Press release, 4 July 2025
ALIPH’s 6th Call for Projects: Heritage & Climate Change
ALIPH announced the results of its 6th Call for Projects focused on the protection of cultural heritage impacted by climate change, with a particular focus on Africa. The Foundation will support 22 projects with a total commitment of USD 9 million.
Some projects supported under this Call for Projects
The selection below highlights the geographical and thematic diversity of projects:
Benin & Togo
Strengthening the Resilience of the Koutammakou Cultural Heritage against Climate Change and Conflict
Operator: Corps des Volontaires Béninois (CVB)
“Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba,” is a UNESCO World Heritage site shared between Benin and Togo and known for its unique sikien two-story earthen homes built by the Batammariba people These traditional dwellings, often maintained by women, are at risk from the impact of climate change, notably increased rainfall and soil degradation.
The project will restore 200 sikien, build 20 new ones, and provide hands-on training to 350 young people, including 250 girls. It also is educating students in local schools about heritage and the environment, reforestation activities, and efforts to pass on local knowledge to strengthen both cultural identity and community resilience.
Cameroon Preserving the cultural heritage of la Route des Chefferies
Operator: La Route des Chefferies
The Grassfields region of West Cameroon is rich in sacred forests, chiefdoms, local museums, and cultural spaces. This heritage is increasingly endangered by unsustainable management and harmful harvesting practices. This project preserves built heritage and traditional know-how by rehabilitating key sites including sacred forests and chiefdoms using local materials such as raffia and bamboo.
It also documents traditional beliefs and practices, producing a conservation guide to help communities sustainably manage sacred and heritage sites. To support long-term preservation, solar panels will be installed on selected chiefdom museums, ensuring a clean and reliable energy source.
Mali & Mauritania Protecting documentary heritage in Mali and Mauritania
Operator: AMALIA - Archivi, Manoscritti e libri antichi
The manuscripts and archival records in the libraries of Chinguetti, Ouadane, Tichitt, and Oualata (Mauritania), and in Bamako and Kayes (Mali) hold unique historical value. However, they are increasingly at risk due to desertification, flooding, and poor storage conditions.
To protect this written heritage, the project plans to inventory, conserve, and digitize the manuscripts while also improving storage buildings to withstand harsh climate conditions. Local research on traditional papermaking, monitoring storage environments, and training local staff in sustainable conservation techniques are also proposed, ensuring the longterm protection of this rich cultural and historical heritage.
Niger Protecting Agadez’s Heritage in the Face of Climate Change
Operator: Imane-Atarikh
The historic centre of Agadez, dating to the 15th century, embodies a rich tradition of earthen architecture, including the Great Mosque’s minaret one of the tallest mudbrick structures in the world. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it faces growing threats from climate change, including floods, violent winds, and aridification ALIPH previously supported two initiatives to safeguard the city’s cultural heritage.
This new project targets fifteen traditional houses, enhancing drainage systems to prevent water damage and developing climate-resilient plastering techniques. Local youth will be trained by traditional masons, preserving ancestral skills while adapting them to contemporary challenges. The project also promotes heritage protection through community outreach and educational activities in schools and universities.
Senegal
Operator: La Guilde
Rehabilitating The Museum of the Sea, Gorée
The Museum of the Sea on Gorée Island is Senegal’s most visited cultural site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The museum, owned by the Institut Fondamental d'Afrique noire (IFAN) and linked to Cheikh Anta Diop University, has been closed since 2020 due to aging infrastructure and outdated displays.
This project is the first phase to restore and modernize the museum to prepare for its full reopening. It includes restoration works, and a new exhibition focused on Senegal’s relationship with the sea and the impact of climate change on coastal heritage and communities. As the only museum of its kind in West Africa, this effort will reconnect the public with the maritime history of the region.
West Africa (Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal)
Operator: CRAterre
Earthen Heritage and Climatic Resilience in West Africa
Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Senegal are home to remarkable examples of earthen architecture increasingly threatened by climate change, such as rising sea levels, salinization, heavy rains, and soil erosion. Whether already inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List or proposed for nomination, sites such as the Sudanesestyle mosques, Asante Traditional Buildings, and the Impluvium House of the Bandial Kingdom embody regional identity, craftsmanship, and living tradition.
This project will support research, local capacity-building, and climate-adaptive conservation methods, while also fostering regional awareness and collaboration to protect West Africa’s vulnerable earthen heritage.
India Fighting Climate Change in The Mughal Gardens of Kahsmir
Operator: Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, Kashmir Chapter
The historic Mughal Gardens of Kashmir, including Nishat and Shalimar Bagh, boast a unique Persian-inspired garden design. Currently on the UNESCO Tentative List of sites, the gardens rely on intricate hydraulic systems that are now threatened by climate change and urban pressure.
The project will assess and improve water management at the gardens by studying the current water flow, identify where there are inefficiencies and pollution, and propose sustainable solutions to improve these hydraulic systems. The ultimate goals are to restore the original water systems, ensure a clean and steady water supply, and blend traditional knowledge with modern techniques to protect these iconic gardens for future generations.
Nepal
Protecting Sacred Site in the Himalayas
Operator: Sampada Qamrakshan Samaj
The built heritage of Upper Dolpo in the Himalayas of Nepal holds sacred significance as one of the country’s most remote and culturally rich regions. These unique examples of earthen architecture, including monasteries, shrines, prayer walls, and traditional houses, are suffering from the increased rainfall alongside poor conservation conditions.
The project will restore twenty-three key structures across Shey, Samling, and Tsho, using local materials, traditional techniques, and climate-resilient solutions developed in partnership with local communities and universities It will also document, train, and transfer knowledge to support future restorations, helping pave the way for World Heritage nomination.
Tunisia
Operator: Association des Architectes de Djerba
Djerba Island is home to the El Khouch Mosque, Hadja Loulou Mosque, and the oil press at Mosque Cheikh three newly inscribed UNESCO World Heritage sites. They suffer from abandonment, lack of proper maintenance, and the impacts of climate change
The project supports their urgent rehabilitation, including masonry and plaster repairs, lime painting, structural reinforcements, and restoration of wooden elements. It also offers hands-on training for architecture students, helping to build local capacity in heritage conservation.
Contacts
Bates Assilbekova
Media Relations Officer
bates.assilbekova@aliph-foundation.org
+41 79 539 7121
Sandra Bialystok
Director, Communications and Partnerships
Sandra.bialystok@aliph-foundation.org
+41 79 897 48 89