In a significant milestone for Zimbabwe’s cultural and creative industries, the Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Emily Jesaya launched the UNESCO 2030/Culture Indicators Survey project in the vibrant city of Bulawayo.
The project, a collaboration between the government, UNESCO, and the City of Bulawayo, aims to collect vital data on culture to inform policy-making and contribute to the realisation of Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Data Collection
Addressing a diverse audience of cultural stakeholders, media representatives, and city officials, the Deputy Minister expressed gratitude to UNESCO and the Swedish Development Agency for selecting Zimbabwe as one of the pilot countries for implementing the UNESCO 2030/Culture Indicators. The involvement of Zimbabwe’s national statistical agency, ZIMSTAT, further demonstrates the government’s commitment to data-driven policy development.
The Deputy Minister highlighted Zimbabwe’s previous efforts in collecting cultural data, including surveys conducted by Culture Fund Zimbabwe Trust and a collaboration between UNESCO and ZIMSTAT in 2017. The Deputy Minister also acknowledged the instrumental role played by the City of Bulawayo, the only city in Zimbabwe with an Arts and Culture Desk, in pioneering cultural initiatives.
Pilot Project
“We chose Bulawayo to pilot this project because of its commitment to culture. The City of Bulawayo, UNESCO, and the Ministry of Sports, Recreation, Arts, and Culture have signed an agreement to work together on this noble cause,” Jesaya stated.
To ensure the project’s success, Zimbabwe selected Farai Mpfunya, an esteemed cultural expert, as the regional expert to oversee the survey’s implementation. Mpfunya, who previously headed Culture Fund Zimbabwe Trust and has extensive experience working on UNESCO projects, will be supported by Ms. Valentine Montalto from Italy, another expert with a wealth of experience in UNESCO pilot initiatives.
Jesaya emphasised the crucial role of stakeholders from the arts and culture sector, both present at the workshop and beyond, in providing the necessary information and data for the survey. Their participation, he noted, demonstrated the government’s respect for their contributions and expertise.
On-going Projects
“As we undertake this workshop, we recognize the invaluable role of stakeholders in shaping the success of this project. We thank all participants, including those who could not attend but will provide vital information that will contribute to the project’s data,” the Deputy Minister expressed.
The Deputy Minister also reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to UNESCO, pledging to domesticate UNESCO conventions and fulfil state party obligations. He highlighted ongoing projects supported by UNESCO, such as the Aschberg Project and the safeguarding of Zimbabwe’s intangible cultural heritage, as evidence of Zimbabwe’s dedication to cultural development.
The launch of the UNESCO 2030/Culture Indicators Survey project in Zimbabwe, particularly in Bulawayo, is expected to generate crucial empirical data on culture. This data will play a pivotal role in shaping Zimbabwe’s cultural and creative economy, contributing to the realisation of the SDGs by 2030.
Cultural Data Collection
In her welcome remarks, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Judith Ncube, expressed gratitude to all participants for their attendance, emphasising the significance of this historic event for both the city and the nation.
Ncube highlighted the City of Bulawayo’s commitment to cultural data collection and analysis as a means to assess the role of culture in achieving sustainable development goals.
She said that the Culture/2030 Indicators framework, developed by UNESCO, provides a methodology to measure and monitor culture’s impact on national and local implementation of the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Harnessing Culture
“The UNESCO Culture/2030 Indicators are a groundbreaking and innovative methodology that harnesses the power of culture to achieve the SDGs,” stated Ncube. She added, “This survey is expected to enrich the city’s creative sectors and further promote the arts, culture, and heritage.”
Ncube also acknowledged UNESCO and supporting partners for embarking on this pilot project and providing technical support. She extended a warm welcome to all workshop participants and emphasised the importance of their active participation to ensure the success of the initiative.
Enthusiasm to Learn
In declaring the project officially launched, the Deputy Minister urged participants to approach the workshop with enthusiasm and to learn from it as members of the greater UNESCO family.
The UNESCO 2030/Culture Indicators Survey project is poised to make a lasting impact on Zimbabwe’s cultural landscape, empowering the nation’s cultural and creative industries and fostering sustainable development in the years to come.
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