Brussels, 11 May 2021/OACPS:The Forum of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of theOrganisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS)outlined the status of the plan of action to build the resilience of SIDS and coastal communities in a number of priority areas at a virtual meeting onRule of Law, Cooperation and World Integrationon 4 May 2021.

Acknowledging the unique characteristics of SIDS, H.E. Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, Secretary-General of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) highlighted activities undertaken by the SIDS Forum to effectively address vulnerabilities in the trade, services, tourism, agriculture, financial and health sectors. The Secretary-General also reaffirmedthe OACPS’ commitment to supporting SIDS in thefollowing priority areas:

  1. Access to Finance
  2. Addressing Debt and Debt Sustainability
  3. Climate Action
  4. Ocean Governance and Blue Economy
  5. Developing a Multi-Dimensional Vulnerability Index;
  6. Health-COVID 19 Action Plan.

During the meeting, Secretary-General Chikoti acknowledged the productive input of the OACPS Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Forum, and the OACPS Member States during the negotiation of the new OACPS-EU Partnership Agreement. He thanked outgoing chair, H.E. Jose Filomeno de Carvalho Dias Monteiro, Ambassador of Cabo Verde for his dynamic leadership of the OACPS SIDS Forum during this tenure and welcomed incoming chair, H.E. Joy Ann Skinner, Ambassador of Barbados.

The OACPS SIDS Forum is an established subsidiary and consultative organ created to address the specificities and needs of SIDS under the revised constitution of the Georgetown Agreement.The meetingonRule of Law, Cooperation and World Integrationis a joint initiative of the Permanent Delegation of St. Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Permanent Delegation of Solomon Islands to UNESCSO and the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

ClickHEREfor a full copy of the Secretary General’s statement.