Funding
The conservation and protection of World Heritage sites wouldn’t be possible without the financial resources to meet World Heritage needs. Sources of income include the World Heritage Fund, which receives most of its income from compulsory contributions from countries (States Parties) and from voluntary contributions. Other sources of income include profits derived from sales of World Heritage publications, or funds-in-trust that are donated by countries for specific purposes.
World Heritage Fund
The World Heritage Fund provides about US$4 million annually to support activities requested by States Parties in need of international assistance. It includes compulsory and voluntary contributions from the States Parties, as well as from private donations.
The World Heritage Committee allocates funds according to the urgency of requests, priority being given to the most threatened sites.
Funds-in-Trust
Funds-in-Trust are donations given by countries to support specific projects with defined goals and objectives.
Flemish Funds-in-Trust France-UNESCO Cooperation Agreement Japanese FIT Netherlands Funds-in-Trust (NFiT) Spanish FIT
Rapid Response Facility
The Rapid Response Facility is a small grants programme jointly operated by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the United Nations Foundation and Fauna & Flora International. It aims to protect natural World Heritage sites in times of crisis - and to do so quickly, flexibly and in real time.
Rapid Response Facility grants are specifically used to:
Mobilize funds quickly to respond to emergency situations; Provide bridging funds in places where longer-term funding is being sought, and; Catalyse innovative financing mechanisms as part of long-term support programmes.
For more information