Government/Public Sector

Before the pandemic, the creative economy was growing rapidly and generating new jobs in every region of the world, predicted to account up to 10 per cent of global GDP by 2030. The crisis has brought this exceptional growth to a standstill, exposing the fragility of a sector dominated by micro-businesses, informal work practices and few tangible assets. Lockdowns have also highlighted the importance of cultural and creative activity in maintaining individual well-being and community resilience.

This Knowledge Brief highlights examples of music enterprises in Africa and the types of opportunities they offer for youth in the broad music ecosystem.  The Brief also suggests some strategies for translating music into economic and social benefits: 1) Access to finance to support music enterprises, 2) Targeted music-friendly policies, 3) Support for networks and enabling infrastructure, 4) Enhanced participation of women and artists from marginalized communities, and 5) Human capital development through skills, training, and innovation.

The orange economy contributes to creating approximately 30 million jobs in the world. During the COVID-19 crisis, arts and creative activities have helped support people in isolation and confinement. This thematic note brings in several concrete examples of projects that have used the creative sectors to support job creation. It discusses five main types of interventions: nurturing human capital, providing access to finance, expanding access to markets, building networks and clusters, and harnessing digital technology to support the sector.