Call for nominations: cultural and creative Best Practice in the Southern Mediterranean

The first pillar of the CREACT4MED project is a comprehensive mapping exercise of the CCI ecosystem in 8 Southern Mediterranean Countries: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia. The aim of this exercise is to identify the key figures, actors, initiatives, cultural infrastructures, opportunities and threats in each of the territories, with a view to uncovering and raising awareness of unexploited entrepreneurship and employment opportunities and developing appropriate support initiatives and policy recommendations.

As part of this activity, CREACT4MED is launching a call for nominations of Best Practice (BP) examples in cultural and creative entrepreneurship, ecosystem enablement and local and regional cooperation in the southern Mediterranean.

Objectives of the call

The overall objective of this call is to identify, engage with and promote examples of Best Practice (BP) that have the potential to boost CCI entrepreneurship and enhance sustainable and inclusive growth in the Mediterranean region.

The specific objectives of the call are:

1. To identify examples of BP in terms of cultural and creative entrepreneurship, ecosystem enablement and local and regional cooperation in the Southern Mediterranean.

2. To acknowledge and celebrate the examples of BP identified; engage with their promotors; and award a prize to the best examples from each country during the final project event.

3. To facilitate access to knowledge and promote the use and replication of successful practices with applicability and transferability potential by creating a public repository of data.

Definition of Best Practice

We understand Best Practice as methods or processes that have been proven by experience or research to work reliably and effectively to reach a desired objective. The results of these practices should be tangible, and their impact measurable. Moreover, according to EMEA research, an example of BP should be inclusive, economically and environmentally sustainable, innovative and efficient.

Given the diversity of processes in the cultural and creative industries, this call is open for examples of Best Practice (BP) on a broad range of categories which are detailed in the document C4N – Cultural and Creative Best Practice in the Southern Mediterranean

Nomination process

In order to submit a recommendation, nominators are invited to complete the C4N – Best Practice (BP) Collection form and submit it to it to creact4med@euromed-economists.org including “[Call for BP nomination]” in the title of the email. The first call for nominations of examples of Best Practice is open until May 31^st 2022 for recommendations of Best Practice examples from Southern Mediterranean countries.

Nominators must ensure the quality, reliability, and objectivity of all the information provided. They may come from a variety of backgrounds, including:

• Local and regional authorities involved in CCI

• International organisations and initiatives working on CCI

• Incubators, accelerators, BSOs, NGOs, CSOs

• Education providers

• CREACT4MED project partners and associates

• Other experts and CCI professionals

Only complete nominations will be accepted. Sections 1. Basic info, 2. Main characteristics and 5. Conclusions of the BP Collection form must be completed. Nominators are requested to complete at least 3 subsections of section 3. Impact. Nominators are encouraged to submit multiple nominations and to complete all the applicable sections.

More details about the Best Practice categories, eligibility and selection criteria, eligible sectors and the expected outcomes are provided in the documents linked below.

CREACT4MED is a project funded by the EU through the EuropeAid Programme, which aims to strengthen businesses within the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs). It seeks to support entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs, create jobs, and foster sustainable economic growth in the Southern Mediterranean, with a particular focus on young people and women.

CREACT4MED mission and goals:

• Boost CCI businesses and entrepreneurship in the Southern Mediterranean, increasing the capacity of CCI to attract investment, create jobs and foster inclusive economic growth.

• Empower current and potential entrepreneurs, in particular young people and women, to start or grow CCI businesses through tailored training and financing opportunities.

• Establish a regional CCI hub to bring together actors from North Africa, the Middle East and Europe, strengthening networking, exchanges and cooperation in the sector across the Mediterranean.

CREACT4MED is led by the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA). Partners are the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMED), the Union of Mediterranean Confederations of Enterprises (BUSINESSMED), the Institute of Entrepreneurship Development (IED) and the Faculty of Economics, Political Science Business Incubator (FEPS BI), MED Confederation, Beyond Group, LUMSA University, the Federation of Mediterranean Businesswomen Associations (AFAEMME), Positive Agenda Advisory and Womenpreneur.