Subregional Capacity Building Workshop on Strengthening AIS Regional Coordination Towards Effective Implementation of the ABAS and its M&E Framework

strengthening_ais_regional_coordination_towards_effective_implementation_of_the_abas_and_its_me_framework_.png

Wednesday, 28 January 2026 - 9:00am to Friday, 30 January 2026 - 11:45am

Background

The ABAS is a 10-year programme of action for SIDS, which guides their Sustainable Development priorities from 2024 – 2034, replacing the former SAMOA-Pathway (2014 – 2024). It was negotiated in the lead-up to the Fourth International Conference on SIDS (SIDS4), held in Antigua and Barbuda in May 2024, and formally adopted by the UN General Assembly on 16 July 2024 (A/RES/78/317). Paragraph 38 of the ABAS requested the Secretary-General to develop a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework.

The M&E Framework consists of a list of 59 targets and 83 associated indicators and was adopted as part of the annual SIDS Resolution during the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA80).

To support SIDS in effectively reporting on the M&E Framework, paragraph 39 of the ABAS mandates UN-DESA and UN-OHRLLS to ‘conduct workshops to familiarize small island developing States with the application of the framework and build capacity to collect and submit their data’.

This workshop aims to bring together National Focal Points and National Statistical Officers from the AIS SIDS, along with relevant regional commissions, the ECA and ESCAP. The workshop has dual aims to support AIS SIDS in reporting on the ABAS, while creating a platform for strengthening regional coordination among the AIS SIDS governments and regional commissions supporting them.

Objectives

Familiarize AIS SIDS, including SIDS NFPs and national statistical experts, with the ABAS and its M&E framework;
Strengthen AIS coordination, by bringing together SIDS across the AIS region as well as ECA and ESCAP to discuss harmonized efforts on ABAS implementation and reporting;
Support coordination at the national level for ABAS implementation and reporting, including cross-ministerial coordination and engagement between statistical experts and policymakers, through strengthening the utilization of the SIDS NFP network as a mechanism for ABAS implementation and reporting;
Support alignment and coordination of national level reporting on the ABAS with regional and global reporting frameworks including the SDGs and related frameworks (Sendai Framework, Paris Agreement, etc.);
Document challenges faced by AIS SIDS in ABAS implementaiton and reporting both at the national and regional levels;