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Image: UNDP Trinidad & Tobago
Digital transformation is a key priority for SIDS still grappling with recovery from the pandemic and aiming to build their resilience to future shocks. Remarkably, in the first quarter of 2022, three SIDS have launched the UNDP Digital Readiness Assessment to assist with priority setting and the identification of progress on digital indicators, often as a first step in defining or updating national digital transformation strategies.
UNDP is supporting the governments in Trinidad and Tobago, Maldives, and Jamaica to ensure this is an inclusive and participatory process. Multi-stakeholder inputs are an essential aspect of the survey-based tool, designed by UNDP Chief Digital Office and supported by the UNDP SIDS team, the Global Center for Technology, Innovation and Sustainable Development, and in many cases, also by the SIDS Accelerator Labs. In each case between 50-100 participants are individually selected for their knowledge and role in supporting the digital transformation agenda in their country, for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, from across the spectrum of ministries and from universities, large telecommunications companies, industry associations, small start-ups, and non-governmental organizations dedicated to ensuring the benefits of digital transformation reach all members of society and no-one is left behind. Special efforts are also underway to ensure the public can participate in Jamaica and in Trinidad and Tobago, where the government has opened a special call center line to ensure that people can participate in the conversation about their digital future, even without a digital device.
Last year UNDP supported the implementation of the Digital Readiness Assessment in several SIDS countries: Suriname, Curaçao, Guinea-Bissau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Grenada. In Dominica, the first country to complete the Digital Readiness Assessment in late 2020, the tool was a critical first step in UNDP’s support to the broader stakeholder consultations and the development of the National Digital Transformation Strategy. This demonstrates the commitment SIDS are making to support digital transformation, an accelerating pillar of the SIDS Offer as well as one of three enablers for maximizing development impact in the UNDP Strategic Plan 2022-2025.
Digitization and data supporting Grenada to better tackle crime and at-risk youth
Digitization and data management are transforming capacities for more evidence-based government action in SIDS. The latest example is from the security sector where last week the Royal Grenada Police Force launched a new automated Police Records Management System to transition police stations from paper-based reporting to digital. The system is part of a broader support package of hardware and capacity building, under the UNDP CariSECURE project, supported by USAID. Grenada is the first of seven countries in the Caribbean set to launch the system.
The newly-launched police report application will allow officers from pilot stations to capture real-time data on incidents reported – a stepping stone to more standardized, accurate crime data, which in turn allows for greater evidence-based decision-making to reduce crime and violence. Through the platform, officers will also be able to identify and map crime hot spots, as well as share information on 'persons of interest,' including their traits and crime footprint. Additionally, the application will support crime analysis and better sharing of crime data internally and with other agencies in the justice system. The CariSECURE project is arming governments with a digital tool to not only improve the resolution of crimes, but to inform policy and youth interventions that can help at-risk youth choose a different path. The project was conceived to address the rising crime and violence in the region. The 2012 UNDP Caribbean Human Development Report (CHDR) theorized that this situation was worsened by the implementation of ineffective policies which fail to sufficiently address the root causes of violence and crime, especially among youth. But robust policies and programs could not be developed without timely and reliable data – this is what CariSECURE seeks to address.
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Image: Tom Vierus/Coral Reef Image Bank
Fiji sets new target for 30% Marine Protected Areas with community-led conservation at the core
Fiji is home to the 26th largest sovereign ocean space in the world, with 3.52 percent of the global coral reef habitats. As such, it is working to sustainably leverage its blue economy resources to support vulnerable communities, bolster its fisheries sector and diversify its economic base. Fiji has set ambitious targets for itself: it endeavors to have 30 percent of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and 100 percent of its EEZ demarcated as sustainably managed areas, by 2030. To put these policy ambitions into action, the Fijian Government is collaborating with the United Nations and the private sector through the Investing in Coral Reefs and the Blue Economy programme to support existing MPAs and develop new Locally Managed Marine Area ‘reef-first’ business activities.
Local and community-lead conservation plays a large role in the implementation efforts. Beqa Adventure Divers (BAD) – a commercial diving company – has had a long fruitful relationship with Galoa Village, a fishing community located on Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu, and plays a crucial role in protecting the MPA. It works closely with the Fijian Ministry of Fisheries and the Fiji Navy to patrol the MPA and support enforcement by doing day-to-day monitoring and management. BAD also employs villagers from Galoa as divers for its commercial dive activities, creating additional livelihoods for local communities. Through the Investing in Coral Reefs and the Blue Economy programme, funded by the Global Fund for Coral Reefs and the Joint SDG Fund, support is being channeled for BAD to expand and diversify reef-positive action which include the Mangroves for Fiji and My Fiji Shark projects. “We hope this innovative financing initiative offers a scalable model that can support the conservation of marine ecosystems across our globally connected blue economy” said Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Attorney General and Minister for Economy, Fiji.
While the ocean funding gap is estimated around US$ 150 billion per year globally, such innovative financing models, developed in accordance with local goals, can accelerate the achievement of a more inclusive Blue Economy in SIDS.
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Image: Ropate Kama/Asia Foundation
Fiji's climate past inspires its future leaders
In Fiji, a longstanding trailblazer in Ocean and Climate action, The Asia Foundation initiated a project of a ten-book adventure series to inspire children on critical ocean themes spanning sea-level rises and pollution to ocean acidification and deforestation.
The UNESCO defines Ocean literacy as "an understanding of the ocean’s influence on you and your influence on the ocean". Promoting ocean literacy among children would ensure that the future generation has an informed and responsible behavior towards the ocean and its resources. Some experts even recommend promoting ocean literacy as early as in elementary school. This could be particularly relevant for all SIDS where coastal communities’ relation with the ocean are an ancestral way of life, the continuation of which is critically importance for both their identity and prosperity.
Fiji’s Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations, Ambassador Satyendra Prasad stated that “Our only hope for a future where the Pacific and the planet continue to exist and thrive is in the leadership of youth”. This example is just another angle of the multifaceted inclusive approach that should be taken to support a sustainable and durable Blue Economy transformation.
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Image: UNDP India
SIDS Leadership in Action: President of the Seychelles leads the Ocean Decade Alliance
With the nomination of President Wavel Ramkalawan as one of the two patrons of the Ocean Decade Alliance, the Seychelles has taken another step to underline its contribution to ocean science and leadership among SIDS. This declaration was made at the One Ocean Summit, which the president last week in Brest, France. The alliance's other patron is Norway's Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre. The ocean's long-term viability is high on Seychelles' development agenda, and it's a big component of its diplomatic outreach. As a result, the island nation has emerged as a vital player in mobilizing Indian Ocean countries and small island developing states to support and contribute to the Ocean Decade.
"We believe that ocean science diplomacy has a crucial role in facilitating the science needed to support ocean governance and management at all levels," said Seychelles' President in his acceptance letter. "UNESCO, especially through the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), has provided capable and sustained leadership in this and other related areas. The Seychelles will continue to provide the IOC-UNESCO with the support that is required in the pursuit of our common endeavor and the implementation of the objectives of the Ocean Decade."
Under the National Parks and Nature Conservancy Act, Seychelles designated one-third of its maritime area as a Marine Protected Area, totaling 410,000 square kilometers, in March 2020. The Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan is the result of the groundbreaking debt-for-nature swap bond co-designed by the Seychelles government and The Nature Conservancy. Similar bonds are being developed in SIDS with the support of UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub and the SIDS team.
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Image: Tonga Red Cross Society/Handout via REUTERS
Following the eruption of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai underwater volcano a month ago, UNDP has committed US$500,000 to support recovery efforts for the Kingdom of Tonga. The eruption that happened on 15 January 2022 echoed sonic blasts across the Pacific region and sent volcanic ash clouds and tsunami waves across neighboring countries. The event caused devastating impacts on Tonga with economic damage worth US$90.4 million, according to the recent assessment report by World Bank and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery. As humanitarian aid continues to pour into Tonga, UNDP will complement ongoing UN System efforts and focus on meeting immediate recovery needs as well as resilience-building of the most vulnerable segments of the population. A two-phased approach will be used, to balance its support for short-term urgent needs with long-term objectives of building forward better.
We reported in the previous issue of the Bulletin that the international submarine cable connecting Tonga to Fiji and providing internet connection had been damaged by the eruption, this has been restored last week after a 92 km section was replaced. The domestic cable connecting the outer islands to the main island Tongatapu was closer to the eruption site and will therefore take longer to replace. Meanwhile, an unexpected contribution of free high-speed internet service via Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite venture, has been deployed to connect the outer islands. In the words of Tonga’s Prime Minister, Siaosi Sovaleni, “"it is rather paradoxical for a devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami to bring to our shores the latest in satellite and communications technology". This type of support must be a long-term endeavor, as technology transfer is essential for transformative development in SIDS.
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Image: RHDHV
To respond to the challenges of sea-level rise and increasing threat of extreme weather events, SIDS have turned towards several solutions for coastal protection. In their first assessment report, the IPCC named three coastal adaptation strategies: protection, accommodation and retreat. However, without using participatory and data-driven methods in the design of development projects for costal adaptation, there have been many instances of maladaptation where large engineering projects have resulted in disruption of coastal systems. This has undermined vital ecosystem services, interfered with morphodynamics of beaches and deteriorated coastal environments, or have had infeasible maintenance costs.
A recent study of coastal erosion on the reef island Fuvahmulah in the Maldives used a modeling approach to analyze erosion projections and engaged local communities in its design process. The study used GIS methods with Digital Elevation Models (DEM) from field measurements and OpenStreetMap data to create coastal profiles and identify erosion rates and transects. Wave and 3D sentiment transport models were also generated to explore the effects of the proposed interventions on the natural dynamics. Interestingly, the study concluded that the previous adaptation plan to fortify the coastline was likely to undermine the islands’ natural capacity to adjust to ocean climate-related pressures, and the study advocated for further exploration of ‘soft’ sediment-based measures. It is important to acknowledge that most adaptation projects require rapid assessments to be conducted due to limitations in local data capacity. It is therefore imperative that the geospatial datasets and tools used for these studies are made increasingly open and available for SIDS to integrate into vulnerability and adaptation studies.
Moreover, a participatory approach is also important - as stewards of the islands, local communities have watched their coastline change over a lifetime and possess valuable knowledge about the local environment that needs to be placed central in the design of development in SIDS. With many SIDS having a significant population living within 5m of sea-level, integrating data-driven approaches into adaptation and mitigation efforts is essential; through creation of national data portals like those of Jamaica and Papua New Guinea.
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Image: UNDP
Digitalization is an essential catalyzer for SIDS, capable of transforming entire societies and changing lives. With the race for digital solutions during the pandemic, governments have turned to UNDP to assist with capacity building and advisory support. As part of the UNDP global SIDS Offer: Rising Up for SIDS, this new 4-5 hour, self-paced online course: Inclusive Digital Transformation for the Achievement of the SDGs and the SAMOA Pathway in SIDS was created to support SIDS governments and other stakeholders to understand the opportunities, challenges, core principles and tools and resources for driving the digital transformation journey in their country. A collaboration of UNDP, UNCDF and ITU, the course is framed around the UNDP Digital Transformation Framework and its five pillars: government, infrastructure, regulation, business, and people, offering data and case studies on digital transformation in SIDS, analytical tools, and extensive links to resources from partner agencies and others. The is now offered on ITU Academy in English and Portuguese and on UNDP SparkBlue. It will be upgraded in the coming weeks with Spanish and French versions.
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Image: Convergence
Climate change, over-exploitation of natural resources, biodiversity loss, pollution, and habitat degradation are all threats to the development of a sustainable Blue Economy in SIDS. While about US$ in global annual expenditures on oceans are required to reverse this trend, philanthropy and official development assistance have only committed US$ 13 billion in the last decade. To bridge this gap, blended finance – the use of catalytic funding on concessional terms to mobilize additional finance on market terms – is needed.
Convergence, a global network for blended finance, has recently released a data brief that examines 16 transactions aimed at SDG 14 with a total committed funding value of US$ 2.5 billion. The brief reminds how a combination of an enabling environment in the developing world, longer-term concessional support, and the establishment of platforms connecting project developers with partners in other markets are all needed for scaling the Blue Economy. Cabo Verde, has embraced this concept through the announcement of Blue-X, the first global platform exclusively dedicated to sustainable financing to capitalize on the blue economy at domestic level, but also in the sub-region with the aim of serving other SIDS.
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Invited Contribution: Going circular in the Blue Economy
By Francesca Adrienne and Belinda Bramley, 7th February 2022
Each year, ten million tons of plastic end up in the world's ocean. Abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear, also known as “ghost gear”, is a major contributor. It is a very damaging form of plastic pollution because gear continues floating and fishing long after having been lost or discarded, entangling marine animals, damaging habitats such as coral reefs and reducing socio-economic opportunities.
The Seychelles is a regional hub for industrial tuna fisheries in the Western Indian Ocean, hosting vessels from Asia and Europe. Artisanal fisheries also remain highly important for food security. Whilst the National Waste Policy was designed to ensure waste is managed sustainably, in practice there is no proper waste management system for derelict gear, which is currently dumped at the port.
Recently the Department of Blue Economy was given the opportunity to develop projects that dealt with marine plastics, receiving a grant from the French Embassy in partnership with IRD through their "Fonds de Solidarité pour les Projets Innovants (FSPI)" in 2021 for the Reuse of Derelict Fishing Gear (ReNet) Project. Meanwhile OPAGAC, the Spanish Organisation of Associated Producers of Large Freezer Tuna Vessels, was seeking solutions to manage nets discarded by their fleet, aligned with circular economy principles. Following discussions, the two organizations chose to collaborate on the ReNet Project.
The Project has three components, following the guidelines of the Best Practice Framework for the Management of Fishing Gear developed by the Global Ghost Gear Initiative:
1: Conduct baseline assessment of the issue
2: Develop community initiatives
3: Initiate circular business models and formalize the recycling industry.
It aims to reduce derelict gear from reaching the ocean by collecting it directly from fishing vessels and encouraging circular use of materials in a closed loop system. A single processing facility for all discarded nets would aggregate, clean, shred, bale and sell the nylon, generating profits that stay in Seychelles, creating employment opportunities. Some discarded materials would be made accessible locally for remanufacturing or creation of artisanal products, promoting sustainability, circularity and the percentage of materials reused locally. Raising public awareness on the significance of the problem and promoting the fishing community as guardians of the marine environment are key components.
Elsewhere, Belize has banned the use of gillnets, the most damaging form of gear when lost. Canada is supporting development of less harmful gear to reduce entanglement risks for whales from lobster pot lines. The International Maritime Organisation and UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are supporting 30 countries to prevent, reduce and control marine litter, including ghost gear, through the GloLitter Partnership. This includes capacity building to enforce regulations to prevent discharge of gear and waste into the ocean and development of port waste management plans. Meanwhile the ReNet example from Seychelles offers a clear model for other SIDS to replicate.
This is an abridged version of an article produced for NLAI’s Blue Economy Pulse series, available here.
Francesca Adrienne is Project Manager, ReNet Project at Sustainability for Seychelles (NGO) and Director General for Maritime Boundary Management at the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy.
Belinda Bramley is an ocean solutions consultant and associate at NLAI, a blue economy solutions consultancy.
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Small Island Development States (SIDS) appear on the map as little dots of green in vast stretches of blue. In popular culture, they take turns appearing as idyllic holiday destinations and as tiny landmasses always on the verge of drowning under rising sea level. Just how exposed are these island nations to climate change effects? What makes them extra vulnerable? How are they dealing with this threat? We speak to IHE Delft's Erik de Ruiter van Steveninck.
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The upcoming international landmark UN framework: the new Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework is expected to be adopted at the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) during its forthcoming 15th meeting (CBD COP 15). In this context, as countries adopt a biodiversity framework as a stepping stone towards the 2050 Vision of “Living in harmony with nature”1, it is essential to identify the shared challenges, gaps and constraints that have prevented small island developing states (henceforth SIDS) from meeting their biodiversity goals.
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| Upcoming Opportunities and Events |
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Empower Her: A Partnership to Catalyze Climate Finance
The lack of modern energy access has a female face. The disproportionate impact of lack of energy affects health, productivity, caregiving, education, unpaid labor employment, and overall quality of life of women and girls. Despite these conditions, women entrepreneurs cultivate and grow small enterprises as they strive towards economic independence and income generation. CIP's next call for proposals - EmPower Her will invite clean energy projects that enable productive uses of electricity by women entrepreneurs. The selected projects will receive technical assistance to develop a project concept, develop the business plan, and support subsequent investor outreach. The launch event on International Women’s Day, will feature women leaders from our partner organizations and women entrepreneurs. The launch event programme on International Women's Day:
Register HERE
When: 10 AM EST, 8 March 2022
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The 9th Annual World Ocean Summit: Achieving 2030 targets
The Economist World Ocean Summit is currently taking place until March 4th. This event will be an opportunity to get assessments from more than 100 speakers on how their ocean industries are progressing towards 2030 targets, and what needs to happen next.
Register HERE
When: 1-4 March 2022
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SIDS Global Business Network Forum 2022
UN-OHRLLS and the Government of Palau will convene on 12 April 2022 Small Island Developing States Global Business Network (SIDS-GBN) Forum on the margins of the Our Ocean Conference hosted by Palau.
COVID-19 pandemic has brought into being extensive turmoil in the ocean sector from falling economic activity including fisheries and tourism which SIDS are dependent on. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, SIDS suffered an estimated 70% drop in travel receipts in 2020. The UN World Tourism Organization considers that it could take up to four years for international tourism to recover to levels observed in 2019. According to the OECD, some tourism-dependent SIDS are likely to suffer exceptionally severe GDP contractions. For instance, in Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Fiji, Maldives and Saint Lucia, GDP is predicted to reduce by 16% or more. In addition, for fisheries-dependent SIDS – such as Comoros, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Tuvalu – foreseen GDP drops between 0.5% (Tuvalu) and 4.5% (Marshall Islands). The correct investment, no matter how small, has the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of many island residents. Strong private sectors in SIDS can boost economic activity in areas like renewable energy, job development, competitive exports, technology transfer, reinforced small and medium businesses, and higher living standards.
Register HERE
When: 12 April 2022
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Our Ocean Conference
The Republic of Palau will host the seventh Our Ocean Conference on 13 and 14 April 2022. This marks the first time that the Our Ocean Conference will be hosted by a small island developing state.
The theme of next year's conference is "Our Ocean, Our People, Our Prosperity," which will draw on Palau's rich tradition as an ocean society and focus on islander perspectives and approaches to ensuring the health of our ocean. The 7th Our Ocean Conference will be a key moment for countries, civil society, industry, and youth to commit to concrete and significant actions to protect the ocean.
Recognising that the connection to our ocean must be nurtured with each generation, Our Ocean 2022 will highlight the contributions of young leaders who are innovating and advocating to protect our oceans. If you are aged 18 – 30 and making an impact for our ocean, the Republic of Palau welcomes you to apply to participate in Our Ocean 2022.
When: 13-14 April 2022
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Island Finance Forum 2022
The Island Finance Forum brings together senior financiers, development partners and regulators to share and exchange expertise on sustainable and inclusive financial structures in island communities. The Forum aims to highlight the unique financial challenges faced by global island communities and the solutions for sustainable economic recovery and inclusive growth in a post-pandemic world.
This free virtual event will be accessible to attendees from across the globe in a variety of interactive sessions, including networking opportunities to meet and exchange ideas face to face or in small groups. Attendees can choose which of the topics and sessions they actively participate in and after the event many will also watch and comment on the session recordings.
Register HERE
When: 25-29 April 2022
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UN Ocean Conference (Lisbon, Portugal)
The Ocean Conference, co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Portugal, comes at a critical time as the world is seeking to address many of the deep-rooted problems of our societies laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic and which will require major structural transformations and common shared solutions that are anchored in the SDGs. To mobilize action, the Conference will seek to propel much needed science-based innovative solutions aimed at starting a new chapter of global ocean action.
When: 27 June - 1 July 2022
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