Theme 3: Advocacy and Thought Leadership

c) Develop sales/fundraising tracking tool and review framework d) Training of program heads in business development and fundraising e) Proposal writing training of staff

THEME 3: ADVOCACY AND THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

CDEA has a unique opportunity to be a Pan-African thought leader on the role of culture in human development. This will entail subject matter mastery through research, which will strategically feed advocacy efforts. In addition, to capturing insight CDEA will position itself strategically as thought leader through it marketing and PR efforts.

OBJECTIVE1: To conduct research, document insights and trends on the role of culture in human development

Proposed Activities:

a) Research on the following areas:

i) Knowledge development around culture and development ii) Place of arts in modern curriculum iii) Skills development iv) Impact of absence of arts in primary and secondary education v) Contribution of arts in GDP vi) Impact of arts in social development vii) Arts as tool for youth employment viii)Place of culture in environmental conservation ix) Legislation, tariffs, tax incentive, cross border challenges in EAC and recommendations b) Two major annual research release c) Present research and insights at local/global conferences d) Present research on CDEA Website e) Local and international academic partnerships f) Develop an innovation and incubation framework g) Build capacity of CDEA technical skills training through strategic technical partnerships

OBJECTIVE 2: To advocate for artist rights and role of culture in human development

Proposed Activities:

a) Develop advocacy and lobbying agenda for artist rights throughout EAC b) Engage central and local governments c) Engage government agencies related to the arts and creative industries d) Engage EAC and EALA e) Internal capacity building on government structures and jurisdiction challenges f) Development of private sector alliances g) Influential champions

OBJECTIVE 3: To advocate for culture’s role as a driver and enabler for sustainable development

Proposed Activities:

a) Research and advocacy for the creative economy b) Support civil society organizations to take the lead in evidence-based research for policy advocacy on integrating culture into national and regional polices and strategies c) Mainstreaming of cultural expressions in social development planning and programming i.e.

Use of community drama, interactive video, participatory community radio programming for community mobilization in Agriculture, education, environment, gender, health, water and sanitation sectors for improvement governance, management and accountability, civic education and democracy d) Work closely with country mechanisms responsible for promotion of the Arts in East Africa, such as National Arts Council/ BASATA in Tanzania to facilitate multi-stakeholder platforms for the creation of public-private partnerships to develop the creative industries e) At national, sub-regional and regional level, we will work closely with the East African

Community (EAC) and African Union (AU) mechanism to advocate for implementation of the

Plan of Action for cultural and creative Industries in Africa

OBJECTIVE 4: Develop superior marketing, PR and communication capacity for highlighting CDEA achievements and advancing CDEA agenda.

Proposed Activities: CDEA should look at its marketing, communication and PR functions as a strategic tool for growing its brand rather than a business tool; similar to NGO use of communication to grow brands and highlight achievements. These functions are also vital in advancing CDEA research learning’s and spreading it advocacy agenda

a) Engage PR, branding and communication strategist to develop CDEA/departments brand strategy b) Build internal capacity in event management\ marketing c) Develop internal and external communication collaterals d) Branded annual creative arts festival e) Develop social media strategy f) Centralized database of media industry networks g) Develop new mobile optimized website h) Strategic research releases i) Develop periodic publication j) CDEA profile video k) Video documentation of CDEA achievements and promotion of YouTube channel