Grants to support the Creation of Geoparks

UNESCO and the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) have launched grant opportunity to promote the Geopark concept in Africa and the Arab States.

The UNESCO/Global Georparks Network Grant is a tailor made consultancy service specifically dedicated to support local teams to develop a UNESCO Geopark project. The grant includes several steps and actions. GGN Experts will advise and accompany the granted territory from the initial idea to the official application as UNESCO Global Geopark.

UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development. By raising awareness on the importance of the area’s geological heritage in history and society today, UNESCO Global Geoparks give local people a sense of pride in their region and strengthen their connection with the area.

All services provided through the grant will be free of charge for the territory.

• Analysis of the territory: Two GGN Experts will be dedicated to each granted territory. They will hold digital meetings with the granted territory to analyse the context and prepare the field mission.
• Field mission: The two GGN Experts will conduct a 10 day mission to the granted territory. During this mission, the experts will visit the main sites of the granted territory, engage with local communities, government representatives, local associations, potential Geopark partners and other relevant stakeholders.
• On-line assistance: After the mission, the GGN Experts will prepare a report with the different steps that the granted territory will need to take and the challenges it will need to resolve. The experts will keep on providing guidance through digital meetings in view of a formal submission of an application file.
• Training: This grant also includes the participation of the granted territory’s Managers in the yearly UNESCO Global Geoparks intensive courses as well as their integration into the UNESCO mentorship and knowledge exchange programme.

Eligibility Criteria

• They target emerging Geopark initiatives in Africa and the Arab States, but also existing nature parks and national parks with geological features of international value intermunicipalities, associations involved in rural development and other management bodies that would like to start developing a viable Geopark. The assessment criteria will in the first place be based on:
• The presence of an existing management body and of people with interest in the UNESCO Global Geoparks concept and able to engage in this endeavour and support the initiative;
• The presence of geological heritage of international value;
• The basic understanding and affinity of candidates with the UNESCO Global Geoparks concept.
• Secondary criteria will relate to government support, funding perspective, tourism potential, security and community involvement.

Source:https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/grants-support-creation-geoparks-africa-and-arab-states