ZAMBIA LAUNCHES UNESCO 2030 CULTURE INDICATORS IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMME

By Daily News Reporter 

 The Ministry of Tourism launched the UNESCO 2030 Culture Indicators Implementation Workshop in Lusaka, marking an important step in strengthening the role of culture in Zambia’s development agenda.

The programme seeks to integrate culture into national planning, budgeting and policy formulation through validated indicators that will measure culture’s contribution to job creation, learning, social cohesion and resilience.

 Speaking during the official opening of meeting Ministry of Tourism Minister Ronard Sikumba said 

“The UNESCO Culture 2030 Indicators provide a practical framework to make culture measurable and relevant to policy. By strengthening our capacity to collect and interpret cultural data, we will ensure that culture is no longer invisible in development choices. 

He also indicated that the Measurement is not an end in itself but a gateway to better decisions, fairer resource allocation and stronger societies.

The Minister stressed that although culture is a proven driver of sustainable development, Zambia’s limited statistical data has hindered evidence-based policymaking. The workshop therefore aims to build national ownership and capacity in cultural monitoring, enabling Zambia to generate reliable data for inclusion in the UNESCO databank and for domestic policy use.

 Speaking at the same event Mr. Claudio Bacigalupi, Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Zambia, emphasised the fundamental role of culture in shaping society and driving development.

“Culture is what we are, no matter where we are, we have our culture with us. It encompasses shared beliefs, practices, knowledge, music, dance, laws and institutions that shape collective identity and way of life. Culture is essential for development because it provides the foundation for shared identities and values, fosters social cohesion and resilience and drives economic progress through creativity and innovation.” Bacigalupi said.

The EU has partnered with UNESCO to roll out the Culture 2030 Indicators Programme globally, with Zambia among the countries now taking part in the 2024–2026 cycle. This reflects the EU’s continued support for cultural cooperation, innovation and inclusive development.

The workshop broght together government ministries, national statistical offices, local authorities, civil society, cultural practitioners and research institutions to ensure a participatory and sustainable approach.