Data drives CDB strategy for sustained growth in the creative economy Fund accreditation

Published on September 15, 2025

The Caribbean Development Bank through its Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Fund (CIIF), is placing data at the heart of its strategy to drive sustainable growth in the region’s creative economy.

Speaking at CIIF’s Creative Talk panel, “Collect, Analyse, Activate! Leveraging National Creative Economy Data,” which opened a high-impact symposium entitled “Banking on Culture: Data, Policy and Finance,” CIIF Fund Coordinator, Malene Joseph, highlighted the sector’s untapped potential, noting that many areas such as intellectual property and international export remain under optimised.

She also pointed to Jamaica’s innovative use of its cultural registry to support a group insurance scheme for creatives, developed in partnership with Guardian Group, as a model for public-private collaboration.

The event brought together regional ministers, cultural policymakers, creatives, and private sector leaders to explore how national cultural registries, evidence based policymaking, and financial tools can unlock the economic potential of the Caribbean’s Cultural and Creative Industries.

To capitalise on this and other data driven opportunities, the Bank will be contributing over USD 200,000 to strengthen regional cultural registries in upcoming projects.