18 March 2015: An expert group meeting on the science-policy interface (SPI) in small island developing States (SIDS) explored ways to strengthen SPI in SIDS, to inform the 2015 edition of the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR). It also sought to advance the implementation of the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and of the SAMOA Pathway. The latter was the outcome document of the Third International Conference on SIDS.

The meeting was organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission, on 16-18 March 2015, in Saint Lucia. Representatives of SIDS governments, academia and regional and international entities considered clusters of issues including: poverty, economic growth, social development; food security, health, water, human settlements; climate change, energy, disaster risk reduction (DRR); and oceans and biodiversity (marine and terrestrial). They identified good practices and key challenges common to all three SIDS regions, including: unpredictable funding for SIDS-owned initiatives; “brain drain”; and failure to capitalize on the SIDS diaspora.

The meeting’s discussions highlighted the need for: effective communication between policy makers, the research community and scientific experts; a robust engagement of relevant stakeholders including civil society, the private sector and local communities for the successful implementation of policy; integrated approaches to scientific research and policy-making; enhancing inter-regional exchange (including between the Pacific Community, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China Seas (AIMS) region); and using SIDS-based data, statistics and research, as well as indigenous knowledge.

Participants underlined the importance of institutionalizing: “research days” and “research weeks” to strengthen links between policy makers and scientists; and community engagement by building “outreach to local communities into all research projects.” They also called for expanding the practice of including scientists on policy advisory committees and boards, of building cross-disciplinary research teams, and of inter-ministerial consultations on important sustainable development policy issues.

The GSDR is a UN publication mandated by the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) to support decision-making and strengthen the SPI at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). The 2015 edition will discuss SIDS within a broader chapter on Countries in Special Situations. [SIDSnet News] [Government of Saint Lucia Press Release] [GSDR 2015 Webpage] [SAMOA Pathway] [IISD Sources]