Overview

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are  small islands that are also least  developed.  SIDS face several challenges such as small populations, susceptibility to natural disasters, remoteness, and high communication, energy and transportation costs. The SIDS were first recognized as a distinct group of developing countries by the United Nations in 1992. The Barbados Programme of Action was produced in 1994 to assist the SIDS in their sustainable development efforts. The United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) represents this group of states. Figure 1 is being used by the UN ICT4SIDS Partnership (www.ict4sids.com) to identify and address the unique challenges that are displayed as possible sectors by using the latest developments in ICTs.

Fig1: Small Islands, Big(ger) Stakes

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 4^th 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.