Mobilizing donors for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage helps UNESCO to strengthen the scope and impact of its programmes.

Three main lines guide our action:

  • Strengthening the capacity of different actors worldwide in order to safeguard intangible heritage effectively;
  • Mobilizing public opinion to make everyone understand the importance of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and our shared responsibility in this area;
  • Assisting the governing bodies of the Convention, the General Assembly of the States Parties and the Intergovernmental Committee, especially in the annual inscription of elements of intangible cultural heritage on the Urgent Safeguarding List and the Representative List, in the selection of best safeguarding practices and in the granting of financial assistance for safeguarding programmes.

Donors support the work of UNESCO for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in three ways:

1- Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund essentially provides assistance to States Parties in their efforts for safeguarding. See dedicated page for more information and the list of donors to the ICH Fund.

2 - Loaned personnel

Donors are also encouraged to lend qualified personnel to the Secretariat of the Convention to assist it in carrying out its tasks, for a specific period of time during which they retain their employment relationship with the releasing institutions.
Supported us by this means: Azerbaijan, China, Italy and Singapore

3 - Funds-in-Trust

Funds-in-Trust are financial contributions that donors give for specific projects or programmes identified in cooperation with UNESCO. This modality prevailed to support the intangible heritage before the coming into operation of the Convention. Today it is used for supporting operational projects as well as staff working for a fixed period of time within the Secretariat.

Established Funds-in-Trust:

  • Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (United Arab Emirates)
  • Banorte Foundation
  • Benin
  • Brazil
  • Bulgaria
  • Chengdu Culture and Tourism Development Group
  • Cyprus
  • European Union
  • Flanders (Belgium)
  • France
  • Hungary
  • India
  • Iris Foundation
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Morocco
  • Norway
  • Republic of Korea
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Spain
  • Switzerland
  • Yong Xin Hua Yun Cultural Industry Investment Co. Ltd.
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