Commonwealth at the Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4)

The fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) will be hosted by Antigua & Barbuda in May 2024, bringing world leaders together to agree on a bold new programme of action for SIDS.

This new 10-year plan will focus on practical and impactful solutions to keep SIDS afloat and give their citizens a sustainable and safe future.

The Commonwealth includes 33 small states, of which 25 are small island developing states (SIDS). The Commonwealth is a voice for the smallest and most vulnerable.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, is leading a team of international policy experts from the Commonwealth Secretariat to SIDS4.

A voice for small states

The team will engage in advocacy for urgent global issues impacting the Commonwealth Small States, especially SIDS. The team will work to amplify the voice of small states and climate-vulnerable countries of the Commonwealth, strengthen networks and partnerships and exchange knowledge and best practices to support access to climate finance and champion resilience in member countries.

Addressing the specific challenges of SIDS

The conference will seek to deliver specific initiatives and concrete deliverables to address SIDS-specific challenges including the climate crisis, biodiversity and spiralling debt.

The Commonwealth Secretariat will be participating with the aim of:

advocating the interests of Commonwealth member countries, esp. small and other vulnerable states
exchanging knowledge and best practices
establishing and strengthening partnerships and networks, and
mobilising resources for SIDS