The following is
a short summary of the main challenges.
1. Health
and Education
Due to the widely
distributed populations in isolated communities, it is difficult to provided
sustainable health and educational services to all the citizens of the
islands. For example, Solomon Islands has a population of about 0.6 million
people that are spread around 900 islands. Most remote communities are so
small that education beyond 4th grade is not possible and
availability of healthcare services is virtually non-existent.
2. Fisheries and Marine Resources
For many SIDS the ocean and its vast resources are the
firm basis upon which jobs and economic growth depend. The health of the
oceans is not only vital to SIDS but to the global community at large. There
is potential for private sector entities to partner with SIDS towards
ensuring the sustainable management and utilization of ocean resources
3. Connectivity through Transport and ICTs
Connectivity is crucial for SIDS to access the
international marketplace, arrange the transport of goods, telecommunications
or internet based transactions. Many SIDS continue to grapple with the high
cost and infrequency of transport connectivity whether by sea or air. This is
an area where partnerships between governments and private sector have great
potential to yield improved transport links and achieve more efficient
logistics.
4. Renewable Energy
Many SIDS are heavily dependent on fossil fuels for their
energy needs. The efforts of the private sector can play a major role in
developing affordable and competitive renewable energy sources that should
lead to a significant shift from a high dependence on imported fossil fuels,
to more sustainable locally harnessed energy sources.
5. Sustainable Agriculture
Agriculture has historically been the foundation of
cultural and economic activities in SIDS and today continues to play a
significant role in sustaining livelihoods. There are opportunities for
private sector entities to reinvigorate agricultural production in SIDS and
contribute to the livelihoods of rural communities, for example, to help
increase self-sufficiency in food production and take advantage of the
international growth in organic agricultural produce.
6. Disaster Risk Reduction
SIDS' small and open economies leave them especially
exposed and highly vulnerable to external shocks resulting from disasters. If
resilience building is to be successful in the years to come, it will require
active and concerted partnerships between various actors including
governments, private sector and local communities.
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