Preparations for the International Meeting

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Preparations for the International Meeting

• to review implementation of the Barbados Program
  of Action
• AOSIS expectations from the preparations and the
  review process

2
The process of the review

• Need to ensure the widest possible SIDS ownership
  of the review,within and between
• national level consultations and draft reports
  (March-December 2003)
• regional preparatory meetings (late 2003)
• thematic expert group meetings (through 2003)
• inter-regional preparatory meeting (early 2004)
• International Meeting (end of August 2004)

3
General Assembly mandate

• Called on SIDS and international community to
  provide information on implementation
• Reduce reporting burden on SIDS - funding needed,
  short single questionnaire
• DESA to develop modalities, coordinate
  preparations and meetings, in consultation with
  SIDS and SIDS regional organizations
• Internal UN coordination needed

4
National review

• Questionnaire developed in close consultation
  with SIDS Governments and SIDS experts
• Builds on WSSD reports, as well as other relevant
  reports - bear in mind different stages
• Involvement of stakeholders - seeks to draw in
  the various sectors relevant to sustainable
  development
• Information gathered should be used by all UN
  system

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Contents of the questionnaire

• Looks at information relevant to the sectoral
  chapters of BPOA - progress, linkages, etc.
• climate change, natural disasters, etc.
• Brings in cross-cutting issues, as well as MDGs
• trade
• investment
• capacity building
• cooperation

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1. Socio-economic context

• Allows for descriptive setting of report and
  national circumstances
• Physical and geographic (coral atolls,
  archipelago, volcanic, etc
• Structure of economy (what is dominant sector of
  economy, etc)
• Key constraints (population growth, resource
  depletions, capacity needs, etc)

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2. National framework for sustainable development

• What structures have been put in place?
• What is the membership of any committee or
  commission dealing with sustainable development
• How successful has the committee been?
• Describe reasons for success
• Development of national sustainable development
  strategy?

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3. Progress made and obstacles encountered

• Consideration of sectoral chapters, eg climate
  change - eg. issues on the ratification
• Ensure full utilization of the national
  communication and other reports where available
• Key importance of using climate change focal
  points and national framework established for FCCC

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4. Cross-sectoral issues

• Introduction to trade, investment, capacity
  building and cooperation
• Seeking out information on appropriate
  structures, corrective actions taken
• Attempts to gather information relevant to
  vulnerability studies
• Holistic view of sustainable development

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5. Millennium Development Goals

• Essential that SIDS address the MDG and outline
  relevance of BPOA
• Show how poverty in SIDS context have special
  circumstances
• Outlines for successful education cooperation
• In implementing BPOA, SIDS implement MDG

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6 EMERGING CONCERNS AND SPECIAL
NEEDSInformation on any emerging concerns eg.
the impacts of security concerns, drug trade,
fiscal shocks, or a summary project partnership
proposals/conceptsSpecial initiatives for the
regional and inter-regional level
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Next steps

• All SIDS that require funding should have access
  ASAP
• All SIDS should have draft national reports by
  end December 2003 (posted on SIDSNet)
• Can be refined, revisited and adjusted
• Final versions can be produced in time for
  International Meeting (August 2004)
• Gather relevant input from other SIDS and from
  expert meetings

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Regional Meetings

• Pacific Apia, Samoa 4-8 August
• Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South
  China Sea Group, Praia, Cape Verde, 1-5 September
• Caribbean Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 6
  to 9 October
• SIDS organizations, experts, NGOs invited
• Synthesize the key concerns and constraints, and
  develop solutions and best practices

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Output from regional Meetings

• Regional position papers to be developed
• To be based on the format of the questionnaires
• Since region has draft reports, should be able to
  do their position paper here in Port of Spain
• Should inform the SIDS Unit and AOSIS in the
  preparations for Bahamas
• SIDS Unit should synthesize the key concerns and
  constraints, and hence suggest solutions and best
  practices but can only do so if there is
  information from SIDS

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Inter-regional Meeting

• Will be held end January 2004, Bahamas, organized
  by DESA through SIDS Unit
• Brings together all SIDS
• Develop concrete suggestions for a strategy of
  implementation for BPOA
• Develop elements for a Mauritius Declaration

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International Preparatory Meeting

• Will be held in context of 12th session of
  Commission on Sustainable Development meeting at
  UN (decision now considered)
• Presentation of key SIDS concerns and strategy
  for implementation
• Development of Mauritius Agenda
• Further refinement of elements for a Mauritius
  Declaration

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International Meeting

• Mauritius August September 2004
• High Level Segment
• Plans for civil society forum, SIDS business
  forum, cultural events, eminent persons group
• Adoption of Mauritius Declaration and agreement
  on further implementation

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Conclusion

• National preparations are very important, hence
  need for adequate funding for national report
  preparations
• AOSIS needs to develop its position on the new
  emerging issues of trade, security, HIV/AIDS and
  the improvement of cooperation
• SIDS must go to Bahamas well informed, including
  the expert meetings
• Build on common and shared strengths
• Make SIDS sustainable development leaders
• International Meeting may be last chance to make
  the special case for SIDS

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