This pre-conference Forum will take place ahead of the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Forum will promote opportunities for Major Groups and other stakeholders from SIDS to develop partnerships with each other and with potential supporters, with the overall aim of promoting the sustainable development of SIDS. The Forum aims to integrate gender equality and human rights advocacy into discussions around SIDS, the Beijing+20 Review and the post-2015 development agenda. Civil society partnerships are envisaged in six priority areas: climate change and disaster risk management; oceans, seas and biodiversity; water and sanitation, food security and waste management; sustainable economic development; sustainable energy; and social development, including health and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), youth and women. The Forum is also expected to assist in mobilizing resources for a proposed Civil Society Sustainability Fund. A welcome event will take place on the evening of 28 August.  

date: 29 August 2014  
location: Apia, Tuamasaga, Samoa  
contact: UN DESA NGO Branch  
www: http://www.sids2014.org/index.php?menu=1569
 http://www.sids2014.org/content/documents/330SIDS%20MGoS%20Concept%20Note_%20June%2018%202014v2.pdf