The main objective of the Fund is to address the challenges faced by the African State Parties in the implementation of the 1972 Convention concerning the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, specifically, the underrepresentation of African sites on the World Heritage List and the insufficient conservation and management of these sites. AWHF became formally a Category II Centre under the auspices of UNESCO in 2010 hence an official partner of the UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre. The Fund is hosted by the South African government on behalf of the continent.