The Power of Working as One: Connecting the Small Island Developing States

Excerpt and Photo from undp.org

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are facing multifaceted challenges caused by climate and debt-related crises while still rebuilding from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The SIDS4 Conference in Antigua and Barbuda in late May 2024 has been another opportunity for a sharing, listening, and learning process among SIDS to amplify their voices. This was the fourth such conference in the last 4 decades.

From Samoa to Antigua & Barbuda …

The Samoa Pathway emphasized climatic threats to SIDS through sea-level rise and other adverse impacts of climate change, which continue to pose a significant risk to Small Island States. Additionally, SIDS have been grappling with external debt shocks, which have surged by 70 percentage points since 2009. Consequently, the average rate of external debt to gross domestic product has increased by 11 percentage points to 61.7 percent in 2019 (UN (United Nations) Resolution A/RES/77/245). This increased fiscal pressure requires that SIDS reengineer their future to foster their resilient prosperity. In this context, raising domestic revenue is becoming increasingly pertinent to bolster SIDS’ capacity for sustainable development.