Paris, France — MoTIV, East Africa’s largest makerspace headquartered in Kampala, Uganda has won the UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the creative economy.
Established in March 2020 under the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works in Uganda strategy, MoTIV provides a holistic solution that fosters collaboration in an impactful and sustainable way by providing tools, training, a marketplace, and value chain support to creatives.
Out of 69 institutions nominated for the “creative economy” award, Uganda’s MoTIV emerged as the winner. MoTIV will use the US$50,000 prize money to kickstart a creative fund to unlock increased potential in the sector and support creatives to scale their ideas.
To mark the UN International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development, UNESCO and the Government of Bangladesh inaugurated the “UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the “Creative Economy” biennial prize award named in honor of the founder of the nation of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The awards are intended to recognize, creative institutions globally for their outstanding initiative to promote the engagement of young people within the creative and cultural industries.
Japheth Kawanguzi, the Team Lead at MoTIV said, “This win is not only for MoTIV but for the entire creative community. Uganda’s creative industry consists of talented designers, artisans, and makers who are looking for opportunities and platforms to be able to turn their ideas and skills into products and sustainable businesses. MoTIV was created specifically to overcome challenges within the sector.”
He continued, “We believe that by supporting the growth and development of creatives, we will drive industrial growth and nourish local businesses within the ecosystem, as we strive towards transforming our socio-economic trajectory upwards.”
“The Mastercard Foundation joins in celebrating the catalytic work that MOTIV is doing to support young creatives in Uganda. The recognition they have received is well deserved. It serves as a reminder that across Uganda and Africa, young people are charting unique pathways to opportunity – and by getting behind their aspirations, we can create a multiplier effect that’s unstoppable,” said Samuel Adela, Country Head, Mastercard Foundation.
For local creatives, 2021 has been a year to reflect and refine businesses. Primah Elizabeth Birungi, the proprietor of Kujieleza, a business that offers communication and speech therapy services recently underwent training in MoTIV’s Creative Business Academy, She says the award is a huge win for Uganda’s creative sector.
“In the past, we've had the most unguided creatives where people are passionate about things but lack the confidence to showcase or actually start out. There's not been a lot of mentorship in the past and for me mentorship has been the golden nugget,” she says, adding, “Winning the award means we're moving towards sustainability as creatives. Uganda is known for having the most creatives whose startups don't exist beyond two years. The award means we're picking up everyone and holding them at their weakest .It means we're reaching towards a safer space for creative businesses to thrive.”
A report by United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) highlights the cultural and creative industries generate annual global revenues of US$2,250 billion and exports of over US$250 billion. The sector has also created nearly
30 million jobs worldwide and employs more people aged 15−29 than any other sector. In Uganda, the creative sector employees more than five million young people aged between 15−29 than any other sector.
When launching the International Prize for the creative economy award, UNESCO stressed the need to protect and support the creative economy in the aftermath of COVID-19. Deputy Chief of Cabinet of the Office of President of General Assembly, Ambassador Farrukh Iqbal Khan, called upon the global community to place creativity and cultural aspects at the centre of its policy-making and as a key component of economic and social recovery through partnerships with different sectors and communities, including Indigenous people.
“This is because the creative economy reflects the remarkable innovation and creativity inherent with the world’s most remarkable natural resource: its people. Every society, culture, and country have an abundance of this resource,” he said.
For more information, please contact;
MoTIV
Ivy Nanyonzi
Marketing & Communications Lead
Email: inyonyozi@motivug.org
Mastercard Foundation
Eleni Constantine White
Strategy Lead, Program Communications
Email: hwhite@mastercardfdn.org
About MoTIV
MOTIV creates indigenous industry opportunities throughout Africa, starting with Uganda by working with creatives and makers to refine & scale their businesses to meet demand for local & international markets. The establishment provides holistic solutions that foster collaboration in an impactful and sustainable way through providing tools, training, a marketplace, value chain support by bringing together a community of like-minded creatives. For more information on MoTIV, please visit: https://motiv.africa/
About the Mastercard Foundation
The Mastercard Foundation works with visionary organizations to enable young people in Africa and in Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. It is one of the largest, private foundations in the world with a mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world. The Foundation was created by Mastercard in 2006 as an independent organization with its own Board of Directors and management. For more information on the Foundation, please visit: www.mastercardfdn.org
About Young Africa Works
Young Africa Works is the Mastercard Foundation’s strategy to enable 30 million young people, particularly young women, across Africa to access dignified and fulfilling work. Africa will be home to the world’s largest workforce, with 375 million young people entering the job market by 2030. With the right skills, these young people will contribute to Africa's global competitiveness and improve their lives and those of their communities. The Mastercard Foundation will implement Young Africa Works in 10 African countries in collaboration with governments, private sector, entrepreneurs, educators, and young people. The first phase of countries identified by the Mastercard Foundation are Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Nigeria.
