|
Are you interested in exploring innovation, building networks and sharing your ideas to promote the sustainable development of SIDS?
|
|
|
We are pleased to present the new SparkBlue SIDS platform. SparkBlue is a newly revamped online platform which allows for dynamic dialogue in over 100 local languages. The platform allows us to connect and share information internally and externally, this new interactive and dynamic platform responds to requests from countries, donors and other key SIDS actors. The first e-discussion "Let's Talk Plastics" will be launched soon, find more details below. Stay tuned to engage in more dynamic discussions, discover podcasts, read the latest publications and reports relevant for SIDS and join collaborative idea-generating challenges in innovative formats.
|
|
 |
IRENA and UNDP join forces for green recovery in São Tomé e Príncipe through the Climate Investment Platform
Like many SIDS, São Tomé e Príncipe is highly vulnerable to the economic crisis triggered by COVID-19. UNDP and IRENA are collaborating with the government of São Tomé e Príncipe to respond to energy development challenges. UNDP and IRENA under the leadership of the government has put forward a programme entitled the Sustainable Transformational Energy Platform and Upscaling Partnerships Project (STEP-UP) to outline its approach through the Climate Investment Platform (CIP). A joint initiative by UNDP, IRENA, SEforALL and the GCF, CIP aims to declutter the climate finance space and bring in the funding countries need for their energy transition in an efficient and impactful way. STEP-UP aims to channel increased financing for reliable and affordable energy access for the health, education and tourism sectors; strengthen collaboration and partnerships among existing initiatives: build the capacity of local actors for renewable energy projects; and explore partnerships for clean cooking. Consistent with the CIP’s global strategy, partnerships are the cornerstone of STEP-UP, which is set to build on the success of existing initiatives such as the rehabilitation of a mini hydro-power plant on Principe island on the Papagaio river, jointly led by UNDP and the African Development Bank to attract participation from the private sector. This solution will be replicated in other SIDS and help the country build back better and greener towards reaching targets on energy transition and emissions reductions.
Image: Riad Meddeb, UNDP
|
|
 |
Private sector networks all over the world have taken an active role in the coronavirus response and recovery efforts, supporting and collaborating with their governments and international organisations. At the same time, many countries are facing other types of hazards, for example, tropical storms, while dealing with the current reality of social distancing, disrupted logistics and new protocols for hygiene. There is an urgent need to bring together all possible actors, including the private sector, to prepare for the hazards under these special circumstances. The Connecting Business initiative (CBi), jointly led by UNDP and OCHA, is supporting private sector networks, many in SIDS, to respond and recover from COVID-19 and share learnings about multi-stakeholder response to natural disasters during the COVID-19 crisis. In Vanuatu CBi supports the Vanuatu Business Resilience Council, demonstrating the central role of the private sector for recovery. This successful example from Vanuatu can be replicated in many other SIDS across the regions. Find resources and updates about CBi here.
Image: Glen Craig / Vanuatu Business Resilience Council
|
|
 |
|
How Tuvalu wields state-of-the-art new data in
the fight against climate change
As the COVID-19 pandemic has proven yet again, data is crucial to understanding challenges and responding effectively. Similarly, data is key to tackle climate change including sea level rise which seriously threatens low-lying atoll countries such as Tuvalu. Until now, accurate data on land height has not been available for many of the atoll islands in the Pacific. To combat this, the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project, a partnership between the Green Climate Fund and UNDP, has been employing state-of-the-art technology to rapidly collect precise information on land surface height and sea floor depth. The revolutionary technology is an empowering tool to inform long-term adaptation strategies. Following the success in Tuvalu, other Pacific countries are now looking to replicate the project. Tuvalu is showing leadership in digital transformation, the third pillar of the UNDP SIDS offer. Read more about the use of pioneering digital technology to improve climate action in Tuvalu.
Image: Aurélia Rusek/UNDP
|
|
 |
|
With an ocean area of 3.5 million square km, Kiribati is indeed a Large Ocean State. The country is one of the world's most fisheries-dependent. Healthy oceans are vital for the country. To support Kiribati increase food security, the government of Kiribati through GEF's Least Developed Countries Fund initiated a project to promote climate-resilient farming and decrease food import dependency on three of its islands. The project focused on reviving local crops as well as reviving traditional communal work events called te karononga. In the midst of COVID-19, lock-downs and the global economic crisis it has caused, building resilience and boosting self-sufficiency is essential for SIDS to recover and improve their ability to withstand future crises. Climate action continues to be at the heart of UNDP's SIDS offer amidst COVID-19 to enable prosperous futures for the people and communities of SIDS. Read more about the successes of this project here.
Image: Kate Jean Smith, UNDP
|
|
 |
|
Increasing energy security and financial inclusion through innovative pay-as-you-go solar energy initiative
Energy accessibility is a large problem in many SIDS, in Papua New Guinea 80% of the population lack access to grid electricity. This causes obstacles for people and communities and limits the ability of operating businesses. To support in mitigating this issue, and reaching the targets of SDG 7 on accessibility and reliability, the start-up SolaPayGo is supplying pay-as-you-go solar power kits to small businesses and homes. Through the Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme, a joint UNCDF and UNDP initiative, the has helped small businesses and homes to have a stable source of electricity. This also enables them to gain more reliable access to digital financial services. Learn more about how this initiative leads to financial inclusion here.
Image: SolaPayGo
|
|
 |
For SIDS, remittances are a crucial source of income. In Pacific islands such as Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati, Fiji and Tuvalu they are especially key. In Tonga, remittances represent some 38.5% of the GDP, the highest proportion in the world. COVID-19 is having devastating impacts on remittance flows worldwide, the World Bank expects remittance inflows to decrease by approximately 20%. The Pacific Island Forum Secretariat is supporting the call to action to improve access to sending and receiving remittances and reduce transfer costs during COVID-19. Read more about the importance of remittances for the lives of migrants and their families, the impact on local economies and communities and the global call to action here.
|
|
 |
|
UNDP's Administrator, Achim Steiner, participated in this virtual TED Talk to discuss the role of partnerships between states and the financial, communications, technology and insurance sectors to rebuild stronger, greener economies post-pandemic. For SIDS building durable and genuine partnerships is at the heart of the SAMOA Pathway and crucial to overcoming the structural challenges that are being exacerbated by the global crisis. Aligning with this call, partnerships across sectors forms the basis for UNDP's SIDS offer Rising Up for SIDS. Listen to the TED Talk to explore how we can think forward in the field of development post COVID-19.
|
|
As businesses grapple with the impacts of COVID-19 and the larger crisis the pandemic has caused, UNDP's SIDS Accelerator Lab network and partners are innovating to find new ways to support communities and businesses. MSMEs are important to SIDS' economies including their tourism sector. Responding to COVID-19 and building back better relies on unlocking the potential of digital tools. While digital divides persist across SIDS, their governments, UNDP and partners are committed to working towards bridging these gaps. With joint efforts SIDS are becoming incubators for innovation for building back better. This new step-by-step guide by UNDP Barbados and OECS is designed to help businesses re-tool and discover new ways to reach customers. The possibility of replicating this initiative in other SIDS in currently being explored. Find the guides here and learn more about guide nr. 1 from the video above.
|
|
 |
Tourism accounts for over 30% of total exports in the majority of SIDS, reaching as much as 80% in some. In a recent report the WTO estimates that international tourism arrival could drop by 60% - 80% in 2020. The global decline in tourism is having major consequence for SIDS as the main driver of many of these economies. This translates into massive jobs losses and will harm SIDS' abilities to service their large debt burdens. As the tourism sector reopens rigorous safety and health measures must be in place, as WTO outlines in their report. Furthermore, this is an opportunity to rebuild a tourism sector that is more sustainable. SIDS’ unique nature is their greatest resource, holding significance for their culture, economies and livelihoods and is driver of the tourism industry. A new model of tourism should work in symbiosis with nature, ensuring that SIDS can safeguard their biodiversity that is at the heart of their identities.
|
|
 |
|
Biomimicry: Learning from Nature to Build Back Better
What can we learn from the structure of shark skin to reduce energy consumption or bacterial contamination? What can a Manta ray inspire us to better harness the energy of the seas? A mangrove to de-salinize seawater? How can a forest, or a coral reef, gives us lessons in business or territory strategies? The diversity of life has a lot to teach us about stimulating innovations that are compatible with our beautiful planet.
UNDP's eighth interactive dialogue for SIDS featured a discussion about the potentials of biomimicry for strengthening resilience and preparing for sustainable futures towards regenerative economies post COVID-19. Joined by Tarik Chekchak a leading expert and director of the biomimicry pole of the Institute for Desirable Futures this conversation presented an out-of-the-box approach to problem solving and design and how SIDS can benefit from this approach to build back better and achieve transformational change. Continuing this conversation will be beneficial for UNDP's SIDS Accelerator Lab to innovate and find new solutions inspired by the wonders of nature.
Watch the webinar here to learn more
|
|
The next phase of UNDP’s COVID-19 crisis response is designed to help decision-makers look beyond recovery, towards 2030, making choices and managing complexity and uncertainty in four main areas: governance, social protection, green economy, and digital disruption. It encompasses our role in technically leading the UN’s socio-economic response. Click to watch a short video about UNDP's four main offers to build back better and read the offer here.
|
|
|
For SIDS, the impacts of COVID-19 go far beyond the health crisis. As the technical lead for the UN system on socio-economic response, UNDP has conducted under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinators and finalized Socio-Economic Impact Assessments in 9 SIDS, led in close cooperation with the UN agencies and partners. Several more impact assessments in SIDS are in progress. Read the analyses from Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritius & Seychelles, São Tomé e Príncipe, Maldives, Jamaica here.
|
|
|
This podcast from Maldives aims to spread solutions, lessons learned, and stories inside and outside UNDP in the context of COVID-19. The first episode Raushan Ali Firaq from UNDP Maldives, who tells us about the first virtual social innovation camp held in the Maldives, a part of the 'Miyaheli' series, that connected changemakers to create innovative ideas to fight the pandemic. Click here to listen and follow upcoming episodes!
|
|
|
Digital tools and solutions are powerful for not only adaptation and recovery efforts but building back better. In response to COVID-19, this FREE introduction to over 12 no/low cost software tools was designed by Sade Jemmott Consulting on behalf of UNDP to build MSME capacity for digital business and the #eFuture. The course provides an easily accessible way for MSMEs to learn how to employ digital tools to survive the global crisis and thrive post recovery. Enroll in the course here.
|
|
|
 |
|
Let's Talk Plastics and Find Solutions!
This e-discussion was only the beginning and we look forward to hosting our next discussion on Plastics in SIDS. This discussion will be conducted through the new SparkBlue SIDS platform which will be launched next week. Through this discussion we hope to learn more about the unique challenges SIDS face when it comes to plastics and waste management and explore experiences, lessons learnt and innovations. This will allow us to develop a global initiative and mobilize resources to respond through the SIDS offer, build partnerships, improve upon the support we provide and continue to innovate to protect the rare and beautiful ecosystems of SIDS.
Image: Rich Carey/ Shutterstock.com
|
|
Even in the face of COVID-19, climate change remains the single greatest threat to Pacific livelihoods. With the threats and pandemic-induced shutdown all around the globe, how have the Pacific Island States and territories managed and how are they addressing threats to Climate Action and maintaining momentum before COP26? Can COVID-19 provide a platform for transformative change and opportunities for green recovery options? The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme invites you to a webinar to discuss these issues.
|
|
|
|
|
Please log in or sign up to comment.