The Culture Fund is a local NGO that promotes the development of the arts. Its mandate is also to reduce gender violence, combat child marriage and promote environmental awareness.
The Scandinavian nation entered into agreement with the Culture Fund in Harare last week. The Swedish ambassador to Zimbabwe, Sofia Calltorp, said culture was essential in the development and transformation of people. “Culture can be a very powerful tool to promote development,” she said during the signing ceremony. “Through art and different cultural expressions, we can reach out to communities, enhance awareness, stimulate debate and highlight the need for action to combat gender-based violence, but also to start a discussion around environmental issues and climate change.”
Also present during the signing was the head of Swedish development cooperation in Zimbabwe, Maria Selin, who said her country’s partnership with the Culture Fund had yielded positive results in the past.
