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Showing 9 of 123 news items in Connectivity & Digitization

Connectivity & DigitizationMay 30, 2024

Bangabandhu scholarship to be introduced for 10 cadets from SIDS, African LDCs

Photo: UNB. Retrieved from tbsnews.net **Bangladesh has offered cadet training scholarship after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the country’s five government marine academies for foreigners through International Maritime Organization (IMO).** The scholarship has been offered for 10 cadets from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and African Least Developed Countries (LDCs). This proposal was made when IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasc paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the latter’s official residence Gonobhaban on Thursday (30 May). In response, the UN marine agency IMO gladly accepted this offer, said PM’s Speechwriter Md Nazrul Islam while briefing reporters after the meeting.

Connectivity & DigitizationMay 30, 2024

Commonwealth partners with UNESCAP to shine spotlight on digital economy in Asia and the Pacific at SIDS4

Excerpt and Photo from thecommonwealth.org **Today, on the sidelines of the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4), delegates joined the side event, “Harnessing the Digital Economy in Asia and the Pacific.”** Organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and The Pacific Community (SPC), the event focused on accelerating digital transformation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The conference takes place at a crucial juncture, as countries in the Asia-Pacific region and across the globe, strive to recover from the pandemic while grappling with climate change and geopolitical tensions. These challenges have hindered progress toward the SDGs, with no country on track to achieve all 17 goals by 2030. Against this backdrop, the digital economy emerges as a critical tool for sustainable development. The side event brought together policymakers, development partners, and experts to discuss how digital technologies can drive economic growth and resilience in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Connectivity & DigitizationMay 30, 2024

Global Children and Youth Action Summit and SIDS4 Conference

Excerpt and Photo from thecommonwealth.org **The SIDS Global Children and Youth Action Summit (GCYAS) will be held from 24 – 26 May 2024, ahead of the Fourth UN SIDS Conference (SIDS4), which is set to take place in Antigua and Barbuda from 27 – 30 May 2024. The Commonwealth Secretariat is partnering with UNICEF, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and Ashley Lashley Foundation to support this Summit.** This Summit will bring together over 100 participants including, children and youth delegates aged 14-16 years old from SIDS countries. The GCYAS will be give SIDS Children and Youth the platform to share their perspectives on an intersection of social and environmental issues and their impacts, as well as to present new ideas, solutions and recommendations for the course of action. The Summit will have many activities including practical and engaging master classes addressing several themes highlighted in the SIDS 4 Outcome document, discussions, project-formulation, and fundraising. The capacity-building elements embedded into the event will be defined in collaboration with partners such as the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and several development agencies with the aim of identifying tangible actions that SIDS children and youth can take to champion the causes that are important to them.

Connectivity & DigitizationMay 29, 2024

Antigua and Barbuda Showcases Local Talent and Entrepreneurship at SIDS4 Conference Cultural Village

Excerpt and Photo from antiguaobserver.com The Art and Culture Village at the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) in Antigua and Barbuda has become a vibrant hub of creativity, innovation, and cultural preservation. The event, which features a diverse array of local businesses across five distinct districts – Culinary, Fashion, Craft, Art, and Entertainment – highlights the crucial role of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and women-owned enterprises in shaping the future of SIDS. Visitors to the Art and Culture Village will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a world of flavors at the Culinary District, where traditional local breakfast will be served from 7:30 to 9:30 each day, followed by a wide array of dishes exploring the diverse cuisines of contributing territories.

Connectivity & DigitizationMay 28, 2024

Caribbean civil society calls for transformative development at SIDS4

Photo: EAG. Retrieved from canari.org Over 40 civil society representatives from 14 Caribbean states and overseas territories called for transformative and inclusive pathways to sustainable development at a Civil Society Summit on May 23-24, 2024, ahead of the Fourth International Conference for Small Island Development States (SIDS4) in Antigua and Barbuda. The Summit was co-hosted by the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) and the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) to mobilise and prepare Caribbean civil society to effectively engage in dialogue on the new 10-year sustainable development agenda and its implementation at SIDS4.

Connectivity & DigitizationMay 27, 2024

Young People Take Centre Stage: SIDS Global Children and Youth Action Summit

Photo: UNICEF/ANelson. Retrieved from unicef.org The future of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is in capable hands. On Friday over 80 passionate young delegates from across the Caribbean, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean and South China Sea (AIS) kicked off the groundbreaking SIDS Global Children and Youth Action Summit in Antigua and Barbuda. United under the theme “Small Islands: Big Dreams,” these young leaders are ready to shape a brighter future for their communities. This inaugural event, championed by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, the Ashley Lashley Foundation and UNICEF, empowers young people to become effective changemakers. Over the next two days, participants will delve into critical themes like environmental sustainability, building safe and prosperous societies, and achieving resilient recovery. Interactive workshops, discussions, and project development will equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to tackle pressing challenges.

Connectivity & DigitizationMay 25, 2024

Antigua and Barbuda: Mobilizing Communities for Environmental Protection

Excerpt and Photo from antiguanewsroom.com Fourteen-year-old Daniel Athill Jona from Antigua and Barbuda is beaming with joy – he was declared second-place winner in his age group in the 2023 global competition for sustainable car design. His entry was chosen among 780,000 entries from 90 countries, making him the first Caribbean winner in the history of the competition. His car, “The Supra Furidamu”, or “Supra Freedom” in English, caught the judges’ eyes for its futuristic features, including self-tinting glass, automatic tint and untint using advanced glass technology, electric motor cooling for high speeds and ultrasonic sensors. The car is fully electric and is equipped with solar panel glass that encases its sides and roof. Even more remarkable, Toyota, the company that hosted the global car competition, built a prototype of the Supra Freedom. “I became enthralled with the idea of making my dream car—one with not just the consumers’ wants and needs in mind, but the needs of generations to come, the need for a healthy life, and a cleaner environment; a way to show the world that every drop counts” says Daniel.

Connectivity & DigitizationMay 23, 2024

People from islands around the world sharing their knowledge at P.E.I. summit

Photo: Stacey Janzer/CBC. Retrieved from cbc.ca More than 200 people from islands around the world are on Prince Edward Island this week for the 2024 Global Sustainable Islands Summit. The goal is to share information among islands that might seem different, but have similar challenges when it comes to energy and sustainable development. Steven Myers, P.E.I.’s minister of environment, energy and climate action, say it’s an opportunity for the province to learn, as well as to provide inspiration to leaders from other small land masses. With a goal of net zero emissions by 2040, Myers believes P.E.I. can be a leading force in renewable energy and clean technology. “I think that we have a lot of work to do, but I think we’ve set really ambitious targets and really aggressive goals. And I think that the solutions that we’re going to find here and the experts that we’re going to grow here are going to help impact the rest of the world.”

Connectivity & DigitizationMay 10, 2024

A perilous journey to save lives

Photo courtesy: UNICEF Pacific/2024/Herwig. Retrieved from reliefweb.int On a small island 180km from the capital city of Tonga lives 60-year-old Ilaisaane Fahamokioa, fondly known as sister Saane, and for her this is routine. Based at King Tupou Hospital on Ha’apai, Saane and her team are responsible for delivering lifesaving vaccines to the some of the most remote island communities of Tonga. Saane brings with her over 40 years of experience and determination to provide essential healthcare services to every person in the 13 island communities that fall under her care. The quest to reach every child requires unmatched strength and commitment, as Saane and her team embark on eight-day rotations that take them around the Ha’apai group of islands. On their usual rotation, their journey begins at the dock at the main island in Lifuka District. From Lifuka, the nurses begin the 80km sea journey to the furthest district of Nomuka. This is followed by a Ha’afeva, Uiha and Kao District.