Samoa to host major preparatory meeting for the midterm review of the SAMOA Pathway.
What: Representatives from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) around the world will review progress and assess opportunities for sustainable development at the Inter-regional Preparatory Meeting for the Midterm Review of the SAMOA Pathway, organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), and the Government of Samoa. A press conference will be held on the first day with officials from the three entities.
Who: About 250 representatives from Small Island Developing States’ governments partnerships, the private sector, civil society and the UN system will participate.
When: 30 October-1 November 2018
Where: Tatte Convention Centre, Apia, Samoa
Background: Small Island Developing States are a distinct group of countries facing specific vulnerabilities and particular challenges in achieving sustainable development. This is due to their small size, remoteness, narrow resource and export base, and exposure to global environmental challenges and external economic shocks, including impacts from climate change.
The Small Island Developing States Accelerated Modalities of Action Pathway (SAMOA Pathway) , adopted at the Third International Conference on SIDS held in Apia, Samoa, in 2014, is a dedicated 10-year programme of action to promote international assistance to address the unique set of challenges the islands face,
The Samoa Meeting will provide an opportunity to review and analyse the conclusions of three SIDS regional meetings held earlier this year in Mauritius (Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China Sea—AIMS), Belize (Caribbean) and Tonga (Pacific). Countries also will discuss possible themes and desirable outcomes of the Midterm Review of the SAMOA Pathway, which will be held in September 2019 at UN Headquarters in New York.
The meeting in Apia will be preceded by the Samoa Partnership Dialogue on 29 October 2018, where SIDS and their partners will work to increase the capacity of stakeholders in forging new, genuine and durable multi-stakeholder partnerships, and strengthen the monitoring and review process of partnerships in SIDS.
Additionally, SIDS National Focal Points will hold their first meeting on 29 October. This network will provide a vital link between work at the global and national levels, facilitating coordination, information-sharing and planning for the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway and the SDGs.
Press conference:
When: Tuesday, 30 October 2018 at 10 a.m. Apia Daylight Time (GMT+14)
Where: Tatte Convention Centre, Apia, Samoa
Who: High-level representatives from the Government of Samoa, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States
Watch online: www.facebook.com/sustdev
Further information:
The programme and further details can be found here: bit.ly/SamoaSIDS
More on the SAMOA Pathway review: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sids/samoareview/
More about Small Island Developing States (SIDS): http://unohrlls.org/about-sids/
Follow on social media:
Twitter: @SustDev, @UNDESA, @UNOHRLLS
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/SustDev/
https://www.facebook.com/joinundesa/
https://www.facebook.com/UNOHRLLS/
Hashtags: #SAMOAPathway, #PartnerSIDS
Media contacts:
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Ariel Alexovich, T: +1 212 963-5897| E: alexovich@un.org
UN Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS)
Damien Sass, T: +1 347-242-2850 | E: sass@un.org