Tourism is a crucial lifeline for many rural communities. It has a unique capacity to create new job opportunities, promote territorial cohesion and protect natural and cultural resources. It also empowers women and young people.

However, rural areas face increasing challenges, including depopulation, aging populations and lower income levels, as well as gaps in infrastructure, health, and financial services. This is especially true of less developed African countries. Despite significant improvements in recent decades, inequalities between urban and rural areas continue to persist.

To tackle these challenges and harness the potential of tourism, UN Tourism and TUI Care Foundation have partnered to launch the Small Grants Programme “Colourful Cultures”.

The project invites civil society and non-governmental organisations to present projects that benefit artists and artisans in rural tourism destinations in Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, The Gambia, Tunisia, and Zambia. Each selected project can receive a grant of up to EUR 20,000. The grant is expected to increase the ability of artists and artisans to tap into the tourism economy, enhance their visibility in tourism destinations, and improve the availability of support services in rural areas.