SIDS Solutions Forum report

Book excerpt: On the 30 and 31 August 2021, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Government of Fiji and the International Tele¬communication Union (ITU), organized a successful Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Solutions Forum. The theme of the SIDS Solutions Forum was: “COVID-19 impacts on the economy and the potential of digitalization and innovation to accelerate progress on resilient agrifood systems; improved nutrition and health; and strengthened climate resilience adaptation within the context of achieving the Sustainable Development Goas (SDGs).” About 1 600 people from various countries attended the Forum, either virtually or physically, in Apia, Samoa. Nine Heads of States/governments and 20 ministers from SIDS; the President Elect of the UN General Assembly (UNGA); Agriculture Ministers from China and Ireland; the Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS); the Secretary General of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS); the Director General of FAO and eight heads of other UN and regional agencies; and senior representatives of International Financing Institutions (IFIs) were notable attendees. There were also 11 SIDS solutions innovators, women and youth leaders, parliamentarians, policy makers, UN and development partner officials, academics, researchers, farmers, and fishers in attendance. Participants of the SIDS Solutions Forum made several recommendations, which are summarized into 12 key action points.