4 September 2014: The Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) took place from 1-4 September 2014, in Apia, Samoa, on the theme of ‘The Sustainable Development of SIDS Through Genuine and Durable Partnerships.’ The Conference produced an outcome document, titled ‘SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway,’ which was negotiated during the preparatory process at UN Headquarters in New York, US, and adopted during the closing plenary.

The SAMOA Pathway (A/CONF.223/3) reaffirms that SIDS remain a special case for sustainable development, recognizing SIDS’s ownership and leadership in overcoming these challenges. It addresses the following issues: sustained and sustainable, inclusive and equitable economic growth with decent work for all; climate change; sustainable energy; disaster risk reduction (DRR); oceans and seas; food security and nutrition; water and sanitation; sustainable transport; sustainable consumption and production (SCP); health and non-communicable diseases (NCDs); gender equality and women’s empowerment; social development; biodiversity, including desertification, land degradation, drought and forests; invasive alien species (IAS); means of implementation, including partnerships, financing, trade, capacity-building, technology, data and statistics, and institutional support for SIDS; SIDS priorities for the post-2015 agenda; and monitoring and accountability.

In closing remarks, Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister, Samoa, expressed hope that the Outcome Document would become a blueprint for immediate action. He stressed the importance of addressing SIDS’s concerns in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the post-2015 development agenda as well as at upcoming events, including the UN Climate Summit and the Third Global Conference on DRR.

Many countries and organizations announced new pledges and partnerships at the Conference, with the aim of boosting SIDS’ capacity to achieve sustainable development. By the close of the meeting, 297 partnerships were recorded. In his closing remarks, Conference Secretary-General Wu Hongbo said the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) has been entrusted to monitor commitments, pledges and partnerships made in Samoa, and will report to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on progress made. He said the UN family will redouble its efforts to provide coordinated support to SIDS, and offered assurances that SIDS concerns will feed into the Financing for Development (FfD) Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2015.

In parallel with plenary discussions, six multi-stakeholder Partnership Dialogues took place on the themes of: sustainable economic development; climate change and disaster risk management (DRM); social development, health and NCDs, youth and women; sustainable energy; oceans, seas and biodiversity; and water and sanitation, food security and waste management. Forums organized by youth, Major Groups and other Stakeholders, the renewable energy sector and the private sector took place prior to the conference.

Alongside the formal proceedings, many side events took place on issues of importance to SIDS, such as graduation from least developed country (LDC) status, concessional financing, scientific monitoring and assessment, and resilience building. The conference also highlighted the cultural traditions of the host country, Samoa, and other island nations, with daily displays of traditional dance, textiles, woodcarving and other crafts in the ‘SIDS Village.’

Twenty-one heads of state and government and 3,500 delegates attended the conference, including representatives from government, the private sector and civil society. [IISD RS Coverage of SIDS Conference] [UN Meeting Summary] [UN Press Release] [UNEP Press Release] [UN Press Release on SIDS Partnerships, Women and Youth] [A/CONF.223/3]