HEVA to invest $380k into East Africa’s creative sector

The HEVA Fund has made a significant announcement this week, calling for applications for their latest investments into the region's creative sector. In a strategic partnership with the European Commission and the French Agency of Development, the organization is set to inject an additional $380,000 USD into creative businesses in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. This move signifies a strong commitment to supporting and nurturing the creative industry in East Africa. Dr. Njoki Ngumi, the Programs and Strategy Lead at Heva Fund, shed light on the profound effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sector, emphasizing the deep and systemic challenges faced by creative practitioners in the region. Despite the setbacks brought about by the pandemic, there is a sense of cautious optimism as businesses explore innovative ways to pivot and adapt to the new normal. The launch of the East Africa Creative Business Fund marks a significant milestone, opening doors for creatives beyond Kenya and providing a platform for diverse artistic expressions to flourish. This initiative not only underscores the importance of the creative economy in fueling economic recovery but also highlights the need for governments to prioritize and support the creative industry for sustained growth and development.