The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) has released the second set of data for Indicator 11.4.1 related to culture for the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Agenda 2030. The updated country-level data is now available in the culture section of the UIS Bulk Data Download Service and contains information on around 50 countries. Data published on UIS Data Portal, however, are still from the June 2021 Data Release but this will be updated with the most recent data for SDG 11.4.1 in the coming weeks.

The fundamental importance of science, technology and innovation (STI) has never before been so apparent as during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Crucially also however, is the need to further harness the advances in STI to support the global recover from the pandemic, to tackle the tremendous socio-economic crisis triggered by it, and to fast-track progress towards sustainable development.

New education data refresh

In response to the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the education systems, our efforts to produce statistics supporting policy development have intensified in the last year.

Education Data Release for SDG 4

The UIS has launched its 2022 Survey of Formal Education for the reference year ending in 2021 to ensure the timely collection of data for the monitoring of SDG4. The questionnaires and the related materials are available on the UIS website at: http://uis.unesco.org/uis-questionnaires.

The 2021 edition of the SDG 4 Data Digest, National SDG 4 Benchmarks: Fulfilling Our Neglected Commitment by the UIS and the Global Education Monitoring Report (GEMR) presents the idea behind benchmark setting in education and the steps taken since 2017 to fulfil this commitment, including the selection of SDG 4 benchmark indicators.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions to education. Countries have been forced to find ways to adapt to these educational disruptions (such as school closures), by providing remote learning for students, adapting curriculum and assessments, and supporting the health and wellbeing of students, teachers and families.

Science, technology and innovation (STI) is increasingly viewed as fundamental to achieving economic and sustainable growth. Crucially, advances in STI could be harnessed to help overcome some of the greatest challenges to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As part of the SDG Agenda 2030, countries have pledged to “build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”.

With just a decade remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for Education (SDG 4), relevant, timely, and quality data is key to monitoring progress and informing policy responses. This was further highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted progress on school participation and learning, widened gaps between and within countries and underscored the urgency to re-examine efforts to achieve SDG targets.

SDG 11.4.1 is the only direct culture indicator of the SDGs, which calls on countries to “strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard cultural and natural heritage.” Key insights from the 2020 data collection cycle were encapsulated in the report Tracking investment to safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.