International Council of African Museums

AFRICOM today is an International NGO registered by the Government of Kenya. The Secretariat is located in the capital city, Nairobi, in offices graciously offered by the National Museums of Kenya (NMK). Africom Secretariat Core funding for AFRICOM's operations from 2000 to 2003 was received from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida); Sida has generously extended a further grant for the period 2004 to 2006. Major financial partners for AFRICOM's activities (2000-2003) included UNESCO, Africalia , Association Francaise d'Action Artistique (AFAA), the Ford Foundation, the Getty Grant Program, and the French Cultural and Cooperation Centre (Nairobi). The resources of the AFRICOM Information Centre assist the Secretariat to respond to thousands of queries from museums and heritage professionals and students on a range of subjects affecting museums and the heritage sector. AFRICOM also hosts an extensive computerised database of museums and museum professionals on the continent. AFRICOM News, an annual publication, is distributed widely, and the updated Directory of Museum Professionals in Africa was published and distributed in 2003. AFRICOM encourages the partnership and sharing of resources among partner organisations in the cultural and heritage sectors.