The Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States will be held from 1 to 4 September 2014 in Apia, Samoa, to be preceded by activities related to the conference from 28 to 30 August 2014, also in Apia, Samoa. It will focus the world’s attention on a group of countries that remain a special case for sustainable development in view of their unique and particular vulnerabilities.
The Conference will seek to achieve the following objectives:
- assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation;
- seek a renewed political commitment by focusing on practical and pragmatic actions for further implementation;
- identify new and emerging challenges and opportunities for the sustainable development of SIDS and means of addressing them; and
- identify priorities for the sustainable development of SIDS to be considered in the elaboration of the post-2015 UN development agenda.
The United Nations General Assembly resolution called for "a concise, focused, forward-looking and action-oriented political document." The small island developing States have also expressed their desire to highlight successful partnerships and areas of innovation.
Preparatory Process
The preparations for this important Conference are currently underway, starting with a robust, SIDS-directed, multi-stakeholder national preparatory process. The national preparations feed into regional meetings in July of 2013, followed by an inter-regional preparatory meeting.
More information on the Preparatory Process
Secretariat
A dedicated Secretariat is responsible for coordinating and facilitating inputs to the preparatory process from all UN bodies. In November 2012, the UN Secretary-General nominated Wu Hongbo, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, as the Secretary-General for the Third International Conference on SIDS. [Read more]
The Conference Secretariat is housed in the UN DESA, supported by the Prime Minister of the Independent State of Samoa. As the host country, Samoa is leading the logistical preparations on the ground.
Contact the Secretariat: http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/about.html
© 2014