At the Aral Culture Summit in Nukus, Uzbekistan, Valéry Freland, Executive Director of the International alliance for the protection of heritage (ALIPH), announced a new call for projects in partnership with the European Union’s Foreign Policy Instrument (FPI), says press release issued by the European Union (EU) Delegation to Tajikistan.  The goal is to counter the growing threat climate change and disasters pose to cultural heritage across Central Asia — specifically in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. 

Speaking at the Summit’s plenary session “Culture, Architecture, and Heritage: Catalysts for  Climate Action” — joined by Uzbekistan’s representative and ALIPH’s newest board member, Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation  (ACDF) — Freland reportedly unveiled funding opportunities for small (up to USD 30,000) and medium (up  to USD 200,000) projects.  These grants will support concrete, local initiatives with clear,  measurable socio-economic impact — a hallmark of ALIPH’s pragmatic approach. 

This marks ALIPH’s second climate-focused call for projects in under a year. In June 2024, the foundation launched a USD 10 million initiative targeting cultural heritage in Africa, with results to be announced in July 2025.  

Building on this momentum, and recognizing the urgent risks faced by  Central Asia’s cultural heritage, the European Union’s Foreign Policy Instrument has now joined  forces with ALIPH to help safeguard tangible and intangible heritage, bolster institutions and  collections, and breathe new life into traditional crafts and creative industries across the region. 

The International alliance for the protection of heritage (ALIPH) is the main global fund dedicated to its protection in conflict, post-conflict, and crisis areas.  ALIPH supports the people on the ground who take concrete measures to protect or restore museums, sites and monuments, and intangible heritage in the most challenging contexts.  ALIPH is a first responder in times of conflict and crisis, providing quick and flexible support within hours or days to prevent heritage from being lost forever.  Since its creation in Geneva in 2017, ALIPH has supported over 500 projects in 42 countries.  The Foundation carries out its mission thanks to the support of its nine  member States (France, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, China, Morocco,  Luxembourg, Cyprus, and Uzbekistan), its three private members (Dr. Thomas S. Kaplan, Getty  Trust, and Fondation Gandur pour l’Art), and a dozen other donors.  Together, this ALIPH family is committed to supporting professionals, communities, and their legacies

The Aral Culture Summit is a visionary new initiative dedicated to the social and environmental transformation of the Aral Sea region through art, culture, design, and science.  The inaugural gathering from April 4 to 6, 2025 included panel discussions, networking forums, cultural immersions through food, music, art and craft, as well as a public program including a pop-up marketplace featuring local businesses and artisans.