Mosque of al-Nuri, Mosul
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Fund for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict

Bamian
UNESCO
Last update:30 April 2024

What is the “Fund”?

The Fund for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict assists the States Parties to the 1999 Second Protocol by providing financial as well as technical assistance in relation to emergency, provisional or other measures to protect cultural property during armed conflict, or for immediate recovery after the end of hostilities.

 

When does the “Fund” apply? / Eligible projects

  • In peacetime, the “Fund” can be used to provide financial or other assistance for preparatory or other measures such as the  preparation of inventories, the planning of emergency measures for protection against fire or structural collapse, the preparation for the removal of movable cultural property or the provision for adequate in situ protection of such property, and to develop and implement training and educational programmes on the protection of cultural property (Art 5 of the 1999 Second Protocol).
  • In a period of armed conflict, or for immediate recovery after the end of hostilities, the “Fund”, can be used to provide financial support in relation to emergency, provisional or other measures to protect cultural property.

 

What are the criteria to grant an international assistance through the “Fund”?              
The Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict decides on how the Fund is to be used. Resources of the Fund coming from voluntary contributions - made by different organs within a State, NGOs or individuals – are used for programmes or projects approved by the Committee.

 

The Committee’s decisions on granting international assistance may be guided by the following considerations:

  • The possibility of assistance acting as a catalyst and multiplier (“seed money”) and promoting financial and technical contributions from other sources;
  • The recipient’s legislative, administrative and, wherever possible, financial commitment to the activity;
  • The exemplary value of the activity; and,
  • The cost-effectiveness of the activity.

 

Priorities to obtain the international assistance
The Committee, while examining the requests, takes into account the special needs of States Parties that are developing countries.

Priority is also given to emergency requests and requests of a preventive nature. Emergency measures are the highest priority.

 

Apply for International Assistance

Funding amount
There is no formal limit set for minimum or maximum amount of request. However, in practice, the amounts of requests range between 15,000 and 50,000 USD.

Implementation period
There is no formal limit set for minimum or maximum duration of projects. However in practice, the projects are completed within 24 months of the granting of financial assistance.

Languages of submission
English or French

Deadline
A request for International assistance must be submitted to the Secretariat six months before the ordinary meeting of the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.

A request for emergency measures may be submitted at any time. Notwithstanding the six-month deadline, given its urgency, the Committee will consider the request as soon as possible on an ad hoc basis.

To prepare the request, download the following documents:

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