Mozambique: Strengthening cultural and creative industries and inclusive policies in Mozambique

 

Mozambique has made impressive development gains in the last 15 years, reducing poverty and child and maternal mortality rates, and doubling the number of children enrolled in school. Nonetheless, poverty remains high, particularly for women and female-headed households in rural areas. The Joint Programme's aim was to show that, with strategic inputs in both the cultural and creative industries and purposeful inclusion of culture in development planning, culture in all its forms can make a strong contribution to Mozambique's human and economic development. 

With an ambitious and innovative design, the programme brought together six UN agencies and entities responsible for Culture, Tourism, Health, Education, Labour, Agriculture, Industry and Trade, Youth and Sport, and Science and Technology from all levels of government, successfully promoting the transversal importance and effectiveness of culture in the Mozambican development context. 
 
It was implemented in select locations in three provinces (Maputo City, Inhambane city and its surroundings, the district of Zavala, Nampula city and the districts of Mossuril, and Mozambique Island) and was based on the following outcomes:

1. Mobilize community entrepreneurial spirit through improving tourist access to high potential cultural assets.

2. Improve community health outcomes through recognizing local socio-cultural practices, norms and beliefs.

3. Promote and advocate for the methodologies used.

Among main achievements:

  • The JP helped to create awareness about the importance of cultural and creative industries as a motor for development.
  • The National Directorate for the Promotion of Cultural Industries (DNPIC) was created, which promoted ownership, provided a framework for these industries and created a foundation from which DNPIC can support the sector.
  • The programme revised existing copyright law and drafted a new regulation to harmonize the national law with international standards. A draft regulation for Performance and Public Entertainment was finalized and presented to the Ministry of Culture. The Strategic Plan for copyright and intellectual property of SOMAS (Sociedade Moçambicana de Autores) was delivered in August 2011. The programme also designed a Cultural Management Information System. 
  • Artisans received training to increase their portfolio and develop market-driven products, and more than 500 of them developed links in order to sell in local, national and international markets. Some 52 new craft product lines were developed. At the National Fair, most of the artisans that participated in product development workshops sold out their products. 
  • A big success of the programme was the establishment of the Wood Bank for the craft association ASARUNA in Nampula. This has given artisans secure access to raw materials for their products.
  • A model for the development of touristic packages was developed and four cultural tours were designed and piloted.
  • Districts incorporated socio-cultural aspects in the design and implementation of Sexual and Reproductive Health activities through meetings in schools and community sites. Discussions were ultimately linked to topics like family planning, women’s rights and domestic violence within the local cultural context in each of the three districts. Legal specialists were involved to provide information on Family Law and the Law on Domestic Violence.

 

Click for more detailed results from the Joint Programmes in Mozambique.

 

 

The Joint Programme in action

JOINT PROGRAMME QUICK FACTS

Programme Dates 21 Aug 2008 - 30 Jun 2013
Net funded amount $5,297,036
Participating UN agencies FAO, ILO, ITC, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCR
National partners Ministry of Sciences and Technology (MCT), Ministry of Youth and Sports (MJD), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MIC), Ministry of Culture (MICULT), Ministry of Agriculture (MINAG), Ministry of International Cooperation (MINEC), Ministry of Education (MINED), Ministry of Health (MISAU), Ministry of Labor (MITRAB), Ministry of Tourism (MITUR). Provincial and District Directorates for Education and Culture in Maputo, Inhambane and Nampula; Provincial and District Directorates for Tourism in Maputo City, Nampula and Inhambane; Provincial and District Directorates of Agriculture - Nampula and Inhambane; Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports, Inhambane
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