Strengthening National Capacities in Collecting and Analyzing Cultural Data
The Ministry of Culture in Tunisia, in collaboration with UNESCO and the Tunis Municipality, recently organized a workshop aimed at strengthening national capacities in collecting and analyzing cultural data. The objective of this workshop was to produce the necessary data to demonstrate the contribution of the cultural sector to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to better integrate culture into public policies and sustainable development strategies.
Workshop Objectives and Outcomes
The workshop brought together representatives from various ministries, administrations, civil society, and the private sector. It enabled the establishment of a framework for action, identification of intervention axes according to the specialties of the participants, and the creation of a roadmap for national implementation. The primary goal is to enhance national capacities in collecting and analyzing cultural data and to produce the necessary data to demonstrate its contribution to the SDGs.
Expert Insights
Wafa Belgacem, a UNESCO expert responsible for facilitating the workshop, highlighted the importance of the meeting as the first step in implementing UNESCO's Culture|2030 Indicators. She noted the almost total lack of data and indicators on the role of culture in sustainable development, a challenge not unique to Tunisia but common to many countries. This absence of data affects the cultural sector, particularly in terms of subsidies and funding. Belgacem emphasized that these indicators also guide national cultural policies by adapting them to the real needs of the population and the objectives set in terms of development.
UNESCO's Culture|2030 Indicators
In response to this challenge, UNESCO established a series of indicators to evaluate the role of the cultural sector and establish a link between culture and sustainable development goals. Belgacem noted that Tunisia is one of the pioneering countries that has adhered to this project and has begun implementing this framework. By participating in this program, Tunisia joins an international network of countries and cities mobilized to place culture at the heart of sustainable development policies.
Innovative Tool for Measuring Cultural Contribution
The Culture|2030 Indicators, developed by UNESCO in collaboration with its Institute for Statistics (ISU), are an innovative tool designed to measure and track the contribution of culture to the UN's sustainable development program by 2030. These indicators cover four key dimensions:
- Environment and Resilience: The role of culture in sustainability and heritage management.
- Prosperity and Livelihoods: The contribution of culture to economic growth and employment.
- Knowledge and Skills: The place of culture in education and the transmission of knowledge.
- Inclusion and Participation: The promotion of social cohesion and access to culture for all.
These indicators enable the tracking of culture's contribution to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets, such as gender equality, peace, reduction of inequalities, and climate resilience.
