Event
4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4)
Under the theme, Charting the Course Towards Resilient Prosperity, the SIDS4 International Conference comes as SIDS Member States, many of which are tourist dependent nations, continue to face the lingering impacts of COVID-19, mounting debt, catastrophic climatic events, and biodiversity loss. These nations, in partnership with UNESCO, understand the urgency to chart a course towards greater resilience within the context of sustainable development to build prosperous societies now and for future generations.
The conference brings together SIDS and development agenda interests including world leaders, multilaterals, international organizations, academia, private sector, non- profits, community and advocacy groups among others. The discussions, held across May 27-30, will be hosted in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda at the American University of Antigua.
UNESCO's contribution
In partnership with other agencies and countries, UNESCO will host several side events at the conference. These will serve to showcase the impact of UNESCO’s work spanning six sectors with several programmes working in an interdisciplinary manner across three regions in the global south - the Pacific, Africa and the Caribbean. Programmes and interventions to be discussed include culture and creative industries, education, the environment, and digital transformation.
Participants will be able to learn firsthand about the important work of UNESCO and how it has been collaborating in earnest with SIDS across the globe to resolve major challenges and benefit the lives of their peoples, especially vulnerable communities.
Key themes
Strategies and best practices in building resilience in SIDS
Ocean action to support resilient prosperity in SIDS
Digital horizons - Building resilient futures through innovation in Pacific SIDS
Digital Transformation for Resilience in the Eastern Caribbean: from crises to opportunities
Enhancing Higher Education for Sustainable Development in SIDS
The Importance of World Heritage sites (UNESCO) and Man and Biosphere Reserves for diversified and sustainable economic development
Nature based coastal resilience for Caribbean SIDS
Tackling the triple-planetary crisis in SIDS – policy-coherence, knowledge and investments for sustainable blue economy transition
Youth and Culture
The Caribbean, being a powerhouse in the creative and sporting sectors, will also take the spotlight as UNESCO prepares to cater to the needs of future generations. Youth ambassadors will take centre stage as UNESCO which has inclusion at the heart of its work will give them a special opportunity to share their thoughts and recommendations especially on matters relating to empowering Caribbean Youth in Cultural and Creative industries for Innovation and Resilience and Culture in the SIDS programme of action 2024-34.
The discussion featuring UNESCO SIDS and Sport-Bridging the Pacific, Caribbean and Indian Ocean-Investment, Inclusion and innovation is also highly anticipated as it aims to share interesting insights.
