and management activities.
Organizations officially responsible for World Heritage-related processes and projects.

For all applications, proposals must be endorsed by the Head or Director of the relevant heritage institution or organization and accompanied by a formal cover letter supporting the project.

Project Requirements

Applicants should note that funded projects must meet specific implementation requirements.

Key conditions include:

Projects must focus on UNESCO World Heritage Sites or World Heritage-related processes.
Activities must be implemented within a maximum period of nine months.
Funding may only be used for direct project implementation costs.
Detailed activity-based budgets must be provided in US dollars.
Applicants must clearly indicate the contribution of the State Party or institution toward project implementation.

These requirements are intended to ensure accountability, efficiency, and measurable project outcomes.

Evaluation and Selection Criteria

All submitted applications undergo a competitive assessment process before final funding decisions are made.

The evaluation process considers several factors, including:

Relevance of the project to challenges facing a specific World Heritage property.
Potential contribution to heritage conservation and management.
Quality and innovation of the proposed activities.
Feasibility of implementation.
Accuracy and realism of the proposed budget.

Projects that demonstrate strong impact potential and practical solutions to pressing heritage challenges are likely to receive favorable consideration.

Why This Opportunity Matters

Africa is home to some of the world’s most remarkable cultural and natural heritage sites, yet many face threats ranging from climate change and urbanization to conflict, resource constraints, and inadequate management capacity.

The African World Heritage Fund provides an important mechanism for mobilizing resources to protect these irreplaceable sites while strengthening local expertise and institutional capacity.

For postgraduate researchers, the Moses Mapesa Education and Research Grant offers valuable support to advance scholarship in World Heritage studies and contribute new knowledge to the field.

Meanwhile, conservation practitioners and heritage institutions can access critical funding to improve site management, address conservation challenges, and strengthen the long-term sustainability of World Heritage properties across the continent.

Application Deadline

Applications for both the Conservation Grant and the Moses Mapesa Education and Research Grant must be submitted online, together with all required supporting documents.

Deadline for all applications: 31 July 2026

Eligible institutions and students interested in heritage conservation, research, and sustainable management of Africa’s World Heritage properties are encouraged to apply before the deadline.

VISIT HERE TO APPLY

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding