Africa: U.S. Launches 'Ip for Growth' Programme to Boost Africa's Creative Economy

What the report says

The United States government has launched a year-long “IP for Growth” programme intended to help African creators, especially in music, convert creative work into income through stronger intellectual property protection, according to New Zimbabwe’s report distributed by AllAfrica. The initiative was presented during a digital press briefing hosted by the U.S. State Department’s Africa Regional Media Hub, with Katherine Hiner, the Intellectual Property Attaché for Sub-Saharan Africa at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, outlining the effort.

Hiner said the programme aims to move discussion of copyright and related rights beyond international forums and into practical conversations with creators, policymakers and industry stakeholders. The first phase began in Geneva and is set to continue with workshops in Lagos and Johannesburg, bringing together artists, producers, lawyers and government officials. The report says the programme is expected to conclude in December at a World Intellectual Property Organisation meeting in Geneva.

According to the article, the U.S. side argues that stronger IP systems can help unlock Africa’s creative economy. Hiner pointed to the rapid growth of sub-Saharan Africa’s music markets and said countries also face losses from uncollected recorded revenue. She urged African governments to strengthen copyright laws, improve enforcement, support royalty collection systems and address piracy. The report also noted discussion of artificial intelligence, with Hiner emphasizing that copyright remains important for protecting creators as technology changes. More broadly, the initiative reflects ongoing debates about how African creative industries can capture more value from digital distribution and global demand.