Island Innovation @SIDS4

Thanks to all our Speakers, Partners and Attendees for a significant event.

Island Innovation @SIDS4:

Connecting for Sustainable Development

Island Innovation @SIDS4 served as your hub for insights, updates, and engagement at the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4). Held in Antigua & Barbuda from May 27th to May 30th, SIDS4 was a pivotal gathering where global leaders convened to chart a course towards sustainable development for small island nations.

About SIDS4

The Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) was a critical forum that aimed to evaluate the progress and challenges faced by SIDS in achieving sustainable development goals. From addressing the climate crisis to fostering economic resilience, SIDS4 sought to establish a robust framework for the next decade of action.

World leaders united to forge a path towards prosperity and security for small island nations at SIDS4.

Key Goals of SIDS4

The SIDS4 conference aimed to assess the progress of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) towards sustainable development and proposed actionable initiatives to address their unique challenges.

Evaluate progress

SIDS4 sought to evaluate how far Small Island Developing States (SIDS) had come in achieving the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Develop a new action plan

The conference aimed to create a fresh ten-year plan to guide SIDS in building resilience and fostering economic development.

Address key challenges

SIDS4 focused on tackling critical issues faced by SIDS, including climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and the burden of debt.

Island Innovation @SIDS4

Island Innovation remains proud to have been a leading source of information and engagement at SIDS4. Our team was on the ground, actively participating in the conference to provide firsthand insights, news, and outcomes.

Here’s how they kept you informed:

  • Daily Updates & Analysis: They provided exclusive reports and breakdowns of the conference’s progress.
  • Side Events: Partnering with other organizations, we hosted discussions on critical SIDS issues, giving a platform to diverse voices.
  • Global Network: We shared information with stakeholders worldwide, promoting informed action towards sustainable development in SIDS.

Side Event Speakers

At SIDS4, attendees had the opportunity to meet the engaging speakers who led the side events.

Hon. Gilmar Pisas

Prime Minister of Curacao

Joseph Easton Taylor-Farrell

Premier, Government of Montserrat

Hon. Dr. Joyelle Clarke

Minister of Sustainable Development, St Kitts and Nevis

Ruisandro Cijntje

Minister of Economic Development, Government of Curacao

Joshua Tenorio

Lt. Governor, Government of Guam

Anjelica Cicilia

Commissioner, Government of Bonaire

Dr Shelly Ann Cox

Ocean Professional, University of the West Indies

Edison Rijna

Special Envoy for the BES islands for EU and UN and Economic Development with Latin America and Caribbean

Arieta Gonelevu Rakai

Regional Programme Officer, Islands at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Gwen Sisior

UN Permanent Mission of Palau to the United Nations

SIDS4 Side Events

We were delighted to host 5 Side Events at the conference.

About the event

This side event tackled the challenge of securing climate finance for Sub-National Island Jurisdictions (SNIJs). While SNIJs may have some advantages, they struggled to access funds for climate resilience projects in the past. The event discussed existing funding pathways, explored solutions for improved access, and examined collaboration strategies to build resilience and economic opportunities for SNIJs. 

Organised by Island Innovation and Special Envoy of the BES islands for EU and UN and Economic Development with Latin America and Caribbean, Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations of Netherlands 

Speakers

Hon. Gilmar Pisas

Prime Minister of Curacao

Joseph Easton Taylor-Farrell

Premier, Government of Montserrat

Ruisandro Cijntje

Minister of Economic Development, Government of Curacao

Joshua Tenorio

Lt. Governor, Government of Guam

Anjelica Cicilia

Commissioner, Government of Bonaire

Edison Rijna

Special Envoy for the BES islands for EU and UN and Economic Development with Latin America and Caribbean

Celeste Connors

CEO, Hawaii Local2030 Hub & Co-Chair, Local2030 Islands Network

Tadzio Bervoets

Conservational Professional

Eugene Rhuggenaath

Executive Director, World Bank Group for the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Jonathan Johnson

Island Governor of Saba

About the event

This side event explored how to leverage the ocean’s potential for economic diversification and resilience in Small Island Developing States. Discussions at the event focused on blue financing, sustainable tourism, and protecting marine ecosystems.

Organised by Island Innovation and Portugal – Development Cooperation Agency – Camões, I.P. 

Speakers

Didier Dogley

Sustainable Development Consultant

Dr Shelly Ann Cox

Ocean Professional, University of the West Indies

Gwen Sisior

UN Permanent Mission of Palau to the United Nations

Viliame Kasanawaqa

Regional Infrastructure Specialist, VfM Procurement for Pacific Infrastructure - Consultant

Miguel Galante

Senior Policy officer, Environment and Climate Focal Point at the Multilateral Cooperation Unit of Camões IP

Lay Sêck

National expert on Ecotourism, Guinea-Bissau IBAP

About the event

This side event explored how investing in capacity building programs for youth and marginalized communities could strengthen resilience in the face of climate change. Discussions at the event focused on the importance of climate justice for SIDS and explored how practical learning could empower communities to achieve the UN SDGs.

Organised by Island Innovation, Climate Analytics Caribbean, Peace Boat US, Blue Planet Alliance, Ecovybz, Sustainable Ocean Alliance Caribbean, Kneyzus Energy 

Speakers

Henk Rogers

Founder, Blue Planet Alliance

Khadija Stewart

Global Deep Sea Mining Campaign Lead, Sustainable Oceans Alliance

Stacey Alvarez de la Campa

Partnership Manager, Island Innovation

Riddhi Samtani

Youth Delegate, Caribbean Climate Justice Leaders Academy

Emilie McGlone

Director of Peace Boat US, UN Ocean Decade Programs

Muskaan Khemani

Research Data Analyst, Center for Climate & Health, Boston University Netherlands

Carlon Mendoza

Climate Policy Advisor, Climate Analytics

Kneyone Murray

Blue Planet Alliance Global Ambassador, Kneyzus Energy, Youth for SDGs scholar

Naya Sena

Representative from Cabo Verde | Researcher at the University of Tokyo, Japan

Ashley Lashley

Founder, UNICEF Youth Advocate, CARICOM Youth Ambassador Executive Director, The Ashley Lashley Foundation

Reyad Mohammed

Environmental Education Officer, Environmental Management Authority

About the event

This side event tackled the challenges of getting climate finance to those who needed it most in the Caribbean. A panel of experts discussed innovative solutions to ensure vulnerable communities could access resources and build resilience against climate change.

Organised by Island Innovation and United Nations World Food Programme

Speakers

Hon. Shawn Edward

Minister for Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, Government of Saint Lucia

Edison Rijna

Special Envoy for the BES islands for EU and UN and Economic Development with Latin America and Caribbean

James Ellsmoor

Chief Executive Officer, Island Innovation

Isaac Anthony

Chief Executive Officer, CCRIF, SPC

Onika Miller

Chief Strategy and Accountability Officer, Caribbean Development Bank

Nicholas Grainger

Policy Officer, DRM World Food Programme Caribbean MCO

About the event

This side event discussed challenges and opportunities for a clean energy transition in Small Island Developing States. A moderated panel of government officials, NGOs, and regional organizations shared their experiences with clean energy initiatives and national climate actions. The focus was on the role of national climate policies and climate finance in achieving this transition.

Organised by Island Innovation, UNFCCC RCC Caribbean, and GIZ

Speakers

Arieta Gonelevu Rakai

Regional Programme Officer, Islands at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

James Ellsmoor

Chief Executive Officer, Island Innovation

Jason Williams

Regional Specialist, UNFCCC RC Caribbean

Patrick Munyaneza

Article 6 & Carbon Pricing Expert, RCC Caribbean

Shanna Emmanuel

Programme Officer, Climate Change & Disaster Risk Management, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

Pamela Abreu

Analyst, Department of Climate Mitigation, Government of the Dominican Republic

Mayra Santaella

Team Lead. UNFCCC RCC Caribbean

Donald Cooper

Director Transparency Division, UNFCCC

Dr. Annett Fleischer

Head of GCM Project, GIZ

Unnikrishnan Nair

Head of Climate Change, Commonwealth Secretariat

Pepetua Election Latasi

Director of Climate Change Department, UNFCCC NFP, Government of Tuvalu

About the event

This side event explored how SIDS could leverage data and digital technologies to address challenges and unlock economic opportunities. Discussions at the event centered on knowledge sharing, fostering collaboration between academia and industry, and supporting startups to develop sustainable solutions for SIDS.

Organised by Island Innovation, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the Islands and Small States Institute of the University of Malta (ISSI), Government of Antigua & Barbuda Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment 

Speakers

Island Finance Forum Speaker

Hon. Dr. Joyelle Clarke

Minister of Sustainable Development, St Kitts and Nevis

Vanessa Toré

Director Foreign Economic Cooperation at Ministry of Economic Development of Curaçao

James Ellsmoor

Chief Executive Officer, Island Innovation

Stacey Alvarez de la Campa

Partnership Manager, Island Innovation

Dr. Stefano Moncada

Director, Islands & Small States Institute, University of Malta

Dr. Pedro Pombo

Marie Curie European Research Office, Islands & Small States Institute, University of Malta

Morgen Halstead

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Officer, Ministry of Environment, Government of Antigua

Alicia Nicholls

Council Member of the Caribbean-ASEAN Council

Jope Davetanivalu

Director Environmental Monitoring and Governance, SPREP

Shania Bejai

Civil & Environmental Engineer, Department of Environment, Antigua & Barbuda

Léonie Weerakoon

Scientist, Investor, Guest Lecturer, UN Delegate, Kinetik

Daily Bulletins

We delivered exclusive insights, highlights, and key takeaways from each day of SIDS4 through Island Innovation’s daily bulletins.

Partner Organisations

We were proud to collaborate with leading organizations committed to sustainable development.

The context of SIDS

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) find themselves confronted with multiple crises including climate change, the continued socio-economic recovery from COVID-19, as well as limited financial resources to adequately adapt or mitigate these issues while also developing sustainably.

It is imperative that SIDS identify and implement pathways to meet the sustainable development goals by leveraging their shared knowledge and partnering towards a strong, resilient future.

Antigua and Barbuda hosted the SIDS4 Conference in May 2024. The international community reviewed SIDS’ current sustainable development progress and proposed a new decade of goals to ensure long-term prosperity and security.

What Do SIDS Want?

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face unique challenges due to their size, remoteness, and vulnerability to external shocks. To achieve sustainable development and a brighter future, SIDS have a clear vision for what they need:

Resilient economies

To thrive, SIDS seek a diversified economy, attracting trade and investment, while developing sustainable tourism and unlocking the potential of their ocean resources.

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Safe & prosperous societies

SIDS prioritize building strong healthcare access, fostering robust and transparent institutions, and achieving equality and empowerment for all citizens.

A secure future

SIDS aim for a sustainable future through renewable energy, managing the interconnected water-food-energy nexus, building resilient infrastructure, and ensuring improved transportation and connectivity for all.

Environmental Protection & Planetary sustainability

To secure their future, SIDS advocate for urgent action on climate change, alongside sustainable ocean management, biodiversity restoration, and mainstreaming disaster risk reduction strategies.

How Do SIDS Get There?

Access to finance
Scaling up climate finance
Strengthening data collection
Science, technology, innovation and digitalization
Productive populations
Partnerships

Resources

This section provides valuable resources to deepen your understanding and engagement with SIDS’ priorities.  Stay informed and contribute to building a brighter future for SIDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) is set to take place in Antigua & Barbuda from May 27th to 30th, 2024. SIDS4 aims to assess the progress of Small Island Developing States towards sustainable development and propose actionable initiatives to address their unique challenges.
Island Innovation will play a pivotal role as a leading source of information and engagement at SIDS4. Our team will be actively participating in the conference to gather firsthand insights, news, and outcomes. We are committed to providing our network with the most relevant updates and analysis, ensuring stakeholders around the globe remain informed and empowered.
Subscribing to Island Innovation at SIDS4 ensures you stay informed and engaged with the latest developments, insights, and key takeaways from the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States. Our daily bulletins provide exclusive content, behind-the-scenes access, and replays of live sessions, keeping you connected and empowered to contribute to sustainable development efforts in Small Island Developing States.
Sign up for our FREE daily bulletin to receive exclusive insights, highlights, and key takeaways from each day of SIDS4. Registration is open now, and subscribers will also gain access to exclusive behind-the-scenes content and the replay link for every live session.
Stay tuned for our event agenda, which will outline the schedule and details for each side event. Participation details will be provided closer to the conference date.
Registration for Island Innovation at SIDS4 is FREE. There are no costs associated with subscribing to our daily bulletins or participating in our side events. All you need is an internet connection to receive updates and engage with our content. Island Innovation welcomes participants from all backgrounds and sectors to join us in advancing sustainable development initiatives for Small Island Developing States.
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