The British Council’s Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Arts Programme supports young creatives aged 18–35 across twelve countries strengthening creative skills, networks and business outcomes for creatives across Sub-Saharan Africa and the UK.

BOP was commissioned to deliver a four-year programme evaluation, building a longitudinal evidence base of cumulative social, economic and cultural impact to guide future investment in Africa’s creative economy.

Using annual surveys, stakeholder interviews and case studies, we tracked economic growth, skills development and policy-level impact across the region. The evaluation also measured the programme’s contribution to UK cultural relations and soft power across the region.

The final insights and recommendations demonstrate how the programme is enabling systemic change across Sub-Saharan Africa’s creative sector, and will shape how future programmes are designed, targeted and scaled across the region