IOC-UNESCO, UN/OHRLLS and ¬ DOALOS/OLA jointly organised the Joint Experts Group Meeting on the Significance of Marine Science and Technology for SIDS and the importance of Capacity Building and Marine Technologies Transfer to SIDS to support Sustainable Development from 14 to 19 May 2013 at the UN Headquarters in New York. The purpose of the meeting was to consult with SIDS members on their capacity requirements in order to supplement the draft IOC’s capacity development strategic plan for marine science. The Strategic Plan is being developed as a result of a voluntary commitment taken by IOC during the Rio+20 Conference. It will be considered by the Executive Council of IOC/UNESCO during its meeting of June 2014.

In support of Rio+20 outcome paragraph 180 - Convene a Third International Conference on SIDS in 2014 invite the General Assembly at its 67th Session to determine the modalities of the Conference