The Preparatory Committee for the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) held an organizational session, agreeing additional modalities and format of the Conference and its provisional rules of procedure. SIDS4 will convene in Antigua and Barbuda in 2024, on dates to be confirmed.

The document titled, ‘Additional modalities and format of the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States’ (A/CONF.223/2024/PC/L.1), contains the provisional agenda for the Conference, along with proposed organization of work.

‘Provisional rules of procedure of the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States’ (A/CONF.223/2024/PC/L.2) include provisions on representation and credentials, officers, the General Committee, and the Secretariat, as well as provisions pertaining to the opening of the Conference, conduct of business, decision making, and subsidiary bodies, among other rules.

The Preparatory Committee is conducting the organizational, procedural, and substantive preparations for the Conference. In addition to the organizational session, held on 30 May 2023, the Committee will convene twice in the first half of 2024, with each meeting lasting no longer than five days. Its elected Co-Chairs are Thilmeeza Hussain, Permanent Representative of Maldives, and Carolyn Schwalger, the Permanent Representative of New Zealand. Other members of the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee are Barbados, Cabo Verde, the Dominican Republic, Fiji, Italy, Latvia (Rapporteur), Romania, and Seychelles. Samoa (Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)) and SIDS4 host country Antigua and Barbuda are ex officio Bureau members.

In preparation for the Conference, a regional preparatory meeting will convene in each of the three SIDS regions:

• Atlantic, Indian Ocean and South China Sea (AIS): 24-26 July 2023 in Mauritius;
• Caribbean: 8-10 August 2023 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; and
• Pacific: 16-18 August 2023 in Vanuatu.

An interregional preparatory meeting for all SIDS will be held from 30 August to 1 September 2023 in Cabo Verde. The goal of these meetings is to identify and develop input for the Fourth SIDS Conference.  

The UN Secretary-General appointed Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua as the Secretary-General of the Conference. He will guide the intergovernmental and logistical preparations for SIDS4. High Representative for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States Rabab Fatima will serve as Special Adviser for the Conference, leading on advocacy and fundraising.

The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS) will coordinate the inter-agency preparations and contribution of the UN system to the Conference. [Video of Organizational session of Preparatory Committee] [SIDS4 Timeline] [Agenda of Preparatory Committee Meeting] [SIDS on DESA Website] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on SIDS3]