The Wadadli Action Platform

8-9 August 2022

John E. St. Luce Finance & Conference Center

St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) continue to face the combined challenges arising from geographical remoteness, small scale of economies, high costs and the adverse effects of climate change and natural disasters. These challenges have been further exacerbated by the socio-economic fall-out of the COVID-19 pandemic, and many SIDS are still struggling to transition from response to recovery.
With limited time to achieve climate targets and the sustainable development goals, enhanced and accelerated action is needed to strengthen resilience in Small Island Developing States. The international community and all relevant stakeholders have a critical role to play in supporting SIDS, in line with specific circumstances, priorities and needs.
As the sunset for the SAMOA Pathway is also imminent, the priorities of SIDS must also be evaluated in light of the current global situation. This will help identify the action areas for the new development pathway, which will be adopted at the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States in 2024.
In this context, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda in its capacity as Chair of Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) intends to convene the “Wadadli Action Platform” in Antigua from 8 to 9 August 2022, which is aimed at transforming ambition and commitments for enhancing resilience in SIDS into urgent and concrete actions. “Wadadli”, meaning “our own”, signifies the leadership of SIDS in pioneering tailored and sustainable solutions, including through local and traditional knowledge.
The Wadadli Action Platform is in sequel to the Placencia Ambition Forum in 2020, paving the way for future Chairs of the AOSIS to mobilize the global community in support of the priorities of SIDS.
The Wadadli Action Platform will focus on enhancing resilience through reducing vulnerability across social, economic and environmental dimensions in Small Island Developing States. These discussions will form the basis of the considerations for the Fourth SIDS Conference in 2024. Specific priority areas have been identified through the AOSIS Leaders’ Declaration which was adopted in 2021.
The dialogues will take place in eight thematic panels across two days, enveloped by an opening and closing session. During each session, participants will be invited to interact with the panel, including through spin-off groups which will be overseen by a moderator.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES:
  1. Enhanced visibility for challenges faced by SIDS in the era of COVID-19, climate change and other global challenges
  2. New or enhanced partnerships for strengthening long-term resilience in SIDS
  3. Concrete commitments to address the issues in access to development finance that SIDS continue to face
  4. Identification of key priorities and elements to guide the development of the new framework for SIDS at the Fourth International Conference on SIDS.