Background
The Global Multi-Stakeholder Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Partnership Dialogue (the “Global Dialogue”) was held on Wednesday 10 July 2024 from 10am in Trusteeship Council Chamber in UNHQ, New York in the margins of the 2024 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). The Global Dialogue is a UN General Assembly (UNGA) mandated event, organized under the auspices of the UNGA’s SIDS Partnership Framework. The Global Dialogue discussed how to scale up partnerships for SIDS to implement the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) – a Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity. The third UN SIDS Partnerships Awards ceremony was held during the Global Dialogue.
This Global Dialogue was co-organized by the Co-Chairs of the Steering Committee on partnerships for SIDS - Permanent Representatives of Ireland and Palau, UNDESA and UN-OHRLLS.
The Global Dialogue will be in English, no interpretation services available.
Webcast recording:
Background
The SIDS Partnership Framework is a concrete outcome of the third International Conference on SIDS in 2014, which was formally established as a mechanism to promote, monitor, and stimulate the formation of new partnerships for SIDS. Over time, it has evolved into a comprehensive multi-stakeholder platform, providing a space for reviewing the progress of SIDS partnerships and facilitating the exchange of best practices and lessons learned among stakeholders.
The outcome document of the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) - The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) has a section dedicated to partnerships and commits to expand and diversify partnerships with local authorities, civil society and non-governmental organizations, foundation, the private sector, academia and international financial institutions; support SIDS-SIDS cooperation; and leverage North-South, triangular and South-South cooperation.
The ABAS also requests the UN Secretary-General, in consultation with States and the Steering Committee on Partnerships for SIDS, to present recommendations for the strengthening the SIDS Partnership Framework and the SIDS Global Business Network and its Forum.
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), with financial support from the Government of Portugal, has prepared a series of preliminary strategies for bolstering the SIDS Partnership Framework, aiming to inform ongoing discussions. The strategies encompass six critical areas: awareness and advocacy; inclusivity and strong engagement of all stakeholders; policies and a thriving enabling environment supportive of collaboration; capacity building and knowledge sharing; mechanisms to catalyze collaborations; and an effective UN and support structures to bolster efforts. These preliminary strategies were presented at the Steering Committee meetings this year and at a side event held at the SIDS4.
The SIDS4 Civil Society Forum was held on 29 May 2024 as a special event in connection with the SIDS4. It was an opportunity to bring together diverse voices and perspectives to deliberate on strategies for achieving resilient prosperity in SIDS over the next 10 years. The Forum highlighted their contributions and commitments towards the implementation of the ABAS. It also launched a SIDS Civil Society Action Plan and Roadmap, developed by SIDS civil society, which provides a framework of concrete recommendations for action by civil society in SIDS. The Action Plan and Roadmap also outlines recommended action by SIDS governments, the UN system and development partners to better enable and support civil society in achieving this ambition.
The Office of the High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS held the fourth SIDS Global Business Network (SIDS-GBN) Forum from 25-26 May as a special event of the SIDS4 Conference, bringing the voice of the private sector into the Conference. The Forum heard concrete recommendations from the business and investment community on how the private sector can support the ABAS including through public-private partnerships. These recommendations will guide the work of the SIDS-GBN for the next decade, recognizing the interlinkages with the SIDS Partnership Framework.
This Global Dialogue will provide a platform for key actors from various sectors to discuss how to scale up partnerships for SIDS and the role that SIDS Partnership Framework could play in facilitating the multi-stakeholder partnerships in the implementation of the ABAS.
The third UN SIDS Partnerships Awards ceremony, scheduled during the Global Dialogue, will recognize and reward the efforts of the best and most noteworthy, genuine and durable partnerships in the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway. The SIDS Partnerships Awards are given in each of the three dimensions of sustainable development: 1) economic, 2) social and 3) environment. The Co-chairs of the Steering Committee on partnerships or SIDS announced the 2024 winning partnerships on the occasion of the SIDS4.
The Global Dialogue will be in English, no interpretation services available.
Provisional Programme
10:00am-10:20am
Opening remarks
- H.E. Ms. Ilana Victorya Seid, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Palau to the United Nations
- H.E. Mr. Fergal Mythen, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations
- Mr. Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General, UNDESA
- Ms. Rabab Fatima, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States
10:20am-12:20pm
Interactive dialogue
Scaling up partnerships for the implementation of ABAS
Facilitated by the Co-chairs of the Steering Committee on partnerships for SIDS
Speakers:
Governments from SIDS
- H.E. Mr. Walton Alfonso Webson, Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations
- H.E. Ms. Tania Serafim Yvonne Romualdo, Permanent Representative of Cabo Verde to the United Nations
- Ms. Matilda Bartley, Deputy Permanent Representative of Samoa to the United Nations
Development partners/financial institutions
- H.E. Mr. Rui Vinhas, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the United Nations
- Mr. Matias Bendersky, Manager, Office of Outreach and Partnerships, Inter-American Development Bank
UN entities
- Ms. Helena Fraser, Director, Policy and Programming Branch, United Nations Development Coordination Office
- Mr. George Gray Molina, Head of Inclusive Growth and Chief Economist, UNDP
Stakeholders
- Ms. Nicole Leotaud, Executive Director, Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI)
- Mr. Mark Pereira, CEO, Zed Labs
Interactive discussion
Facilitated by the Co-chairs
Statements/interventions
Guiding questions:
- How do we boost collaboration across all partners, donors, and stakeholders, including local authorities, civil society and non-governmental organizations, foundations, the private sector, academia and international financial institutions for the implementation of the ABAS?
- How do we mobilize adequate financial and human resources to support SIDS in the implementation of the ABAS?
12:20pm-12:55pm
UN SIDS Partnerships Awards ceremony
Facilitated by the Co-chairs of the Steering Committee on partnerships for SIDS
Economic Category
- “UAE Pacific Partnership Fund and UAE Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund”, represented by His Excellency Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, the Director General, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD)
Environmental Category
- “Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS)”, represented by Mr. Amit Prothi, Director General, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
Social Category
- “Transcultura: Integrating Cuba, the Caribbean and the European Union through Culture and Creativity”, represented by Ms. Alessandra Borchi, Senior Programme Coordinator, UNESCO
12:55pm-1:00pm
Closing
- H.E. Ms. Ilana Victorya Seid, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Palau to the United Nations
- H.E. Mr. Fergal Mythen, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations
