The Government of Flanders of the Kingdom of Belgium and UNESCO signed a partnership agreement in 1988, creating UNESCO/Flanders Trust Fund. The focus of the cooperation is capacity-building and the construction of a knowledge society.

In 2009, the Flemish Government began supporting the field of intangible cultural heritage by financing “a A series of pilot projects in community-based intangible heritage inventorying on a grassroots level in six selected countries in Sub-Saharan Africa” ($275,000 USD). In 2010 and beyond, the Flemish Government intends to strengthen its support for safeguarding intangible heritage by funding more capacity-building in Africa and the development of concepts and materials for a travelling exhibition on the theme of intangible heritage and sustainable development.

In April 2010, the Flemish Government contributed to the exhibition entitled ‘Recognizing Our Cultural Heritage: an American and Flemish Dialogue’