June 2016: The UN Office for the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS) has launched the Small Island Developing States Global Business Network (SIDS-GBN). The Network seeks to connect the SIDS private sector, the international business community, and other national and international stakeholders on areas including oceans, connectivity, sustainable agriculture, sustainable tourism, disaster risk reduction, renewable energy and finance.

The SIDS-GBN was launched during the P3a Conference on public-private partnership that took place from 22-24 March 2016, in Aruba, with the collaboration of the UN, the Government of Aruba and the Netherlands. The SIDS-GBN is an outcome of the Private Sector Partnerships Forum, which took place back-to-back with the Samoa Conference in 2014.

The Network, which is open to all stakeholders, seeks to: increase collaboration among SIDS regional private sector organizations from the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and South China Sea, Caribbean and the Pacific; strengthen inter-regional business alliances, and encourage international businesses to focus on SIDS as a potential market opportunities and vice versa; and foster greater awareness of the importance of sustainable development as a guide to promoting dynamic business sectors in line with the SAMOA Pathway, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

SIDS-GBN consists of an online platform and resource hub to share best practices and lessons learned. It contains sections on: thematic areas (oceans, connectivity, sustainable agriculture, sustainable tourism, disaster risk reduction, renewable energy and financing); support provided by international, regional, national and UN organizations, and capacity building online courses; and resources that can be considered by the network, such as online tools for small businesses, the UN Global Compact Library, and the UN Commodity Trade Statistics Database.

Also on SIDS partnerships, the SIDS Partnership Framework Steering Committee will hold its second meeting on 20 June 2016, in New York. The SIDS Partnership Framework was established by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) following the Samoa Conference to promote the effective and efficient follow-up to existing partnerships, and to encourage new, genuine and durable partnerships for the sustainable development of SIDS. The Steering Committee is chaired by Sebastiano Cardi, Permanent Representative of Italy, and Ahmed Sareer, Permanent Representative of the Maldives. In addition to the Committee, the Partnership Framework includes a partnership reporting template, and the organization of an annual Global Multi-Stakeholder SIDS Partnership Dialogue. [SIDS Global Business Network Platform] [P3a Conference Website] [IISD RS Story on SIDS Partnership Framework]