Background
Overview
A key request from the outcome of the 2014 Third International Conference on SIDS - the SAMOA Pathway - was the establishment of the SIDS Partnership Framework, designed to monitor progress of existing, and stimulate the launch of new, genuine and durable partnerships for the sustainable development of SIDS.
Guided by a member States driven Steering Committee, the framework has since its launch ensured that partnerships for SIDS have remained high on the UN’s agenda, providing a multi-stakeholder platform for reviewing progress made by partnerships for SIDS, and for sharing of good practices and lessons learned among all stakeholders, on an annual basis.
The Steering Committee, for the years 2022 to 2023, is co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Fatumanava-o-Upolu III Dr Pa’olelei Luteru, Permanent Representative of the Independent State of Samoa to the United Nations, and H.E. Ms. Ana Paula Zacarias, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the United Nations. The Committee is open to all States Members of the United Nations or members of the specialized agencies, and is supporting the follow-up of existing, and promotes and advocates the launching of new, partnerships that advance the sustainable development in SIDS.
Background
The Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States was held from 1 to 4 September 2014 in Apia, Samoa under the overarching theme of "The sustainable development of small island developing States through genuine and durable partnerships". The Conference resulted in an intergovernmental agreed outcome document – the SAMOA Pathway - and the announcement of 300 multi-stakeholder partnerships devoted to the sustainable development of SIDS.
At the Conference, member States emphasized that international cooperation and partnerships of various kinds and across a wide variety of stakeholders are critical for the implementation of the sustainable development of SIDS. This notion was enshrined through a formal request by member States, through the SAMOA Pathway, for establishing a SIDS Partnership Framework - designed to monitor progress of existing, and stimulate the launch of new, genuine and durable partnerships for the sustainable development of SIDS.
The Framework, formally established in December 2015 by General Assembly resolution 70/202, consist of 1) a member States driven Steering Committee on SIDS Partnerships, 2) the organization of an annual action-oriented and results-focused Global Multi stakeholder SIDS Partnership Dialogue, 3) a standardized partnership reporting process of all stakeholders, and 3) the organization of regional and 4) national SIDS partnership dialogues with support from the United Nations system and the international community.
The SIDS Partnership Framework has ensured that SIDS issues have remained high on the UN’s agenda, and provided a broad multi-stakeholder platform for reviewing progress of SIDS partnerships, sharing of good practices and lessons learned among all relevant stakeholders, and for launching new initiatives devoted to SIDS.
Announcements
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee on partnerships for SIDS was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 (A/RES/70/202) to support the follow-up of existing and promote and advocate the launching of new SIDS partnerships. It is open to all States Members of the United Nations or members of the specialized agencies, and is supporting the follow-up of existing, and promotes and advocates the launching of new, partnerships that advance the sustainable development in SIDS. The Steering Committee is chaired by one Member State that is a SIDS and one Member State that is not a SIDS.
The Co-chairs of the Steering Committee on partnerships for SIDS, 2022-2023
H.E. Mr. Fatumanava-o-Upolu III Dr. Pa’olelei Luteru, Permanent Representative of Samoa to the United Nations
Ambassador Luteru has had an extensive career in diplomatic and academic positions. He served as Ambassador of Samoa to several European countries including Belgium, Czech Republic, France, and the UK. He also represented Samoa in international organizations such as FAO, UNESCO, the European Commission, and the European Council.
Earlier, Ambassador Luteru was Samoa’s Trade Commissioner to New Zealand (2010-2012) and worked in senior positions in the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP) Group in Brussels. He played pivotal roles in Pacific-EU relations, especially in project facilitation for Pacific ACP members. Additionally, he held academic posts at the University of the South Pacific, including Director of Planning and Development and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Islands and Oceans.
Ambassador Luteru chaired ACP Committees and was the principal negotiator for the Pacific-EU Protocol related to the post-Cotonou Agreement. Specifically, he led negotiations on "Means of Cooperation and Implementation" and the "Institutional Framework." Ambassador Luteru was involved in consultancy work on SIDS development in the Pacific and authored publications.
He has a PhD from Flinders University in Development Economics, a masters and post-graduate diploma from New England University, and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and Operations Research from Canterbury University.
H.E. Ms. Ana Paula Zacarias, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the United Nations
Ambassador Zacarias is a career diplomat with over 35 years of experience. Prior to her latest appointment, she served as her country’s Secretary of State for European Affairs, a post she has held since July 2017 until March 2022.
Ms. Zacarias has served in a range of Government positions, both in Portugal and abroad. From 2015 to 2017, she was Head of Delegation of the European Union delegation to Colombia and Ecuador, and from 2011 to 2015 she was Head of the bloc’s delegation to Brazil.
She served as Deputy Permanent Representative of Portugal to the European Union (2009-2011), first resident Ambassador of Portugal to Estonia (2005-2008) and Deputy Permanent Representative in Portugal’s delegation to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris (2000-2005).
In addition, she was Consul in Curitiba, Brazil (1993-1996) and the Political Officer at her country’s Embassy in the United States (1988-1993). Prior to that, she served as Vice-President of Instituto Camões and as Counsellor for International Relations at the Office of the President of the Republic (1986‑1988).
Ms. Zacarias holds a degree in cultural anthropology from the University of Lisbon.
