Principles

What makes the CDIS unique?

The methodology and implementation process have been defined, tested and implemented worldwide on the basis of the following principles:

• Pragmatism: The CDIS has been elaborated taking into account the specific characteristics, needs and circumstances of low and middle-income countries, in order to offer them a viable, effective and cost-efficient tool.
• Broad participation: The CDIS methodology has been established through a highly participatory 4-year applied research process involving international experts, national public administrations from key development fields (culture, economy, social affairs, gender, communication, etc.), national statistics and research institutes, and civil society organizations. CDIS implementation has also been guided by the principle of participation. National level implementation has included actors from the public sector, civil society and academia in the process of data collection and analysis in order to foster inter-institutional and inter-sectoral dialogue, as well as build consensus around decision-making on culture and development.
• Flexibility and adaptability: The CDIS values domestic sources and addresses the limitations of national cultural statistics by utilizing secondary sources, offering a flexible implementation scheme and the possibility to construct alternative and additional indicators.
• Multidimensionality: The CDIS is modeled as an indicator suite or matrix to facilitate cross-analyses and to provide a holistic and inclusive illustration of the relationship between culture and development.
• Capacity-building and policy impact: The CDIS does not only produce relevant data and knowledge, but goes further by building national capacities for data collection and for the construction and interpretation of cultural statistics for policy purposes.      

Learn more about CDIS policy impact.