Zambia has recorded significant progress in implementing UNESCO’s Culture 2030 Indicators framework, a global initiative designed to measure the contribution of culture to sustainable development.
Speaking during a stakeholder workshop in Kabwe, Ministry of Tourism Director of Culture and Traditional Affairs Bessie Chelemu said the country is making steady strides in integrating culture into national development planning through the internationally recognised framework.
Mrs Chelemu explained that culture is increasingly acknowledged worldwide as both a driver and enabler of sustainable development. In response, UNESCO developed a framework comprising 22 indicators that assess the impact of culture across various sectors of development.
She said the indicators are organised under four key dimensions: Environment and Resilience, Prosperity and Livelihoods, Knowledge and Skills, and Inclusion and Participation.
“Zambia is among only 16 countries globally implementing the Culture 2030 Indicators framework with support from UNESCO and the European Union. The initiative directly links culture to the Sustainable Development Goals through areas such as heritage preservation, education, job creation and social inclusion,” Mrs Chelemu said.
She noted that the Ministry of Tourism, through the Department of Culture and Traditional Affairs, is leading the implementation process in collaboration with several government ministries and institutions. These include the Zambia Statistics Agency, the National Arts Council and the National Heritage Conservation Commission.
According to Mrs Chelemu, the framework will enable Zambia to generate reliable and comprehensive cultural data that can guide policy development and strengthen evidence based decision making.
She said existing information on tourism, employment and cultural activities is already providing a foundation for measuring culture’s contribution to national development and economic growth.
Mrs Chelemu further highlighted that Zambia has established a strong base for the programme through existing legal frameworks, cultural centres, intangible cultural heritage registers and national systems used to monitor Sustainable Development Goals.
She stressed that the success of the initiative will depend on strong coordination among government institutions, local authorities and communities across the country.
Meanwhile, UNESCO Culture 2030 Indicators Consultant Gankhanani Moyo said the project is intended to provide measurable evidence of culture’s influence across different sectors of society and the economy.
Mr Moyo explained that by collecting and analysing cultural data, the framework will help policymakers better understand the value of cultural activities and their contribution to sustainable development.
And National Arts Council Director Maanka Chipindi said the workshop represents an important step in gathering the information needed to demonstrate how culture contributes to economic growth and national progress.
Mr Chipindi noted that the data collected through the initiative will help showcase the role of artists, cultural practitioners and heritage institutions in supporting livelihoods, strengthening communities and driving development.
The UNESCO Culture 2030 Indicators programme is expected to provide Zambia with valuable insights that will help place culture at the centre of national development efforts while promoting sustainable and inclusive growth.
