Deadline: 21 June 2020
The new Cultural Protection Fund Disaster and Climate Change Preparedness round is now open for applications for projects (up to £125k) relating to preparedness measures to protect cultural heritage against the effects of natural disasters and climate change in one or more of the following countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
This round focusses on preparedness measures to protect cultural heritage against the effects of natural disasters and climate change. This is a pilot round which will help to test the Cultural Protection Fund’s approach to expanding their work in this area.
Priority Areas
- Projects must have activities in one or more of the round’s target countries in East Africa:Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda or Tanzania. Priority will be given to projects operating in Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan.
- Projects must deliver on preparedness measures for cultural heritage at risk of damage due to natural disasters and climate change.These measures should include one or more of the following:
- Damage and risk assessment activities
- Preparation of plans for repair, protection or evacuation
- Purchase of supplies: storage, packing and evacuation
- Improvement of security measures for museums, archives and sites
- Preparing and testing response plans and protocols
- Training of professionals for cultural emergency situations
Strengthening of local networks working on heritage protection or advocating for its importance - Collating and gathering documentation for cultural heritage sites under direct threat
- Collating and documenting intangible cultural heritage under direct threat
*Their definition of natural disasters includes natural phenomena such as earthquakes, floods, tornados and volcanic eruptions but does not include regularly occurring and expected weather such as heavy seasonal rainfall. Their definition of the effects of climate change includes natural events which are imminent such as heat related damage, wind erosion and damage caused by rising sea levels. They will not accept applications in this round for projects relating to man-made risks eg conflict, demolition or neglect.
Heritage at risk due to pandemics: They acknowledge that due to the current global Covid-19 pandemic, there is an increasing need to protect cultural heritage at risk due to pandemics. This does fall within their category of natural disasters, and they would welcome conversations about projects relating to this risk. However, this pilot was created to test preparedness for climate change and therefore they will prioritise applications which focus on geological disasters.
Intangible cultural heritage projects: They are accepting applications to protect intangible cultural heritage and these projects will have to make the same strong case that the heritage is at risk due to natural disasters and/or climate change. Often traditions, practices and sense of identity within cultures is linked to place and in particular, landscapes, however they will not be able to fund projects whose sole purpose is the protection of natural, rather than cultural heritage.
Grant Size and Project Duration
- Applicants may apply for grants up to £125,000.
- A lead applicant organisation can submit multiple applications under any given round of funding, but a maximum of one award will be made.
- Funding is available for projects commencing in September 2020 and lasting up to six months (activities must finish by the end of February 2021)
What they fund:
The Cultural Protection Fund is for projects focusing on the protection of cultural heritage at risk in one or more of the Fund’s target countries. By project, they mean work or activity that is defined at the outset and will contribute to achieving the outcomes of the Fund. Cultural heritage includes many different things from the past that communities value and want to pass on to future generations, for example:
- archaeological sites and monuments;
- collections of objects, books or documents in museums, libraries or archives;
- historic buildings;
- cultural traditions such as stories, festivals, crafts, music, dance and costumes;
- histories of people, communities, places and events;
- the heritage of languages and dialects; and
- people’s memories and experiences (often recorded as ‘oral history’).
Applicants will be asked to explain the significance of the cultural heritage their project focuses on and how it is valued by the local population. They will also need to outline how the cultural heritage is at risk due to natural disasters and / or climate change and make a case for the urgency and likelihood of potential threats and therefore the need for intervention.
Outcomes
- Heritage
- Cultural heritage at risk is better managed and prepared for potential threats.
- Local organisations and communities have increased capacity and/or resilience to care for and protect cultural heritage.
- Society
- Local people have developed skills, potentially leading to increased professional or other opportunities.
- The profile of people engaging with cultural heritage is more diverse with respect to gender imbalances, age, ability, sexuality, ethnicity and social/religious background.
- Local communities have a better understanding of their cultural heritage and value it more.
- Local communities have played a more active role in protecting their cultural heritage or sharing it with others, potentially leading to increased social cohesion and a greater sense of well-being.
- The local area is enhanced for the benefit of communities and visitors.
- Economy
- The local economy has been diversified.
Eligibility Criteria
- Open to applicants proposing to work with one or more locally based partners in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda or Tanzania. Organisations based within target countries can also apply to the fund, with or without partners.
- Applications must be submitted by one lead applicant organisation1 with up to eight partner organisations.
- Applications must demonstrate intent to benefit one or more of the target countries as their main aim. If private owners or for-profit organisations are involved in a project, they expect the benefit to the social and economic development of the target country to outweigh any private gain.
- Applicants must be able to evidence a significant track record in delivering similar projects and will be asked to share the results of previous cultural heritage protection work in the target countries.
For more information, visit https://www.britishcouncil.org/arts/culture-development/cultural-protection-fund/apply/disaster-climate-change-grants
