The UNESCO/Netherlands Funds-in-Trust (NFiT) co-operation to support the World Heritage Centre was established in 2001 by the Netherlands Ministry of Education, Culture and Sciences with the aim of reinforcing the implementation of the 1972 "Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage".
Under this Funds-in-Trust arrangement the Government of the Netherlands made available an amount of €1.8 million over a period of four years (2001-2004). In 2017, the NFiT Co-operation Agreement was extended 5th time for the period of 2017-2020.
Objective
Projects and programmes under the NFiT cooperation are structured according to the Strategic Objectives adopted by the World Heritage Committee (5Cs), in pursuance of regional and thematic balances, and the sustainability of support given in terms of project follow-up or spin-off. Support would be also considered for a property on the List of World Heritage in Danger and/or heritage in conflict situation, when feasible.
- Credibility: Technical assistance to Tentative List and Nomination preparations, primarily in under-represented regions, and Thematic Studies and Expert Meetings in particular on under-represented categories of heritage;
- Conservation: Technical assistance to preparation of Conservation Management Plans, and to projects of Sustainable Development of inscribed properties and sites, in particular in under-represented regions of the world;
- Capacity Building: Support to Training Seminars and National Workshops, Technical Assistance to Professional and Institutional Building;
- Communication: Dissemination of information, education, public awareness raising, sites presentation;
- Community: Enhance the role of Communities in the implementation of the World Heritage Convention.
Furthermore, under the NFiT special attention will be reserved for the category of mutual heritage or shared cultural heritage: the heritage that is perceived by the Netherlands and other countries or regions concerned as shared cultural heritage. This heritage extends beyond the remnants in former colonies and could include cultural properties originating from other international ventures by the Netherlands as well.
Under this Funds-in-Trust arrangement, no restrictions are applied to allocating funds to particular regions of the world or to the nationality of consultants to be used for missions or implementation of projects. As a result of this relative freedom, over the past four years a fairly equal distribution of projects and sites that were selected for sponsoring has taken place over the regions of Africa, Arab States, Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean.
Contacts
Partnerships / Activities (18)
- Caribbean Capacity Building Programme (CCBP)
- Case Studies on the Conservation and Management of Historic Cities
- Culture and Development: World Heritage in the Caribbean
- Developing a Sustainable Tourism Strategy for the Silk Roads Heritage Corridors
- From Astronomy to Zanzibar
- International Year of Biodiversity Travelling Exhibition
- LAC Extra-budgetary Projects
- Managing Natural World Heritage
- Modern Heritage Programme
- Mozambique : Rehabilitation Project of the San Sebastian Fortress, Island of Mozambique
- Silk Roads
- Small Island Developing States Programme
- World Heritage Cities Programme
- World Heritage Marine Sites - Best Practice guide
- World Heritage and Biodiversity
- World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Programme
- World Heritage at the IUCN World Parks Congress 2014: the promise of Sydney
- Youth from Caribbean SIDS and Central American give focus on Marine Biodiversity & Climate Change
News (35)
- Safeguarding of transboundary heritage sites for sustainable development and peace in Africa Monday, 25 February 2019
- Cultural Days in the Royal Palaces of Abomey (Benin) Tuesday, 19 February 2019
- Eritrea takes holistic approach to the conservation and management of the Modernist City of Asmara World Heritage site Saturday, 8 December 2018
- African universities supporting the safeguarding of World Heritage Wednesday, 28 November 2018
- Communities and reinforcement of the management of the Royal Palaces of Abomey (Benin) Thursday, 25 October 2018
- Academics mobilized for the safeguarding of African World Heritage Thursday, 3 May 2018
- World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring Mission to Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia Friday, 23 February 2018
- Spearheading a global conservation movement: Marine World Heritage 2018 annual report Tuesday, 6 February 2018
- South Sudan prepares a conservation and management plan for Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape that considers its potential World Heritage values Monday, 27 November 2017
- The Netherlands Funds-in-Trust to UNESCO supports the development of a Management Plan for Boma National Park in South Sudan Monday, 11 September 2017
- New Publication: The Application of the Recommendation on Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) in Cuenca, Ecuador Wednesday, 28 June 2017
- Netherlands Funds-in-Trust agreement extended to 2020 Friday, 17 February 2017
- Celebrating a decade of Marine World Heritage Tuesday, 20 December 2016
- Guardians of the world’s ocean icons convene in Galapagos to chart sustainable future Wednesday, 24 August 2016
- Risk preparedness training workshop “Building Resilience of World Heritage Properties” at the Brandberg National Monument Area (Namibia) Thursday, 30 June 2016
- Strengthening the role of local communities in the management and conservation of World Heritage Sites Tuesday, 12 April 2016
- Annual Report 2015 World Heritage Marine Programme Friday, 19 February 2016
- The Promise of Sydney conveys World Heritage agenda for the next decade Tuesday, 19 January 2016
- A Grazing Pressure Reduction Strategy updated for Simien Mountains National Park Monday, 21 December 2015
- World Heritage Youth Project on Marine Biodiversity & Climate Change in Panama: Call for Participants Thursday, 19 November 2015
- IUCN World Parks Congress 2014: Parks, people, planet: inspiring solutions Wednesday, 5 November 2014
- Young leaders film World Heritage sites at Media Communication Training Workshop in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea Tuesday, 21 October 2014
- 'Culture and Development: World Heritage in the Caribbean' now published Thursday, 31 July 2014
- UNESCO publishes a practical guide on climate change adaptation for natural World Heritage sites Wednesday, 21 May 2014
- Workshop increases community involvement in African natural World Heritage sites Tuesday, 18 February 2014
- Managing Marine World Heritage: Our Crown Jewels of the Ocean Thursday, 17 October 2013
- Two New Episodes of Patrimonito’s World Heritage Adventures Available Online Tuesday, 7 May 2013
- Extension of the Netherlands Funds-in-Trust 2013- 2016 Monday, 29 April 2013
- World Heritage field guide for climate change adaptation tested at Kenyan World Heritage sites Tuesday, 26 February 2013
- 10 Years of Dutch Support to World Heritage “From Astronomy to Zanzibar” published Friday, 15 June 2012
- Caribbean Capacity Building Programme (CCBP)’s training Module 6 on Natural Heritage Management available on line Friday, 22 July 2011
- Last Call: Caribbean Heritage Course in Curaçao Tuesday, 25 January 2011
- Caribbean Heritage Course in Curaçao Friday, 19 November 2010
- Joint efforts for the preservation of World Heritage in Mozambique Friday, 13 February 2009
- Netherlands FIT to enhance management effectiveness at Borobudur Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Events (30)
- Capacity Building Workshop for Team Leaders of the World Heritage Volunteers (WHV) Initiative 12-Mar-2019-15-Mar-2019
- Workshop "Flood Prevention in Havana": Towards the design of integrated solutions 12-Feb-2019-13-Feb-2019
- Call for Applications: regional meeting on transboundary cooperation for effective management of World Heritage sites in Africa 21-Oct-2018
- Open Call for participation in Workshop on World Heritage and Educational Institutions in Africa. Deadline: 14 September 2018 12-Jul-2018-14-Sep-2018
- Academics mobilized for the safeguarding of African World Heritage 26-Apr-2018-28-Apr-2018
- OPEN CALL, extended deadline 21 March: Workshop World Heritage & Educational Institutions in Africa 08-Mar-2018-21-Mar-2018
- Workshop on “Heritage/Environmental Impact Assessments for the Pacific Island States” 20-Nov-2017-28-Nov-2017
- Workshop on the Conservation and Management of Military Architecture-related World Heritage properties in the Caribbean 08-Nov-2016-09-Nov-2016
- International Symposium ‘The Conservation of Brick Monuments at World Heritage sites’ 19-Oct-2016-21-Oct-2016
- Consultation Meeting on the application of the UNESCO HUL Recommendation at the World Heritage properties in Uzbekistan 19-Oct-2016-21-Oct-2016
- 'Development of Risk Mitigation Plans on flood: Models, Challenges and Opportunities' Workshop 24-May-2016-25-May-2016
- Strengthening the role of local communities in the management and conservation of World Heritage Sites 27-Mar-2016-29-Mar-2016
- Stakeholders consultation meeting on East Rennell 01-Feb-2016-02-Feb-2016
- Regional meeting on the Pacific World Heritage Action Plan 2016-2020 01-Dec-2015-04-Dec-2015
- Workshop: The management plan of Casablanca, a city candidate for the World Heritage 03-Sep-2015-04-Sep-2015
- "Planning for the Conservation and Development of Historic Towns and Urban Areas in Fiji" Workshop 27-Jul-2015-07-Aug-2015
- Cuenca HUL Application Visionary Conference 07-May-2015-08-May-2015
- Sub-Regional meeting on the Caribbean Action Plan for World Heritage 2014-2019 26-Nov-2014-28-Nov-2014
- World Heritage Media/Communication Training Workshop: Passing the Culture Message (Korea) 09-Oct-2014-13-Oct-2014
- UNESCO Asia Pacific World Heritage Project on Marine Biodiversity & Climate Change Awareness among Youth (Touho, New-Caledonia) 07-Apr-2014-13-Apr-2014
- World Heritage Workshop on Sustainable Tourism Decision-making process 11-Mar-2014-13-Mar-2014
- Reflection meeting on the project of nomination of the city of Sfax for inscription on the World Heritage List 16-Dec-2013-19-Dec-2013
- Second global World Heritage marine site managers meeting 18-Oct-2013-20-Oct-2013
- Silk Roads Heritage Corridors Tourism Strategy Workshop 07-Oct-2013-08-Oct-2013
- 2nd Caribbean Workshop on Disaster Risks Management for World Heritage 13-May-2013-17-May-2013
- Training Course in the Management of Caribbean cultural resources in a natural environment: Sites of Memory and participation of local communities 11-Mar-2013-15-Mar-2013
- CARICOM, SIDS, UNESCO World Heritage Meeting 04-Apr-2011-06-Apr-2011
- Caribbean Sub Regional Meeting for Periodic Reporting Exercise 04-Apr-2011-06-Apr-2011
- Application deadline 15 September 2009: The Caribbean Heritage Course in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles 31-Jul-2009-15-Sep-2009
- UNESCO Sub-regional Workshop on the Serial World Heritage Nomination of the Silk Roads 02-Jun-2008-05-Jun-2008
Netherlands