The International Council on Archives (ICA) is pleased to announce the projects selected for support through the Fund for the International Development of Archives (FIDA) in 2026. Representing initiatives across Asia, Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and South America, the selected projects address a wide range of archival priorities, including digitisation, preservation, capacity building, archival description, and access to documentary heritage. Together, they demonstrate the role archives play in preserving memory, supporting research, and strengthening communities.
- Project leader: Stephen Butters (Guyana)
“From Independence to Millennium: Digitising Four Decades of University of Guyana Institutional Records” supports the digitisation of key administrative and financial records held by the University of Guyana, covering the period from 1963 to 2000. Building on the work already undertaken by the University’s Archives Department to organise and appraise nearly 9,800 records, the project aims to acquire digitisation equipment to facilitate large-scale scanning. The resulting digital images will support the creation of a database designed to improve access to institutional records, strengthen preservation efforts, and support administrative decision-making while safeguarding an important part of the university’s history.
- Project leader: Muhammad Zikri Bin Abdul Rahman (Malaysia)
“Historicising Malaysia’s Environmental Memory: The CETDEM Archival Project” focuses on preserving and improving access to the archives of the Centre for Environment, Technology and Development Malaysia (CETDEM), a key organisation in Malaysia’s environmental movement since 1985. Working in partnership with Pusat Sejarah Rakyat (PSR), the initiative will arrange, preserve and digitise archival materials documenting environmental advocacy and its connections to wider social movements in Malaysia. The project includes the publication of an intellectual arrangement of selected records, the rehousing of fragile materials, and the creation of publicly accessible digital resources, including an e-book highlighting key documents from the collection. The initiative aims to safeguard an important record of Malaysia’s environmental history and make it more accessible to researchers and the public.
- Project leader: Nigel Nugawela (Sri Lanka)
The AHRA-SL project addresses the preservation and accessibility of archives related to human rights violations and transitional justice in Sri Lanka. The initiative will support the arrangement, description, digitisation, and preservation of significant archival collections held by human rights groups and affected families. It will also provide training for activists and community members in archival practices and develop an information platform focused on the archives of previous commissions of inquiry. By prioritising community-based and participatory approaches, the project seeks to improve access to archival information for affected communities, advocates, researchers, and investigators while supporting ongoing efforts related to truth, justice, reparations, and non-recurrence.
- Project leader: Assane Fall (Senegal)
“Raising Awareness of the Importance of Protecting Archives in Senegal” aims to raise awareness among the Senegalese population, particularly young people, of the importance of archives while strengthening the capacity of archivists to better protect documentary heritage. Building on the recommendations of a 2024 feasibility study, the project will deliver an inclusive programme including media campaigns, educational and cultural activities, practical training on the protection of physical and digital archives, and awareness-raising workshops and visits in several regions of Senegal. The project seeks to improve public understanding of the role of archives, encourage greater engagement in their preservation, strengthen the professional skills of archivists, and contribute to the protection of the country’s documentary heritage.
- Project leader: Ana Cristina Fernandes Cortês Santana Justino, University of Aveiro (Portugal)
“Phonographic Records: Echoes and Images of Portugal in the 20th Century” aims to preserve and study the visual heritage contained in 400 shellac discs dating from before 1925, held in the José Moças Collection at the University of Aveiro. Focusing on recordings of Fado and Cante Alentejano, both recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, the initiative will create ultra-high-resolution digital images of record labels and other visual elements that document the history of Portugal’s recording industry and cultural life. The project will also develop a standardised imaging methodology, strengthen institutional expertise in the preservation of sound heritage, and make the resulting digital resources available for research and public engagement.
- Project leader: Ann Nyaga (Kenya)
“Digitization and Preservation of Land Records of Defunct Local Authorities in Makueni County” is a three-month pilot to identify, preserve and digitise priority land records inherited from defunct local authorities in Makueni County, including fragile paper records and oversized maps and plans. It will establish a secure digital repository using open-source software and train five county staff members in digitisation, metadata creation and repository management to support the continued digitisation of land records.
