SAMOA and Sendai: Twin Pillars for a Resilient Future in all Small Island Developing States

Conference Room 6, United Nations Headquarters, New York

Co-organisers: Alliance of Small Island States, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs, Office of the High Representative of Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, UNWomen, Australia (TBC), Fiji

Background

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are among the most vulnerable to natural hazards and climate-related disasters. From 2000-2019, SIDS accounted for 26% of global disaster- related deaths, despite representing only 0.5% of the global population. Due to their unique geographic, socio-economic, and environmental characteristics, these hazards can often have devastating impacts on the economies, societies, and ecosystems of SIDS and can cause long- term damage to their infrastructure, livelihoods, and natural resources. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030) has been an important instrument for reducing the risks and impact of disasters for SIDS. The Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework provides an opportunity to assess progress, identify gaps and emerging challenges, and chart a way forward for SIDS, including through the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States.

While the SAMOA Pathway calls for an integrated approach to sustainable development and resilience-building in SIDS, the successor framework of the SAMOA Pathway will need to address the unique challenges of SIDS in the current context of disaster risk reduction: SIDS often have small coastal populations and limited land area, which makes them uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate-related disasters. In addition, many SIDS lack the financial and technical resources to invest in disaster risk reduction, early warning systems, and emergency preparedness and response, as outlined in the recent report “SIDS: Gaps, Challenges and Constraints in Means of Implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction”. At the same time, the IPCC AR6 Report affirms that the intensity and frequency of climate related disasters are projected to increase, with disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communities such as SIDS.

Documents

• Concept Note & Programme

Objective

• Identify opportunities to mainstream outcomes from the midterm review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction through the successor framework of the SAMOA Pathway
• Provide a platform for dialogue on the challenges and opportunities for an integrated approach to disaster risk reduction and sustainable development in SIDS
• Identify potential immediate and long-term deliverables for SIDS that are necessary to accelerate implementation of the Sendai Framework

Format

The Risk Reduction Hub event will consist of a high-level panel discussion, followed by an interactive Q&A session. The panelists will be experts and practitioners from SIDS, UN agencies, civil society, and other stakeholders who will share their perspectives, experiences, and recommendations on the opportunity for disaster risk reduction to accelerate sustainable development in SIDS, including through the implementation of the successor framework of the SAMOA Pathway.