Mozambique has made impressive development gains in the last 15 years, reducing poverty and child and maternal mortality rates, and doubling the number of children enrolled in school. Nonetheless, poverty remains high, particularly for women and female-headed households in rural areas. The Joint Programme's aim was to show that, with strategic inputs in both the cultural and creative industries and purposeful inclusion of culture in development planning, culture in all its forms can make a strong contribution to Mozambique's human and economic development. 

Part of Mauritania's strategic fight against its high poverty rates is to develop tourism and related areas. The Joint Programme supported this goal by encouraging the growth of Mauritania's cultural sector as a way to drive development and generate incomes, with particular emphasis on women's activities. The programme focused on strengthening the national capacity to develop and promote cultural businesses, as well as the management, conservation and enhancement of the country's cultural heritage.

Ethiopia has huge potential for scaling up its production of edible oil: favorable agro-climatic conditions for increased oilseed cultivation, the labor-intensive nature of the sub-sector, a conducive business environment, the willingness of oilseed crushers to work at full capacity and the huge local demand. The Joint Programme piloted a model to increase the productivity and competitiveness of oilseed producers, boost the capacity for processing edible oil seeds and improve access to local and international markets.