The Governor of Maldives Monetary Authority Dr. Azeema Adam served as a panellist during a session of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, addressing the progress made and challenges remaining in implementing the SAMOA Pathway, that was adopted at the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States held in Apia, Samoa in September 2014. Dr. Adam opened the panel, drawing attention to the significant challenges facing Small Island Developing States in generating financing for infrastructure projects, and in diversifying the economy to build resilience. She argued while “vulnerability may be the condition in which SIDS have to survive…resilience is the strategy that [SIDS] have to adopt”. She pointed to partnerships as one of the best methods of addressing these challenges, and other sustainable development goals. Dr Adam was joined by His Excellency Aliioaiga Feturi Elisaia, Permanent Representative of Samoa to the United Nations, Professor Andrew Downes, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University Office of Planning and Development, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados, and Mr. Ben Glass, Chief Executive Officer, Altaeros Energies, Boston, Massachusetts.
H.E. Mr. Ahmed Sareer, Ambassador of Maldives, made a statement during the same session, calling for the HLPF to serve as a forum for action, through starting to think deeper and differently about SIDS and their challenges. Ambassador Sareer supported Dr. Adam’s comments on the value of genuine, and durable partnerships and invited new engagement with SIDS. He also highlighted the need for SIDS to strengthen their capacity for data collection and analysis in order to effectively track progress on both the SAMOA Pathway and upcoming Sustainable Development Goals.
The session included many valuable interventions, including from the Major Group for Children and Youth representative who reminded the session of the need for increased education, fostering of entrepreneurship and innovation in SIDS in order to address unemployment. In addition, many countries highlighted the particular vulnerabilities of SIDS to climate change and the importance of financing their adaptation to the effects therein.
The HLPF continues through 8 July, with discussions on how this new forum will realize its mandate as the United Nations moves forward negotiating the Post 2015 Agenda, which includes the Sustainable Development Goals.
ENDS
