From 1-4 September 2014, the Government of Samoa hosted the Third international Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the first international conference of its size ever held in the Pacific. The Conference highlighted the urgent challenges facing SIDS and provided a forum for the discussion of practical actions to address them.

The Conference theme, "the sustainable development of SIDS through genuine and durable partnerships," was elaborated through a series of multi-stakeholder partnership dialogues with themes representing many of the SIDS top priorities including Sustainable Economic Development; Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management; Social Development; Sustainable Energy; Oceans, Seas and Biodiversity; and Water and Sanitation and Food Security. The dialogues provided opportunities for representatives of SIDS and their partners in governments, the private sector and civil society to share experiences and plans and, in many cases, to announce new or expanded SIDS-focused partnerships.

These partnerships, and the many objectives detailed in the outcome of the Conference, the SAMOA Pathway, will have meaning for the SIDS only with thorough and robust implementation. With this in mind, the current special stocktaking event aims to begin analysing the Conference outcome, laying the groundwork for follow-up, and ensuring the accountability and engagement of all stakeholders.

SIDS 2014 Conference website