Purpose:

To provide a workshop in which Pacific member states can develop local responses to the 37 C/4/DR.4 and outcomes to the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States. These responses, their suggested actions, indicators, implementation modalities and funding mechanisms can be considered by UNESCO in development of the overall action plan called for by the draft resolution.

Background:

At the 37th General Conference of UNESCO, a draft resolution was submitted and co-sponsored by a number of countries with reference to Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The resolution looked to gain reinforcement of UNESCO’s strategy on SIDS and to identify how UNESCO may contribute to the implementation of the outcomes of the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States to be held in Apia, Samoa in September 2014.

The draft resolution calls for the development of an action plan by UNESCO for implementing the outcomes of the international conference. It calls for consultation with the sub-regions concerned in the development of the plan and to include areas within UNESCO”s mandate that are of specific concern to SIDS.

Leading into the General Conference there had been significant changes to the SIDS programme within UNESCO including the loss of the intersectoral platform on SIDS and the diminished human resources of the SIDS focal point. These changes make it even more important for SIDS member states to have the opportunity to collaborate and put forward their ideas for UNESCO work with SIDS and the UNESCO response to the international conference.

The 37 C/4 (para. 19) refers to UNESCO developing cross-cutting and cross-scale approaches in relation to SIDS and recognises SIDS innovative approaches to sustainability . This workshop contributes to meeting that commitment by allowing for the development of strategies, actions and indicators by a SIDS region that are relevant, have local ownership, can underpin mutual accountability and are results based.

Many Pacific countries do not have representation in Paris nor can they regularly afford to travel such distances to be involved in UNESCO activity at a more strategic level. This workshop gives an affordable opportunity for them to travel within the region and yet be able to work and discuss at the more strategic global level.

Objectives: 

• For Pacific countries to identify actions, strategies, outcomes and indicators in areas of UNESCO’s mandate relevant to their development and put these forward for inclusion in an action plan in response to the SAMOA pathway produced at the UN Global conference on SIDS.
• To provide a forum for inter-regional discussions between Pacific National Commissions to identify how common strategies can still be implemented in a decentralised and locally owned manner.
• To provide a forum for regional discussion between National Commissions as to how they can collaborate to better inform and sustain UNESCO activities in relation to SIDS.

Expected Results:

• Pacific response to 37 /4/DR.4 and the outcomes of the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States.
• Pacific identified strategies, actions and indicators for the key issues within UNESCO’s mandate as identified in the draft resolution for consideration in the UNESCO action plan following the conference.
• Recommendations on the interdisciplinary connections between programmes relevant to the strategies and actions identified and how these can be maintained with decentralised implementation.
• Pacific recommendations on possible sub-regional sources of extra-budgetary funding and possible Public-Private Partnerships that may support the implementation of the associated action plan.