STEERING COMMITTEE ON PARTNERSHIPS FOR SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES
Statement by H.E Ambassador James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
30 May 2025
Thank you very much, Co-Chairs. Let me first acknowledge the critical work of civil society across the three SIDS regions and their comprehensive efforts to develop recommendations to strengthen the implementation of the ABAS and the SIDS Partnership Framework.
I was honoured to lead the Australian delegation in Antigua and Barbuda. We remain firmly committed to that agenda. We look forward to the finalisation of a monitoring and evaluation framework for the ABAS and we remain keenly interested in the operationalisation of the multidimensional vulnerability index.
Australia recognises crucial role of civil society in advancing sustainable development. They support locally led development initiatives, are well positioned to understand and respond to local needs and priorities, advocate for inclusive governance, and fill gaps in essential services.
We recognise the importance of effective and inclusive stakeholder engagement in implementation of ABAS and the need for clear pathways for civil society participation in development efforts.
As we consider the recommendations from the SIDS Civil Society Engagement Forum, Australia sees this as an important opportunity to boost the capacity of civil society across SIDS to facilitate effective and inclusive development as highlighted in Recommendation 3.
Second, as the SIDS agenda transitions from commitment to implementation, we recognise the importance of building functional bridges between local communities and international frameworks and policy.
Australia’s commitment to locally led development and strengthening regional partnerships was evident through a $35 million commitment to a Civil Society Partnerships Fund in 2024.
The fund aims to support civil society organisations and address the challenges of shrinking civic space in many parts of the world, including in the Pacific.
Australia recognises that funding and resources are the key to enable successful SIDS civil society engagement. We encourage consideration of existing avenues, such as the Civil Society Partnerships Fund, to ensure less fragmentation of available structures and resources.
Finally, we are also aware that SIDS-SIDS collaboration remains a key challenge because of barriers such as high costs of engagement due to geographic locations and remoteness.
Building genuine partnerships between stakeholders based on respect, listening, and learning from each other is critical for effective and inclusive development and for ensuring no one is left behind. We look forward to the consideration of Recommendation 4 to enable a stronger, unified civil society voice.
We consider the regional specific recommendation on a Living Map of the Pacific would enable greater connectivity between civil society organisations in our region, reducing fragmentation and simplifying access to existing mechanisms. This is something which warrants further consideration.
Thank you.