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About UCHF

The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund (UCHF) is a multi-donor platform dedicated to protecting and restoring Ukraine’s cultural heritage and development of Ukrainian culture amid the devastation of war.

February 2025:

The creation of the Fund was outlined in the Uzhhorod Declaration on Strengthening Cultural Sector Resilience in Ukraine, endorsed by 31 countries as a key instrument for translating international solidarity into concrete recovery action.

May 2025:

The European Commission reaffirmed that safeguarding Ukraine’s cultural heritage is a high priority and delivered a study by the European Expert Network on Culture (EENC), compiling European case studies on heritage fund management to guide the design of the UCHF and strengthen cultural resilience.

June 2025:

A stakeholder workshop in Florence, following the RES-POL EU-funded project on cultural and creative industries policies, brought together Ukrainian cultural actors, international institutions, and heritage finance experts to develop a blueprint for the Fund, setting the stage for its launch and early operational steps.

July 2025:

The Fund was officially launched at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025) in Rome.

September 2025:

A Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine and the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage (ALIPH) was signed, initiating the first steps of the Fund’s implementation.

October 2025:

UCHF has been registered in Brussels as a non-profit association.

Mission and Vision

© UNESCO / Yulia Boyko; graphically elaborated for design purposes

Vision:

To preserve, restore, and promote Ukraine’s cultural heritage and culture as expressions of its identity, resilience, and democratic values, ensuring their renewal for future generations through international solidarity and national commitment.

Mission:

The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund (UCHF) mobilises international and national resources to protect, restore, and revitalise Ukraine’s cultural heritage damaged by war and develop Ukrainian culture.

Through transparent, inclusive, and sustainable approaches, the Fund strengthens Ukraine’s cultural resilience and ensures the long-term preservation and renewal of its heritage and culture.

In the field of cultural heritage,
the Fund aims to:
  • Provide financial support for initiatives focused on the preservation, stabilisation, restoration, rehabilitation, and sustainable use of Ukraine’s cultural heritage.
  • Promote the digital transformation of heritage protection and restoration processes.
  • Engage international expertise and resources to accelerate recovery efforts.
  • Support the training and professional development of specialists in heritage protection, preservation, and restoration (including restorers, architects, curators, and related experts).
  • Facilitate the exchange of expertise and best practices between Ukrainian and international professionals.
In the field of culture and creative industries, the Fund aims to:
  • Promote and develop culture and creative industries in Ukraine as key drivers of innovation and resilience.
  • Support capacity building and professional training for cultural sector professionals.
  • Foster international cultural exchange and cooperation to enhance the global presence of Ukrainian culture.

Governance

The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund (UCHF) is a Belgian-registered non-profit association dedicated to protecting, restoring cultural heritage and developing culture in Ukraine.

On behalf of the Ukrainian government, the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine (MCSC) has been involved in establishing the Fund and will continue to support it by mapping the needs and priorities of Ukraine’s cultural sector.

The ALIPH Foundation, an internationally recognised leader in protecting cultural heritage in crisis situations, manages the Fund, providing transparent and accountable oversight and contributing in-kind expertise to its operations.

UCHF is governed by a clear
and transparent structure:

  • General Assembly: approves strategy, budgets, and appoints Board members.
  • The Board: Oversees operations, programs, and resources, including representatives from founding members, Ukrainian authorities, and civil society.
  • Committees: Expert, Scientific, Ethics and Governance, and Audit Committees provide expert guidance, ensure compliance, and support good governance.

The Chair of the Board shall act as the legal representative of the Association, and the Managing Director shall head the Secretariat.

Members:

Members include countries, organizations, foundations, and private contributors who support UCHF’s mission, contribute financially, and adhere to its statutes.

Transparency & Accountability:

UCHF ensures full financial and operational transparency.

Legal Framework:

UCHF operates under Belgian law as a non-profit with international reach.