Entertainment media’s potential for social and economic impact is proven but underused. Distribution remains fragmented, links to development programs are weak, and private capital still flows without supporting evidence infrastructure. This panel explores how a global partnership between the World Bank Group and the creative sector is building a system to change that. The architecture includes AI to identify which norms to target, a curated library of proven, adaptable content, blended finance connecting creative talent to investment, and operational links into billions in development spending. Starting with Nigeria’s $1.4 billion creative economy and expanding across Gulf and African markets, this is what it looks like when creativity, evidence, and capital finally connect.
Speakers:
- Samer Abdul Samad, Associate Investment Officer, International Finance Corporation
- Bolanle Austen-Peters, Filmmaker, Producer, Chief Executive Officer, Terra Kulture
- Sharath Guntuku, Associate Professor, Department of Computer & Information Science, University of Pennsylvania
- Renos Vakis, Lead Economist, Development Impact, World Bank