UNDESA is the Secretariat of both the intergovernmental and inter-agency coordination mechanisms to monitor and report on the implementation of the Barbados Plan of Action (BPOA), the Mauritius Strategy of Implementation (MSI), and the SAMOA Pathway, including on progress made toward the establishment and implementation of SIDS partnerships through the SIDS Partnership Framework.

Through its SIDS Unit, the Departmental focal point for the SIDS, UN DESA provides technical advice and capacity building assistance to SIDS for the implementation of these key agreements, drawing from its broad offer in support to the implementation of the SDGs adapted to the specific needs of the SIDS. Support is specifically tailored to the needs of the SIDS in the areas of governance, data and statistics, financing, partnerships and graduation from the LDC category.

Governance

UN DESA provides access to capacity needs assessment of government institutions; innovative practices in governance for the SDGs through the United Nations Public Service Awards (UNPSA); Digital Government Readiness of SIDS through the UN E-Government Survey; and a Competency Framework for Public Servants and Transformational Leadership to build and align the capacity of systems, organizations and individuals with the 2030 Agenda. [Upcoming]

Data and statistics  

UN DESA offers a wealth of open source knowledge platforms, databases, and e-learning tools and capacity development support on data and statistics as they relate to the SDGs, including SDG indicator platform, to disseminate Global SDG Indicators database and metadata information provided by the UN system and other international organizations who are in charge of global data collection of the indicator in the Global Indicator Framework, plus a UN info dashboard on SDG country profile and toolkit for UNCT on SDG monitoring and reporting to assess SDG data gaps and capacity development needs for SDG monitoring. Other sources include Open SDG Data Hub (a data sharing arrangements for SDG data sources); E-handbook on SDG indicators (an e-learning course for national statisticians to collect, calculate, and monitor the SDGs using data produced by the national statistical systems); StaTact: a tool developed in partnership with UNITAR to help countries measure data gaps and Demographic Data and Trends.

SDG financing

UN DESA is currently leading the formulation of a practical methodology to help countries operationalize the building block of the Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs) approach conceptualized in the 2019 Financing for Development report (FFDR). The new methodology will address the specific needs and realities of the SIDS and LDCs.  UN DESA also provides priority assistance to SIDS for the  design of National Forest Financing Strategies (NFFS) to mobilize resources for cross-sectoral forest-related projects and to develop project proposals for multi-lateral funding, such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Global Environmental Fund (GEF) building on its Guide to A Common Forest Financing Strategies for the SIDS, Low Forest Cover Countries, African countries and LDCs.

Partnerships

A key request from the outcome of the 2014 Third International Conference on SIDS – the SAMOA Pathway – was the establishment of the SIDS Partnership Framework, designed to monitor progress of existing, and stimulate the launch of new, genuine and durable partnerships for the sustainable development of SIDS.

Guided by a Member States-driven Steering Committee, the Framework has since its launch ensured that SIDS partnerships have remained high on the UN’s agenda, providing a multi-stakeholder platform for reviewing progress made by SIDS partnerships, and for sharing of good practices and lessons learned among all stakeholders, on an annual basis.

Within the SIDS Partnership Framework, the Department provides access to and manages:

• An annual Global Multi-stakeholder SIDS Partnership Dialogue;
• A SIDS Action Platform: UN’s online resource to support implementation and follow-up of partnerships devoted to the sustainable development of SIDS in support of the SAMOA Pathway. This online platform provides access to new and existing partnerships for SIDS;
• SIDS Partnership Analysis: an in-depth look on status and trends of partnership for SIDS illustrated by case studies that provide a basis for the description of good practices in developing durable and genuine partnerships for SIDS. The analysis was informed by a range of stakeholders, partners, regional reports, interviews, and a series of partnership dialogues organized at the margins of the preparatory process for the 2019 SAMOA Pathway High-level Mid-term Review;
• Small Island Developing States Partnership Toolbox – tools for enhancing capacity around the design, monitoring, and reviewing of partnerships for SIDS, building on the consultations for the 2019 SAMOA Pathway High-level Mid-Term Review.