Background & Objectives
OACPS Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face unique vulnerabilities: small size, narrow resource bases, remoteness, and high exposure to climate change impacts such as sea-level rise, storms, floods, droughts, coral bleaching, and coastal erosion. These challenges exacerbate poverty, debt, food security, and freshwater scarcity. At the same time, SIDS host rich biodiversity—coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves—critical for livelihoods and sustainable development, yet threatened by overexploitation, pollution, and invasive species.
General Objective: Contribute to implementing the SAMOA Pathway by supporting sustainable management, use, and conservation of coastal and marine resources in OACPS SIDS.
Specific Objective: Strengthen coordination, communication, and knowledge management among OACPS SIDS to enhance sustainable resource management, climate resilience, and access to technical and financial resources.
Key Activities
- Establish a Project Management Unit (PMU) to liaise with regional partners (SPREP, OECS, CEPF) and EU Delegations (Fiji, Barbados, Mauritius); build partnerships with relevant agencies and programmes.
- Design and implement a Knowledge Management Strategy; facilitate north-south, south-south, and triangular cooperation; produce knowledge products for OACPS website and social media; share insights via capacity4dev.eu.
- Develop and implement an Outreach, Awareness-raising and Visibility Strategy; produce materials; support side events at global conferences; comply with EU Communication and Visibility Manual and OACPS Visual Identity Guide.
- Assess international climate and biodiversity financing for OACPS SIDS; assist SIDS Forum in developing financing strategies and policy guidelines; prepare outline proposals for future projects.
- Organise OACPS SIDS Forum meetings; support SIDS in developing joint positions for multilateral negotiations on environment and sustainability.
Results
- Output 1: Synergies fostered between regional entities and initiatives, particularly EU-funded programmes BioScapes, BioSpace, and BioClimate.
- Output 2: Relevant Knowledge Management Systems developed and used for sensitization, sustainability, and advocacy for SIDS and coastal countries.
- Output 3: Awareness-raising and Visibility Strategy for SIDS-specific issues, vulnerabilities, and potential developed and implemented.
- Output 4: Access to technical and financial resources for OACPS SIDS and coastal countries facilitated.
- Output 5: Dialogue and exchange of experience on environmental sustainability, climate change, and related issues enhanced.
