ACTIONS
- Protect and safeguard cultural and natural heritage
- Learning and educational opportunities
- Cultural participation/social inclusion
- Sustainable tourism
- Support research
- Employment (recruiting, training, safety)
- Energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions
- Waste management and reduction
- Transport (forms of, energy use)
- Commercial activities including copyright and IP
- Governance and management
- Security, disaster preparedness, risk reduction
- External partnerships and collaborations
SDGs
- Publication/report
- Toolkit/framework/roadmap
- Case studies
Libraries, Literacy and Poverty Reduction: A Key to African Development
Intended Audience
Librarians and decision makers related to libraries.
- Mchombu, K. and N. Cadbury, Bookaid International and Commonwealth Foundation.
2007
“The role that libraries in Africa could play in reducing poverty has not been sufficiently recognised and hence the necessary policy developments and investment in the library network have not yet been made. Policy makers and donors, recognising the link between poverty reduction and literacy, have given centre stage to textbooks in policies to increase literacy and student achievement levels. Yet textbooks are the beginning of the solution, not the complete answer. Libraries sustain literacy and do so on a reuse basis providing a cost effective means of support for a whole community of readers who seek information for tackling their own problems. This paper, written by a respected and experienced African educator and librarian, points the way ahead for Africa with affordable and achievable library strategies to enable the poorest communities to participate in their own development.”
The resource highlights the link between literacy and access to information with a range of challenges, for example survival information (related to health, housing, income, legal protection, economic opportunity, political rights, etc.) and citizen action information (for effective participation as individuals or members of a group in the social, political, legal and economic process). (p.6)
Avaiable in
- English
SDGs LINKAGES
The resource aims to support basic educational needs, supporting SDGs 4.4 (training), SDG 4.5 (education for groups with particular needs), literacy and numeracy (SDG 4.6) and education for sustainable development (SDGs 4.7 and 12.8). Effective, inclusive learning environments, support SDGs 4.A, 5.1, 5.C, 9.1, 9.A and 10.2, 11.7, 11.A, 11.B and 16.B. Providing access to information, including to support fundamental rights and freedoms, supports SDG 16.10. Supporting ICT in libraries supports SDGs 5.B, 9.1 and 9.C. Implementing this framework helps support SDG targets around addressing poverty (notably SDGs 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.B, 10.1) and empowering people to take part in decision making (SDG 11.3 and 16.7). Implementing the resource aims to empower people to be resilient to disasters (SDGs 1.5, 11.5, 13.3), and participate in local water management (SDG 6.B). Supporting education around farming practices that support food security supports SDGs 2.3 and 2.4. Basic education and literacy has widespread benefits addressing other SDGs, promoting good health and wellbeing (e.g SDG 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.D). Effective institutions supports SDG 16.6. Policies and partnerships for sustainable development supports SDG 17.14, 17.16 and 17.17.
Click on the SDG Target to discover Our Collections Matter indicators
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Number of educational programmes that explore poverty as a multidimensional and complex issue, and that empower people to act to address extreme poverty.
- Number of educational programmes that are targeted towards people living in extreme poverty.
- Proactive steps taken to ensure that all people, including those living in extreme poverty, can access services.
- Promotion of poverty-reducing programmes, locally and worldwide, focussed on those in extreme poverty.
- Proactive support for economically disadvantaged and marginalized people in supply chains.
- Pro-poor decisions incorporated into all forms of operations, including financial decisions.
- Transparency in reporting on the supply chain, incorporating actions to address extreme poverty locally and worldwide.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Number of programmes drawing on collections (educational, awareness-raising, research, partnerships) that explore poverty as a multidimensional and complex issue, and that empower people to act to address poverty in all its forms.
- Number of educational programmes that are targeted towards people living in poverty.
- Proactive steps taken to ensure that all people, including those living in poverty, can access services.
- Collections development to support such programmes.
- Promotion of poverty-reducing programmes, locally and worldwide.
- Proactive support for economically disadvantaged and marginalized people in supply chains.
- Pro-poor decisions incorporated into all forms of operations, including financial decisions.
- Transparency in reporting on the supply chain, incorporating actions to address poverty locally and worldwide.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Numbers and proportions of people from particular groups using collections in comparison with demographics in broader society.
- Numbers of people accessing collections.
- Number of targeted programmes that aim to enhance access to collections by disadvantaged groups.
- Sustainable tourism that enhances local communities’ access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property (including cultural and natural heritage), as well as to technology and markets.
- Involvement of people from disadvantaged groups in decision-making activities and processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Number of collecting programmes that aim to build resilience to climate-related events and other shocks and disasters, for example by forming collections that can contribute to related educational and research programmes.
- Number of educational programmes drawing on collections that incorporate resilience perspectives.
- Number of targeted programmes drawing on collections that are aimed at vulnerable groups, to build their resilience to climate-related and other shocks and disasters.
- Number of research programmes drawing on collections that are aimed at building resilience to climate-related and other shocks and disasters.
- Strengthen the resilience of employees, communities and suppliers by paying at a minimum the living wage and offering insurance to employees and their families, such as accident insurance; and by paying fair prices to all suppliers.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Number of policies and policy frameworks that support targeted, accelerated investment to eradicate poverty.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Collections development that can support programmes related to small-scale food producers, for example by ensuring that traditional knowledge is preserved and maintained.
- Number of educational, awareness-raising, research and partnership programmes based on collections that support small-scale food producers, both in terms of supporting the producers themselves, and that support others to support them.
- Policies and plans in place to ensure that tourism activities support (and do not infringe upon) people’s rights of access to land for agricultural purposes.
- Provide markets for small-scale food producers’ products.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Collections development related to sustainable food production where appropriate.
- Number of educational and awareness-raising programmes incorporating sustainable food production perspectives, and that aim to reduce the impact of disasters on communities.
- Number of targeted programmes that support those most exposed and vulnerable to disasters, whether locally or farther afield.
- Number of research activities drawing on collections that relate to resilient agricultural practices, helping mitigate and adapt to climate change, flooding and other disasters.
- Policies and plans in place to eliminate unsustainable food production from supply chains and in any food provision in collections-based institutions.
- Number of partnership activities drawing on collections that contribute to Disaster Risk Reduction plans, supporting resilient agricultural practices, and helping mitigate and adapt to climate change, flooding and other disasters.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Collection development that can contribute to programmes addressing AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and/or neglected tropical diseases, combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.
- Number of educational programmes addressing these subjects.
- Number of targeted educational and participatory programmes for marginalized and at-risk groups relating to communicable diseases.
- Number of research activities that help understand the causes and manage impacts of tuberculosis, malaria and other communicable diseases.
- Partnerships in place to help ensure effective governance of communicable diseases, public health information and education relating to communicable diseases.
- Steady flow of reliable information relating to communicable diseases.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Plans, policies and procedures in place for the safe use of collections, notably in relation to chemical, physical, biological and other forms of hazard.
- Proportion of users of collections facilities reporting positive well-being during and as a result of activities relating to collections.
- Number and proportion of programmes relating to collections that incorporate wellbeing considerations and perspectives.
- Number of targeted programmes drawing on collections that address issues relating to non-communicable diseases, supporting prevention and treatment.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Number and proportion of educational programmes relating to collections that address narcotic drug use and harmful alcohol use.
- Number of targeted programmes drawing on collections that address issues relating to narcotic drug use and harmful alcohol use, supporting prevention and treatment.
- Effective relationships and partnerships in place with agencies involved in supporting prevention and treatment of substance abuse.
- Steady flow of reliable information relating to prevention and treatment of substance abuse.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Number of collecting initiatives that aim to build capacity for risk reduction to national and global health risks, for example by storing and preserving collections that may be of use in post-disaster scenarios, or that can be used in early warning and risk communication activities.
- Number of educational programmes incorporating perspectives on early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.
- Number of awareness raising programmes that target marginalized and vulnerable groups most exposed to health risks.
- Plans in place for early warning, risk reduction and management to national and global health risks.
- Relationships and partnerships in place for risk reduction and management in light of national and global health risks.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Number of young people and adults in skills-development activities and programmes drawing on collections, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.
- Increase in number of young people and adults in such programmes.
- Number and proportion of staff who have received training in the last year, to better support their contribution to the SDGs.
- Programs and processes in place to ensure the availability of a skilled workforce.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Number of educational and/or training programmes drawing on collections directed to eliminate gender disparities in education.
- Number of educational and/or training programmes drawing on collections directed to meet the particular needs of persons with disabilities.
- Number of educational and/or training programmes drawing on collections directed to meet the particular needs of Indigenous peoples’ groups.
- Number of educational and/or training programmes drawing on collections directed to meet the particular needs of children in vulnerable situations.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Number of programmes drawing on collections to support literacy and numeracy among youth.
- Number of programmes drawing on collections to support literacy and numeracy among adults.
- Number of programmes drawing on collections to support literacy and numeracy among marginalized groups.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Numbers of people in each type of programme drawing on collections from different demographic groups.
- Increases in numbers of people in each type of programme from different demographic groups.
- Proportion of people involved in such programmes in relation to overall audience size.
- Evidence that learners have acquired knowledge and skills to promote sustainable development.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Number and proportion of education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive.
- Proportion of education facilities that provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.
- Number and type of initiatives to improve effectiveness of learning environments.
- Support given to other education facilities to make them more inclusive and effective.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Collections development to ensure that collections effectively meet the needs of all, irrespective of sex or gender.
- Number and proportion of educational and participatory programmes that promote participation irrespective of sex or gender.
- Numbers and proportions of girls, women and gender-diverse people making use of collections in relation to the demographic of the local population.
- Numbers and proportions of girls, women and gender-diverse people involved in focused programmes aimed at promoting social, economic and political inclusion.
- Numbers and proportions of girls, women and gender-diverse people from different demographic groups involved in decision-making processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.
- Number and types of partnerships that build relationships with people of different sex and gender.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Number of programmes that support ICT skills, notably for girls and women.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Number and proportion of policies relating to collections and collections-based institutions that incorporate gender perspectives to promote gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Collections development to support sustainable water management and sanitation for all.
- Number of programmes for local communities directed towards water quality improvement and sanitation management.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Development of research-useful collections to support reliable, sustainable and resilient use by researchers and others.
- Number and proportion of collections facilities and stores that support economic development and human well-being.
- Number and proportion of collections facilities and stores that provide affordable and equitable access for all.
- Investment in collections facilities.
- Inclusion of collections information in regional and transborder initiatives, notably via digital access for discoverability.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Plans in place to support development of sustainable and resilient infrastructure in developing countries through financial, technological and technical support, for example through: i. joint projects, ii. funding bids, iii. sharing equipment, collections and collections information as appropriate, iv. in order to support development of high-quality infrastructures for sustainable development, research and innovation.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Number of collections facilities that provide access to ICT.
- Number of collections facilities that use digital programmes to connect people with heritage and sustainable development agendas.
- Number of programmes that support access to the Internet in least developed countries.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Policies in place for fair pay in line with national recommendations.
- Policies in place to ensure equal pay for equal value.
- Policies in place, and reporting mechanisms in place, to ensure transparent information on inequality within organisations, and to address inequality in income.
- Policies in place to actively support markets and market access for low-income groups and populations, at any point in the value chain.
- Targeted programmes to support those on lowest incomes, and zero income.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Collections development to ensure that collections effectively meet the needs of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
- Number and proportion of educational and participatory programmes that promote participation irrespective of social or other status.
- Numbers and proportions of people making use of collections in relation to the demographic of the local population.
- Numbers and proportions of people involved in focused programmes aimed at promoting social, economic and political inclusion.
- Numbers and proportions of people from different demographic groups involved in decision-making processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.
- Number and types of partnerships that build relationships with marginalized groups, individuals and communities.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Proportion of cities with a direct participation structure of civil society in urban planning and management that operate regularly and democratically.
- Plans in place for collections-based institutions to facilitate the incorporation of communities’ views into local planning and town management processes in a regular way.
- Plans in place for collections-based institutions to facilitate the incorporation of minorities’ views into local planning and town management processes in a regular way.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Collections-based research that supports the understanding and management of disasters of all kinds.
- Plans in place for public education and awareness drawing on collections and collections-based institutions to reduce exposure and vulnerability to disasters of all kinds.
- Plans in place to ensure collections-based institutions steadily work to reduce their contributions to disaster risk, for example by reducing pollution and waste of all kinds.
- Plans in place to ensure collections-based institutions, and people related to them (including workers) are protected from economic losses as a result of disasters.
- Plans in place to provide special support/protection to poor and vulnerable people and groups in and following disasters.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Numbers of people accessing collecting institutions from different demographic groups, notably women, children, older people and persons with disabilities.
- Increases in numbers of people accessing collecting institutions from different demographic groups.
- Measures taken to remove barriers to access green and public spaces.
- Extent of green space provided by collections institutions.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Considerations of regional economic, social and environmental trends and risks incorporated into collecting institutions’ planning.
- Participation in local and regional planning, to foster access to services, cultural participation, prevent exclusion, and support equitable urbanisation.
- Ensure data collection and metrics can be useful for planning in conjunction with other sectors and between urban and rural areas.
- Number of outreach and other activities that promote awareness and accessibility of collecting institutions in urban and rural areas, and that promote awareness of regional development plans and risks, with opportunities for people and communities to input into such plans.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030a.
- Disaster Risk Reduction strategies and plans in place, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, to ensure collecting institutions and collections are factored into planning, and contribute effectively to Disaster Risk Reduction.
- Collections-based institutions included in local plans for social inclusion, resource use, and Disaster Risk Reduction.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development (including climate change education) are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment.
- Extent to which global citizenship education and education for sustainable development (including climate change education) are mainstreamed in formal, informal and non-formal education programmes and activities drawing on and related to collections.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Plans in place to enhance positive contributions to addressing climate change through use of collections. Plans in place to ensure collections, collections institutions and broader society can adapt effectively to climate change.
- Plans in place for effective education and awareness raising on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
- Plans in place to reduce negative contributions of collections-related functions, e.g. measuring greenhouse emissions with plans and targets in place to reduce them.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Proportion of the population [audience/users/non-users] satisfied with their last experience of public services.
- Access to information, and accountability policies and mechanisms, in place.
- Effective institutional arrangements, both for own working and for working in partnership with other sectors, in place.
- Plans and arrangements in place for extraordinary circumstances such as natural and human-caused disasters.
- Effective arrangements in place to fulfil legal and social obligations and responsibilities.
- Effective arrangements in place for transparent communication and reporting of institutional performance.
- Effective arrangements in place for transparent decision-making and accountability.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Proportions of positions (by sex, age, persons with disabilities and population groups) in public institutions (national and local legislatures, public service, and judiciary) compared to national distributions.
- Proportion of population [audience/users/non-users] who believe decision-making is inclusive and responsive, by sex, age, disability and population group.
- Decision-making addresses societal, environmental and economic challenges related to the community, considering short-term and long-term risks and opportunities.
- Decision-making draws on diverse backgrounds, viewpoints and interests, reflecting a broad base of stakeholders, and working to promote inclusion and provide effective services for all of society.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Adopt and implement constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information.
- Plans in place, and plans implemented to enhance public access to information relating to collections.
- Plans in place, and plans implemented to support fundamental freedoms, in line with human rights, national and international agreements and legislation.
- Plans and procedures in place for public access to information relating to the operation and management of collections-based institutions.
- Complaint mechanism in place for public to use where public access to information and fundamental freedoms not supported or fulfilled.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Proportion of population [audience/users/non-users] reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law.
- Number and proportion of policies that incorporate sustainable development considerations, in the full sense of recognizing all three of social, economic and environmental considerations.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Proportion of policies that incorporate sustainable development considerations, linking to SDGs and targets.
- Incorporation of policy considerations from outside the collections sector into policies of collections-based institutions, to facilitate partnerships and effectiveness.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Number and/or increase in number, and diversity of global and international multi-stakeholder partnerships that share collection-related knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources to address the SDGs, or that otherwise involve collections-based organisations and institutions.
- Number and/or increase in number, and diversity of global and international multi-stakeholder partnerships involving developing countries that share collection-related knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources to address the SDGs.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships.
- Number and/or increase in number, and diversity of local, national and regional multi-stakeholder (public, public-private and civil society) partnerships that address the SDGs drawing on collections, or that otherwise involve collections-based organisations and institutions.