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. 

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.