International Fund for Cultural Diversity

The International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD) is a key instrument of international cooperation and assistance for the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005).

Its purpose is to foster the emergence of dynamic cultural sectors in developing countries that are Parties to the 2005 Convention, through strengthening the means to create, produce, distribute and have access to diverse cultural goods and services. As a multi-donor fund, the IFCD promotes South-South and North-South cooperation, while contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including gender equality and poverty reduction.

Since 2010, the IFCD has invested US$11.5 million through 152 projects in 71 countries in support of the creative economy and to bolster inclusive and sustainable economic growth. These projects cover a wide range of areas, from the development and implementation of cultural policies, capacity-building for cultural professionals and entrepreneurs, access to new markets, to greater participation in cultural life.