Vision and mission of the SIDS Youth Network is to create a sustainable network that promotes and facilitates knowledge sharing, youth participation, collaboration and friendship within and between SIDS.

A series of teams have been established to guide different aspects of young people’s participation:i) Oversight of group activity: - Global Coordination Committee (including M&E)ii) Core functions of the Network: - Communication & Advocacy Team (including web) - Policy Team - Partnership/Collaboration/Fund-Raising Team - 2014 SIDS Conference Teamiii) Technical level inputs: - Climate Change & Biodiversity Group - Education, Employment & Entrepreneurship Group - Governance & Health Group - Science & Technology GroupDuring 2014, the Network will be seeking to establish a partnership fund to support network activities. This fund will be very focused on facilitating concrete action by young people on the ground in the way that Youth Visioning for Island Living (see http://youthvisioning.org/) supported youth developed and led activities in SIDS following the Mauritius Conference. The key differences will be that this fund will be open to donations and contributions, and it will be managed by young people (with appropriate oversight to ensure appropriate transparency and good financial practices).

The types of projects that would be supported include:• On-ground actions for sustainability such as tree planting, reef protection, waste management• Training of young people to build skills for advocacy, project management, and technical areas related to sustainable development• Inter- and intra-regional exchange to build collaboration between and within the regional groupings

As this network is youth-led, it is expected that leadership should come from members themselves. Though young people are expected to be the leaders in the process and contribute voluntary time, there is a need for support mechanisms. Recognising the different situations of SIDS across the three regions, focal points in each region will build on and strengthen existing national and regional structures, rather than duplicating them.

Major Group for Children and Youth, Pacific Youth Network, Caribbean Youth Network, AIMS Youth Network, UNESCO, UNICEF