The implementation of the UNESCO Thematic Indicators for Culture in the 2030 Agenda (UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators) has been launched in Panama and the city of Colón. A kick-off workshop was organized by the Ministry of Culture of Panama and the Municipality of Colón in close collaboration with UNESCO, on 12-13 November 2025 in Art and Culture Centre of Colón (CACCO).
The workshop gathered 75 participants from the national and local authorities, including SiCultura representatives (Culture Information System), the Culture Satellite Account, the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC), academics, and other competent entities whose work is informed by culture and heritage.
In line with UNESCO’s commitment to advocate for the essential role of culture in sustainable development, the UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators is a conceptual and methodological framework of thematic indicators whose purpose is to measure and monitor the progress of culture’s enabling contribution to the national and local implementation of the Goals and Targets of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The framework has been developed by UNESCO in collaboration with the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), with the aim to assess both culture’s role as a sector of activity, as well as the transversal contribution of culture across different SDGs and policy areas. The UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators framework maps the SDGs in 22 indicators across four thematic dimensions: Environment & Resilience, Prosperity & Livelihood, Knowledge & Skills, and Inclusion & Participation. Goal 5 on ‘Gender equality’ is addressed transversally across the framework by allowing for the appreciation of sex disaggregation across a number of data points from access to opportunities and their participation in social, economic, political, and cultural life.
The UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators’ methodology aims to make culture visible, provide a thematic overview, build messages and advocacy, inform national and local policies and actions, help understand trends and build knowledge, and monitor the global progress of culture in the realization of the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.
The implementation of the UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators in Panama and the city of Colón was made possible thanks to the generous financial contribution of the European Union under the project entitled “Advancing evidence-based policies and actions, and supporting policy making to enhance the contribution of creative sectors and industries to sustainable development”.
The kick-off workshop was opened by the representative of the Ministry of Culture, Ms. Yamileth Stanziola, Cultural Heritage Director, followed by the opening remarks of Mr. Jorge Montenegro, Culture Director of the Municipality of Colón. Ms. Jyoti Hosagrahar, Deputy Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, shared an introduction to the UNESCO CultureI2030 Indicators framework. She explained the development of the methodology and its guiding principles as well as the major implementation steps at national and local levels.
During the workshop, the national and urban partner presented the cultural public policies at the national and urban levels and their linkages with the SDGs of the UN 2030 Agenda.
Mr. Eduardo Saravia, UNESCO Regional Expert, presented the framework’s methodology covering in detail the four dimensions and 22 thematic indicators focusing on the data mapping, data collection, and the process of extracting raw data from international and national accounts
During the workshop, the national and local implementation teams along with the UNESCO Regional Expert facilitated exchanges between participants and discussed the UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators from various perspectives and through its 22 indicators and its 4 dimensions. Over the course of the workshop, participants contributed to the several hands-on exercises resulting in data mapping and developed the work plan for the project implementation.
The workshop achieved its objective of introducing the UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators framework methodology, bringing together key stakeholders and professionals whose work is informed by culture and heritage, and in this collaborative process, imparting knowledge to strengthen culture data collection and laying the groundwork for the formulation of policy recommendations for improved inclusion of culture in the national dialogue at the conclusion of the project.
For further information on the UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators project, we invite you to explore the following webpage: UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators.