World Heritage Fund

The Fund for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of Outstanding Universal Value, called "the World Heritage Fund", was established in 1977 under Article 15 of the World Heritage Convention.

The World Heritage Committee makes decisions on the amount of the budget of the World Heritage Fund as well as on its use. The World Heritage Fund amounts to 5.8 million dollars for the biennium 2024-2025, plus 0.4 million dollars for Emergency assistance as defined in article 21.2 of the World Heritage Convention.

What does it finance?

The World Heritage Committee allocates most of the budget of the World Heritage Fund for the services of the Advisory Bodies on one hand, and for International Assistance on the other hand.

There are also budget lines, among others, for Periodic Reporting, Reactive monitoring, activities in relation to sites inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, the World Heritage Education Programme, the Upstream process, the World Heritage Review.

Financial Regulations

Article 15 of the Convention establishes a Fund, called "the World Heritage Fund" which is to constitute a trust fund, in conformity with the provisions of the Financial Regulations of UNESCO. Consequently, in accordance with Regulation 6.7 of the Financial Regulations of the Organization, the Director-General has established the following special financial regulations to govern the operations of this Fund.

Read more

Financial resources

The resources of the World Heritage Fund consist primarily of assessed contributions paid by the States Parties, i.e. the countries which have ratified the World Heritage Convention.

These resources are complemented by various types of voluntary contributions provided by governments, foundations, private sector, or the general public.

Assessed contributions paid by States Parties

When they ratify the World Heritage Convention, States Parties commit to pay regularly compulsory (Article 16.1) or voluntary (Article 16.2) assessed contributions to the World Heritage Fund.

Statement of assessed compulsory and voluntary contributions as at 29 February 2024

Letters for assessed contributions to the World Heritage Fund for 2024

Statement of assessed compulsory and voluntary contributions

The corresponding statements of contributions are updated and published every month.

Unrestricted voluntary contributions

It is also possible to make unrestricted voluntary contributions, whether you are a State Party, a private entity or an individual.

arrow_forward Online donations can be made here

For States Parties, these contributions can be made in accordance with one of the following options recommended by the General Assembly of States Parties to the World Heritage Convention in its Resolution 19 GA 8:

  • Option 1: Increasing the standard percentage used in the calculation of the contributions to the World Heritage Fund from 1% to 2%,
  • Option 3.1: Increasing the contributions by a flat rate of US$3,300 per property inscribed,
  • Option 3.2: Increasing the contributions by an additional 4% of the current assessed contribution per property inscribed,
  • Option 3.3: Increasing the contributions by an additional amount per property inscribed, according to a percentage increasing with the number of properties inscribed,
  • Option 3.4: Increasing the contributions by an additional amount per property inscribed, according to a percentage decreasing with the number of properties inscribed,
  • Option 4: Increasing the contributions on the basis of the number of tourists arrivals at World Heritage Sites,
  • Option 5: Contributing per activity;

Voluntary contributions to the sub-accounts of the World Heritage Fund

States Parties, but also public bodies, private companies, foundations… can make voluntary contributions to the various sub-accounts of the World Heritage Fund.

Sub-account dedicated to specific activities.

This sub-account has been in operation since 1995. The funds received under this sub-account are allocated to specific activities, in line with the purposes defined by the World Heritage Committee.

Sub-account for Promotional funds

This sub-account has been in operation since 1995. The funds received under this sub-account are allocated to World Heritage activities related to communication, partnerships and education.

Sub-account for staff support

This sub-account has been created in 2013 by the General Assembly of States Parties to the World Heritage Convention, via its Resolution 19 GA 8. The funds received under this sub-account are used for temporary support to the Secretariat of the World Heritage Convention.

Sub-account for International Assistance

This sub-account has been in operation since 2013. The funds received under this sub-account allows for the approval of International Assistance requests submitted by States Parties when the International Assistance budget is not sufficient. See more here.

Sub-account for upstream support

This sub-account has been created in 2017 by the World Heritage Committee, via its Decision 41 COM 9A. The funds received under this sub-account are allocated to requests for upstream support.

Sub-account for the evaluation of nominations

This sub-account has been created in 2019 by the World Heritage Committee, via its Decision 43 COM 14. The funds received under this sub-account are allocated to the funding of evaluation of nominations.

Financial statements / reports

Years From document Statement
2020-2021

WHC/23/24.GA/INF.6
24th session of the General Assembly (UNESCO, 2023)

2018-2019

WHC/21/23.GA/INF.6
23rd session of the General Assembly (UNESCO, 2021)

2016-2017

WHC/19/22.GA/INF.6
22nd session of the General Assembly (UNESCO, 2019)

Contact us

Decisions (11)
Show 45COM 12 Revision of the Operational Guidelines
Show 22GA 6 Examination of the Statement of Accounts of the World Heritage Fund, Including the Status of the Contributions of States Parties
Show 22GA 7 Determination of the Amount of the Contributions to the World Heritage Fund in Accordance with the Provisions of Article 16 of the World Heritage Convention
Show 43COM 14 Report on the execution of the Budget for the Biennium 2018-2019, Budget proposal of the World Heritage Fund for the biennium 2020-2021 and follow-up to Decision 42 COM 14
Show 42COM 14 Presentation of the final accounts of the World Heritage Fund for 2016-2017, implementation of the World Heritage Fund under the biennium 2018-2019 and follow-up to Decision 41 COM 14
Show 42COM 12A Follow-up to Recommendations of Evaluations and Audits on Working Methods: outcomes of the ad-hoc working group
Show 21GA 6 Examination of the Statement of Accounts of the World Heritage Fund, Including the Status of the Contributions of States Parties
Show 21GA 7 Determination of the Amount of the Contributions to the World Heritage Fund in Accordance with the Provisions of Article 16 of the World Heritage Convention
Show 41COM 12A Follow-Up to Recommendations of Evaluations and Audits on Working Methods: Outcomes of the Ad-Hoc Working Group
Show 41COM 14 Report on the execution of the budget for the biennium 2016-2017 and preparation of the budget for the biennium 2018-2019