Article
Culture makes strides at SIDS 4
It is estimated that 2/3 of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have a national public policy or a strategy in place for culture. This growing investment in culture – across all its domains, from built heritage to intangible heritage as well as cultural and creative industries – paves the way to a strengthened ownership of sustainable development by SIDS to contribute meaningfully to the global policy dialogue on culture for sustainable development.
The Outcome Document of SIDS4, the “” clearly recognize the impact of culture towards building resilient economies in SIDS by (i) enhancing entrepreneurship, education and training in cultural and heritage management and preservation, and in specific domains of the creative industries; and (ii) promoting and investing in the resilience of cultural heritage (Paragraph 21 iii, e, f).
In the run up to the , amplifying the voices of SIDS is vital to further build evidence towards anchoring culture within the Pact for the Future. Such call was particularly put forth at the side event organized on 28 May by the Government of Cabo Verde and UNESCO in the framework of SIDS4 on “Culture in the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS 2024-2034”.
While the new programme of action for SIDS’ development and resilience was being adopted, the event sought to carve an inclusive conversation between decision-makers and youth advocates on the role of culture as a driver for sustainable development across the three sub-regions (AIS, Caribbean, and the Pacific).
Following opening remarks by H.E. Mr Rui Alberto de Figueiredo Soares, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Regional Integration of Cabo Verde, and preliminary remarks by H.E. Ignacio YBÁÑEZ, European Union Special Envoy on SIDS, the discussion of the side event highlighted the challenges, the critical areas of investment of the culture sector as well actions taken by SIDS so far to harness culture for sustainable development.
While H.E. Ms Tepaeru Hermann, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Cook Islands emphasized the enabling power of culture to boost innovation in her country, H.E. Mr Abraão Aníbal Barbosa Vicente, Minister of Culture and Creative Industries of Cabo Verde highlighted the multi-faceted contribution of the sector to the implementation of the national development plan since 2016.
When we added Creative Industries to the designation of the Ministry of Culture we wanted to convey a clear message: from 2016 we wanted culture and creative industries to be economic sectors of Cabo Verde. From there we laid the foundations for a profound structural change in Cabo Verde. […] Cabo Verde as a small island state faces the same problems and challenges that any insular state, including lack of resources to invest in culture but, 8 years later, we can say that it was the best bet we could make. We have more international artists and our intangible heritage is better preserved.
Integrating culture and education was also brought to the forth as a means to stimulate resilient economies, provide avenues for employment, as well as foster a sense of belonging within communities. Notably, H.E. Mr Abraão Vicente presented the ‘revolutionary’ and ambitious artistic education programme – the Bolsa de Acesso à Cultura – that is currently offering more than 4,500 scholarships to low-income students to learn art, from crafts, music, dramatic arts to performing arts, literature and national weaving (panaria).
According to H.E. Ms Tepaeru Hermann from Cook Islands, the need to preserve traditional knowledge to pass it on the future generations is paramount in the Pacific. In this perspective, Cook Islands has been supporting initiatives aimed at teaching the youth traditional practices in terms of living in harmony with nature, including traditional planting cycles, traditional pacific seafaring arts, celestial navigation and the art of sailing, as well as marine conservative initiatives, thus forging sustainable ways of living.
How do we continue to maintain our existence, our presence or relevance in an environment where we may be forced to live in a different country? [...]
[…] It is not only our islands that are under threat, it is not only our culture that are under threat. It is how we are remembered."
Hon. Daryll S. Matthew, Minister of Education, Sports and the Creative Industries of Antigua and Barbuda
" We live in some of the most beautiful parts of the world, and yet we are the most vulnerable. In a few years, perhaps, many of all citizens and residents in SIDS may have to become climate refugees. This threat is becoming more relevant and more real. How do we continue to maintain our existence, our presence or relevance in an environment where we may be forced to live in a different country? [...] It has to be through education, and it has to be a very definitive position taken by the government and Ministry of education to ensure that our culture, the thing that make us uniquely us, is incorporated in the education system. […] It is not only our islands that are under threat, it is not only our culture that are under threat. It is how we are remembered. "
We live in some of the most beautiful parts of the world, and yet we are the most vulnerable. In a few years, perhaps, many of all citizens and residents in SIDS may have to become climate refugees. This threat is becoming more relevant and more real. How do we continue to maintain our existence, our presence or relevance in an environment where we may be forced to live in a different country? [...] It has to be through education, and it has to be a very definitive position taken by the government and Ministry of education to ensure that our culture, the thing that make us uniquely us, is incorporated in the education system. […] It is not only our islands that are under threat, it is not only our culture that are under threat. It is how we are remembered.
Making Youths voice count
The discussion highlighted not only the impact of climate change on the culture sector of SIDS, but also how it could contribute to mitigate and adapt to the efforts of climate change. The invited youth advocates called for enhanced involvement of local communities and Indigenous Peoples in climate strategies, recognizing their crucial contributions as custodians of culture and of the natural environment.
Other areas of investment included the potential of digital technologies to foster heritage safeguarding and to bridge the gap of the limited and small market in the SIDS through the creation of digital platforms to share and monetize cultural products and services. Decision-makers also reflected on further incorporating youth advocates’ voices in development approaches.
The side event also marked the launch of UNESCO’s report Mapping Cultural Policies in Small Islands Developing States, which presents an overview of priority areas for policy investment and related challenges and adaptation at national and regional levels for the future.
