Ethiopia
Key Results
- Elaboration of new national policies for cinema and music initiated in line with objectives of 2005 Convention
- Dialogue created between key cultural actors and Ministry of Culture for the first time
- 17 national team members trained in data collection, indicator-building and periodic reporting
- First Quadrennial Periodic Report submitted to UNESCO in December 2016
Context:
In recent years, the culture sector in Ethiopia has increasingly been seen as a central element for the country’s development, notably through the inclusion of culture within Ethiopia's second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II: 2015-2020). The country’s cultural industries are expected to contribute to not only economic growth, job creation, but also social cohesion nationally and image-building internationally.
Ethiopians are eager to tell their stories – stories about contemporary Ethiopia. Ethio-jazz, Ethiopian films, dance/circus, contemporary arts, design are all making a buzz while art events such as the Addis International Film Festival are becoming increasingly recognized at the international level. Domestic demands for Ethiopian cultural goods and services are also on the rise.
Some important challenges remain, however, with the absence of baseline data and tangible statistical information on the culture and creative industries, as well as the need to improve the social status of artists. In this context, this capacity-building action in Ethiopia provides a timely occasion to map the state of affairs of Ethiopia's cultural sector, create a policy dialogue between the government and civil society, including artists, as well as promote the visibility of Ethiopian cultural industries through participatory data collection and information sharing nationally and internationally.
Date: -
Country: Ethiopia
Experts: Avril Joffe, Andreas Wiesand
Program: Policy Monitoring