The Week Ahead with the UN in the Caribbean: 27 May - 2 June 2024

How to Follow SIDS4

Monday 27 May - 30 May: The 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) takes place in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda under the theme of “Charting the course toward resilient prosperity". This once in a decade UN Conference will bring together the international community to review the sustainable development progress of small island developing States (SIDS) and propose a new decade of partnerships and solutions to supercharge their path to resilient prosperity. 

SIDS4 will commence with its first plenary meeting on Monday, 27 May, from 10 am to 1 pm (AST), where the President of the
Conference will be elected. Remarks will be made by the President of the Conference, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the President of the General Assembly, the President of the Economic and Social Council, the Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States, and the Special Adviser for the Conference and a youth representative. You can watch live using the video link below.

Tuesday 28 May: The United Nations Secretary-General will convene a High level meeting on mobilization of resources for SIDS (by invitation). This meeting will include international financial institutions, development banks and major donors with a view to ensuring the full mobilization of resources for SIDS. The meeting starts at 8:30 am (AST) in the margins of SIDS4 and will be held at the American University of Antigua in Antigua and Barbuda. It will be broadcast on UN Web TV live at the following link — https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1u/k1umzmckp2

SIDS4 Side Events

There are three different side event schedules you can view depending on whether you are participating on the ground or remotely. See below for links to each one:

• Side events inside the Conference venue
• Side Events programme outside the Conference Venue
• Virtual Side Events programme

Below are a few side events hosted or supported by UN offices, agencies, funds and programmes based in the Caribbean region.

Side Events Tuesday 28 May 2024

• Bridging the Humanitarian- Development Nexus through comprehensive disaster management in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) for Climate Action will be hosted by the World Food Programme (WFP) in the Caribbean from 12 pm to 1:30 pm (AST).

• Linkages between Climate Justice, Racial Justice and Gender Justice: Can the CARICOM 10-point Plan Deliver for Women and Girls in SIDS? will be hosted by UN Women Multi-Country Office – Caribbean and United Nations Populations Fund - Sub-Regional Caribbean Office from 2 pm -3:30 pm (AST)

• Showcasing Successes and Navigating the Next Decade of Action with SIDS is an event where UNEP’s commitments to SIDS in chartering the course toward resilient prosperity for the next decade will be announced. Taking place from 2 pm -3:30 pm (AST) in Room 10, at the American University of Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda.

• Bluer, Greener & Better for SIDS will explore integrated and inclusive development solutions to promote sustainable blue-green growth to build resilience and reduce vulnerabilities of SIDS. Starting at 2 pm to 3:30 pm (AST) Hosted by UNDP and GEF, with BGI Partner Agencies (World Bank, WWF, UNEP, FAO & IUCN), and Ocean Race.

• The Role of Digital Art and Artists in Cultural Institutions and the Economic Landscape of SIDS will highlight the role of artists and the power of artistic expression to raise awareness of the particular challenges faced by SIDS. Hosted by UN Women, UNFPA and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda. From 4:00 pm to 5:30.

Side Events Wednesday 29 May 2024

• Digital Transformation for Resilience in the Eastern Caribbean: from crises to opportunities is high-level side event that will serve as a forum to explore how digital technologies can build resilience and unlock prosperity for the Caribbean. It will take place from 8 am to 9:30 am (AST) in Room 9, at the SIDS4 Main Conference Venue, American University of Antigua. The event will be moderated by Anna Paolini, Director & Representative, UNESCO Office for the Caribbean. it will feature opening remarks by Didier Trebucq, UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean and a Keynote Speaker, Michelle Muschett, UN Assistant Secretary-General, and Director of the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

• Making Climate Finance Work for the Caribbean’s Most Vulnerable Populations is an event hosted by the World Food Programme (WFP) in the Caribbean from 1 pm to 2:30 pm 10 am to 11:30 am. It will feature a panel discussion exploring innovative strategies to ensure climate finance is accessible and effective for those who need it most, facilitating their adaptation and resilience-building efforts in the Caribbean region.”

• Closing Data Gaps to Tackle Food Insecurity is an event hosted by the World Food Programme (WFP) in the Caribbean from 1 pm to 2:30 pm. It will feature a panel discussion exploring trends and opportunities for data to be at the heart of actionable solutions to tackle food insecurity.

• Climate change and environmental legislation in support of the delivery of the new Programme of Action for SIDS is a side event exploring how robust legal frameworks can unlock climate finance for building resilience and enhancing institutional capacities in Caribbean SIDS. It is by the the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean subregional headquarters for the Caribbean (ECLAC Caribbean) and its partners from 4 pm to 5:30 pm.

Side Events Thursday 30 May 2024

• Accelerating SIDS access to climate finance will be hosted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) from 12 pm to 1:30 pm (AST). This side event will concentrate on how we can improve access to climate finance for SIDS through their own initiatives and by tackling unique challenges posed by climate change. Learn more about this SIDS4 side event and others hosted by UNOPS using the following link: https://www.unops.org/unops-at-sids4 

Events Beyond SIDS4

Friday 31 May: The UNEP Caribbean Sub-Regional Office will join its partners to host the webinar entitled Optimizing Municipal Waste Composting in the Caribbean: A Comprehensive Guide to Setup and Best Practices for Efficient Operation at 10 am (AST). This is their fifth webinar in the series "Resilient Islands: Zero Waste and Circular Caribbean”. Register to participate virtually via Zoom here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEkdu6gqTIqEtN-Mfc8YDHfyWsmcrbW3psG

Upcoming United Nations Observances

Wednesday 29 May — International Day of UN Peacekeepers, observed this year under the theme “Fit for the future, building better together,” looks at the invaluable contributions military, police and civilian peacekeepers have made over the last seven decades.

Thursday 30 May — International Day of Potato will be celebrated for the first time ever in 2024 with a focus on the contribution of the potato to the lives of producers and consumers under the theme: Harvesting diversity, feeding hope.

Friday 31 May — World No-Tobacco Day will give a platform to young people across the world, who are urging governments to shield them from predatory tobacco marketing tactics. 

Saturday 01 June — Global Day of Parents recognises that the family has the primary responsibility for the nurturing and protection of children and will be celebrated under the 2024 theme The Promise of Playful Parenting.