November 2013: The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), on behalf of the Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific (CROP) Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG,) has released a series of 31 issue briefs. The briefs aim to support Pacific countries in their preparations for the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) taking place in 2014, and in the broader post-2015 development agenda consultations.

Issue briefs are available on the following topics: the special case for SIDS; enabling environment; climate change, disaster risk management; Pacific Ocean; waste management; finance and national debt; poverty social protection; youth; health; non-communicable diseases (NCDs); gender; quality education; disability; energy; infrastructure; food security; trade; human rights and governance; development coordination; land resources; monitoring development progress; culture; biodiversity; tourism and sustainable development; science and technology; ecosystem based adaptation; water and sanitation; employment; and ocean fisheries.

Samoa will host the SIDS Conference in Apia from 1-4 September 2014. [PIFS Briefing Documents]