Strengthening cultural entrepreneurship: IFCD invests in vocational training

The cultural and creative industries (CCI) generate 30 million jobs and nearly US$2,250 billion in global revenues worldwide. Despite rapid growth, developing countries are not currently benefiting from the creative economy at the same rate as developed countries. Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean account for a combined total of 8% of global CCI revenues, compared to 56% in Europe and North America and 36% in the Asia-Pacific region. In terms of employment, Africa and the Middle East’s represent only 7% of employment in CCI and Latin America and the Caribbean represent 6%. Various obstacles to sustainable cultural entrepreneurship, namely a lack of financing and vocational training, are hindering the growth of CCI in developing countries. In order to address these challenges and contribute to the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular SDG 4 to promote vocational training for employment, the International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD) invests in projects dedicated to training artists and cultural professionals and provide them with new skills and opportunities to work in the creative economy. To date, more than 10,000 artists and cultural professionals have been trained in project management, business development, and career management.