Background
Background
The 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) was held in Antigua and Barbuda from 27 - 30 May 2024, under the theme “Charting the course toward resilient prosperity”. It aimed at assessing development obstacles and present opportunities to steer the development trajectory of Small Island Developing States towards resilient prosperity and the ability of SIDS to achieve sustainable development, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals. The SIDS4 Conference agreed on a new programme of action for SIDS with a focus on practical and impactful solutions and that can forge new partnerships and cooperation at all levels.
In the 2014 Small Island Developing States Accelerated Modalities of Action (Samoa Pathway), Member States reaffirmed the importance of engaging a broad range of stakeholders at the global, regional, subregional, national and local levels around the sustainable development of SIDS. Civil society brings important contributions, including by holding governments and others accountable for their actions, representing the needs of communities and of vulnerable and marginalized stakeholders, protecting ecosystems, and by providing services and directly implementing projects to support sustainable development and resilience in SIDS countries. The SIDS4 Conference aimed to generate spaces to deepen civil society as partners in delivering the next 10 years of the SIDS sustainable development agenda. Stronger civil society involvement will be strategic to drive public policy innovation, promote effective service delivery that leaves no one behind, as well as to ensure transparency, accountability, and citizen participation.
The SIDS Civil Society Action Plan and Roadmap - Please, check dedicated tab for details.
The Forum launched a SIDS Civil Society Action Plan and Roadmap, which was developed by SIDS civil society for SIDS civil society to provide a framework of concrete recommendations for action by civil society in SIDS, as well as recommended action by SIDS governments, the UN system and development partners to better enable and support civil society to deliver on this ambition.
The SIDS4 Civil Society Forum
The SIDS4 Civil Society Forum was held on 29 May 2024, from 18:30 – 20:00, as a special event in connection with the SIDS4 Conference. 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, and to rally and mobilize civil society, including non-profit organizations, indigenous peoples, women’s and youth organizations, persons with disabilities, academia and other stakeholder groups to highlight their contributions to the sustainable development of SIDS and to share reflections, priorities and announce commitments towards the implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS).
This forum fostered a collaborative and inclusive approach, recognizing the unique contributions of civil society in driving the sustainable development agenda in SIDS. The forum also fostered enhanced collaboration between civil society and SIDS governments, the UN system, and other development partners.
Objectives of the SIDS4 CSO Forum
● To bring together the main messages from civil society of all SIDS regions to the SIDS4 Conference including commitments and recommendations for implementation, follow up and review of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS).
For civil society representatives attending the SIDS4 Conference to share innovative approaches and to showcase best practices to achieve resilient prosperity in SIDS based on their experiences in supporting the implementation of national development plans, as well as the SAMOA Pathway and the 2030 Agenda, with a special focus on the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of the sustainable development of SIDS. Those will include, among others:
Economic Resilience: Sustainable economic models, inclusive growth, and innovative financing mechanisms to enhance economic resilience in SIDS.
Social Well-being: Social development issues, including healthcare, education, accessibility, inclusion, and community resilience, ensuring the well-being of SIDS populations.
Environmental Sustainability: Sustainable resource management, climate change adaptation, reduction of biodiversity loss, and ocean preservation to enhance SIDS environmental resilience.
To discuss key challenges, opportunities and actionable strategies for civil society and stakeholders to actively engage in the implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) – a Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity.
To facilitate dialogue and exchange, including with senior officials from Member States and high-level officials of the United Nations, development partners, civil society organizations and networks and other stakeholders’, on the role of civil society in advancing the SIDS sustainable development agenda, particularly to ensure the voices of the most vulnerable groups be heard, including youth, women, persons with disabilities and indigenous peoples, among others.
Format and Participation
The 1,5-hour event was held fully in-person at the SIDS4 Conference premises.
The event was also webcast: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k13/k13xawwf41
Participants included representatives from civil society organizations, SIDS governments, UN entities, inter-governmental organizations, development partners, and other stakeholders registered to attend the SIDS4 Conference.
Organization
The event was organized by the following CSO Networks and organizations: Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI), Pacific Island Association of NGOs (PIANGO), the NGO Major Group, the SIDS4 CSO Coalition in Antigua and Barbuda, co-led by the Integrated Health Outreach (IHO) and the Marine Ecosystems Partnership Trust (MEPA Trust).
The event was facilitated by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), in consultation with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda (host country) and the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS).
Outcomes
Civil society networks and constituencies at the Forum presented the SIDS Civil Society Action Plan and Roadmap indicating proposals and recommendations to support implementation and follow up of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS).
SIDS governments, UN entities, inter-governmental organizations, development partners were also encouraged to announce initiatives to support civil society in delivering the 10-year SIDS sustainable development agenda.
Key messages from the CSO Forum and of the SIDS Civil Society Action Plan and Roadmap were reported back to the SIDS4 Conference at the Moment of Declarations (30 May 2024). Please, read it here.
Opening Remarks
Actions and commitments by civil society towards an inclusive implementation of the ABAS
Promoting partnerships with civil society and support for the inclusive implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS
Creative expressions on SIDS sustainable development issues
Information in this tab has been provided by civil society organizations and networks facilitating the self-mobilization CSO process.
SIDS Civil Society Action Plan and Roadmap
Please, check here for the SIDS Civil Society Action Plan and Roadmap (2024-2034).
To inspire and guide this engagement of civil society as partners in implementation of the sustainable development agenda, civil society from across the three SIDS regions – Atlantic, Indian Ocean and South China Seas (AIS), Caribbean and Pacific – have collaborated to develop the SIDS Civil Society Action Plan and Roadmap (2024-2034).
This is aligned with and complementary to the ABAS and provides a strategic framework to support civil society’s role in delivering the new 10-year SIDS agenda.
The Action Plan and Roadmap: identifies key sustainable development priorities which civil society will help to deliver; outlines strategic roles which civil society can and should play in delivering the new 10-year SIDS agenda; and recommends actionable priorities to strengthen enabling institutional frameworks, practices and partnerships to better support civil society in SIDS to play meaningful and effective roles in delivering sustainable development.
Read more here.
For more information please contact:
Caribbean region
Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI): sids4@canari.org
Integrated Health Outreach (IHO) - SIDS4 CSO Coalition: info@ihoab.com
Atlantic, Indian Ocean and South China Seas (AIS) region:
SIDS Youth AIMS Hub (SYAH): syah@syah.org , syah.cv@gmail.com
Pacific region
Pacific Island Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO): siale@piango.org
The SIDS4 Civil Society Forum Special Event was webcast live.
Watch the livestream below: