Maritime countries that tend to share similar sustainable development challenges, including small but growing populations, limited resources, remoteness, susceptibility to natural disasters, vulnerability to external shocks, excessive dependence on international trade, and fragile environments.
Growth and development is also held back by high communication, energy and transportation costs, irregular international transport volumes, disproportionately expensive public administration and infrastructure due to their small size, and little to no opportunity to create economies of scale.
“[Seeking] the sustainable development of small island developing states through genuine and durable partnerships.”
The follow up and review process of the SAMOA Pathway includes intergovernmental, multistakeholder and inter agency elements. The High Level Political Forum (HLPF) is the avenue for the intergovernmental (including MGoS) discussions. In addition UN-DESA leads inter-agency coordination within the United Nations system through the Executive Committee of Economic and Social Affairs Plus (ECESA Plus), and among UN and non-UN entities active on SIDS issues through the Inter-Agency Consultative Group (IACG) on SIDS, to monitor the implementation of the BPOA, MSI, and the Samoa Pathway, as well as the progress being made in the SIDS partnerships. Moreover, UN-DESA, and particularly the SIDS Unit provides technical assistance and advice, supports intergovernmental processes and reports on progress made in the implementation of the BPOA, MSI, and the Samoa Pathway.
UNMGCY formally engages in all aspects of the High Level Political Forum (HLPF), and directly liaises with UN-DESA on matters related to SIDS. As a member of UNMGCY's DRR Working Group, you are able to engage in all these activities at any level from your local community to the global level at the United Nations.
