PROG2017-2021_OS7_Uganda_Cultural_Cooperation_Programme_Africalia_2017- 2021 : the cultural services and products of Africalia's partners promote human development and sustainable growth Africalia's program contributes to the common strategic objectives of the Belgian Common Strategic Framework UGANDA, more specifically relating to education, culture and research ("inclusive and quality education for all, promotion of lifelong learning and of cultural opportunities, promotion of research and innovation to enhance sustainable development.") (SDG 4 SDG8 & SDG 9) Africalia’s program focuses on the development and strengthening of the country's human capital (in addition to the work carried by VLIR-UOS). This approach is reflected best by a common educational goal. All of our program activities are inherently educational (or "professional" if you prefer) and result in the development of confident young people with professional creative skills, which can feed the democratic debate and make a positive contribution to a tolerant and inclusive society. The entire program is devoted to creativity. Africalia’s vision has two main dimensions: a social and an economic one. As far as the social dimension is concerned, we believe that a rich and varied cultural production is the source of social innovation and political renewal. Cultural Sites (real or virtual) are spaces of citizenship, laboratories that can create new political discourse and practices. Regarding the economic dimension, the cultural and creative industries represent an underutilized lever for job creation. They are the carriers of a non-polluting and sustainable growth that provides an alternative to the development of models based on extractive economies. Africalia’s Specific Objective (SO),"the cultural services and products of Africalia's partners promote human development and sustainable growth"; makes Africalia's vision operational and highlights the role of creativity in the social and economic development of the partner’s country. Four major results underpin the realization of the SO. They contribute to (a) the optimal functioning of the creative structures where Africalia cooperates, (b) the crucial role of education in a largely informal sector, which is generally little professionalized, (c) the creation of a cultural economy and creative markets, and (d) the rise of a cultural democracy in the countries of intervention. In the field of organizational development (ten year plan), we are committed to gradually support Bayimba Academy in becoming an established technical college and an accredited (delivering both diplomas and certificates) training institution with an extensive program of arts, which offers professional training for artists and cultural institutions. This process will require an evaluation of the sector in order to gauge the creative and cultural skills so that training programs are tailored to the needs of the market. It will also require the development of full-fledged curricula for its intended departments (music, dance, creative writing, fashion, photography, entrepreneurship, Arts Management etc.) in cooperation with selected partners, as well as developing a business plan to ensure the longevity of the future academy. In terms of creative economy, Bayimba still wants to play a leading role in facilitating market-oriented connections and engage in joint interests. The platforms that can lead to the strengthening of relevant networks and advocacy are: Bayimba International Festival, DOADOA East African Performing Arts Market, Kampala International Theatre Festival Dance Week Festival, Amakula International Film Festival. The thematic highlights of the year (creative economy, theater, dance, film) are central to the program because they can improve the efficiency of creative industries in the region and facilitate access to the market for local creatives. Professionals in the cultural sector and young people with ambitions in this sector are the intended beneficiaries of Africalia's programs. They receive training and coaching in their professional skills (individual 'micro' level). The organizations are strengthened in their capacities (organizational 'meso' level), and the entire program has a lasting impact in the longer term (Community 'macro' level of the community). Africalia’s program focuses on the development and strengthening of the country's human capital (in addition to the work carried by VLIR-UOS). This approach is reflected best by a common educational goal. All of our program activities are inherently educational (or "professional" if you prefer) and result in the development of confident young people with professional creative skills, which can feed the democratic debate and make a positive contribution to a tolerant and inclusive society. With Bayimba Cultural Foundation, we chose a single, strong and locally based partner organization. Bayimba recognizes the importance of arts and culture in the social and economic development of Uganda and East Africa as well as for individual human development. Bayimba Academy is structurally reinforced by Africalia with a view to contribute to a sustainable investment in capacity building in the arts and culture sector. An extensive program was therefore proposed with carefully selected local and international partners. It is expected that this comprehensive program will effectively contribute to the development of creative industries in the region and will contribute as such to the socio-economic growth of Uganda.