Call for Applications: Moses Mapesa Research Grant (Africa)

The African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) is an intergovernmental organization created in 2006 to support the effective conservation and promotion of cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value in Africa. The main objective of the AWHF is to address the challenges faced by African State Parties in the implementation of the UNESCO Convention of Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage Convention) adopted in 1972, specifically, the underrepresentation of African sites on the World Heritage List and the insufficient conservation and management of these sites. The AWHF is a category Centre under the auspices of UNESCO.

Focus Areas

• The award will support research projects focused on the following topics related to a World Heritage or a tentative listed site in Africa:
  • Traditional Management Systems,
  • Risk management and preparedness,
  • Heritage in Conflict and Post-conflict situations,
  • Heritage management and conservation,
  • Heritage and Climate Change,
  • Heritage and Economics/Entrepreneurship,
  • Heritage and Sustainable Development,
  • Heritage Promotion and Awareness,
  • Heritage and Digital Technologies,
  • Heritage and Law.

Funding Information

• Grant amounts will vary depending on research proposals, with a maximum award of USD Five Thousand (5,000.00).
• The fieldwork research needs to be conducted in no longer than 9 months from the signature of the contract

Grant Requirements

• If a student is awarded a grant, they are required to submit a longer research description at the beginning of the grant (along with proof of registration for the degree) and, at the end, a final report with the research results or dissertation/thesis at the final stage as well as a financial report.
• All documents must be presented in either French, English or Portuguese. The projects must be implemented between May 2025 and February 2026 (within 9 months).
• Please note that students who do not complete the research within the contractual timeframe will be required to reimburse the grant to the AWHF.

Eligibility Criteria

• The call is open to students who are:
  • Currently or will be registered in 2025 in a Doctoral or Masters programme (Masters 2 for Francophone countries) at an African university and conducting dissertation research in the field of either natural or cultural heritage at an African World Heritage Site,
  • Fluent in English, French or Portuguese,
  • Citizens of an African Union Member State which is party to the World Heritage Convention.

For more information, visit AWHF.