World Heritage Fund

The World Heritage Fund is made up of contributions from individual countries and private benefactors and provides about US$3.5 million annually to support World Heritage activities. The funds are distributed by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and priority is given to the most threatened sites. There are five categories of international assistance under which the Fund can give financial support. They are:

• Assistance for preparing tentative lists, nominations, conservation project proposals or management plans;
• Training assistance (mainly to support groups of personnel at World Heritage Sites);
• Technical co-operation to provide expertise and material support for management plans and conservation activities;
• Emergency assistance to enable urgent works necessary due to adverse human activity or natural disasters; and,
• Promotional and educational assistance to raise awareness and develop educational materials.

As there are so many World Heritage Sites, and the World Heritage Fund is very small, the money goes to those sites in greatest need of help and the fewest opportunities for financial support from other sources. These are often World Heritage Sites in developing countries.