Support to 4th International UN Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4)

This grant represents Canada’s support to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in funding their implementation of in-country and on-the-ground technical logistical and coordination support for the 4th International UN Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4). The Government of Antigua and Barbuda will host SIDS4 from May 27 to 30th 2024 bringing together regional and international partners (5 000 expected participants). The ultimate goal of the conference is to review Small Island Developing States’ (SIDS) progress against the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and chart a path forward by endorsing a bold new 10-year program of action aimed at accelerating progress on sustainable development for SIDS. Conference themes will reflect key development priorities for SIDS including access to climate and development finance debt reform of international financial architecture digitalization ocean economies human rights and data challenges. The conference will feature a 1-day Gender Equality Forum which aims to explore multi-sector and multi-stakeholder strategies. The forum intends to address key gender equality issues impacting women and girls in SIDS such as violence against women and girls unpaid care work inclusive access to finance and gender-responsive climate resilience and disaster response. Project activities include: (1) supporting event management including volunteers; (2) procuring goods and services; and (3) assessing and delivering in country logistics.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) improved ability of SIDS to accelerate progress on sustainable development; (2) improved ability of SIDS to implement concrete and measurable actions through the endorsement of a new ten-year Program of Action for SIDS; (3) improved ability of stakeholders to advocate for sustainable financing; (4) improved ability of SIDS advance gender equality issues through an outcome statement on gender equality and SIDS; (5) increased access by women’s organizations and women leaders to networking across SIDS; and (6) strengthened collaboration between SIDS and Oranisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee (OECD DAC) members through the launch of the new Partnership for Action.