Accelerate implementation of SDG 6 in SIDS - How does the UN System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation support SIDS?

Date: Monday, 27 May 2024

Time:12:00-13:30 EST

Venue: Overflow Interactive Dialogue Room, American University of Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda

Co-organizers:

• Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) of Germany

• United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)

• UN-Water

This is a UNEP side event at the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States.

Event Overview:

This side event will bring together government representatives, civil society groups and other major stakeholders in SIDS to discuss the challenges of and necessary support for SDG 6 implementation in SIDS, often hindered by their unique vulnerabilities, including small size of economy and resources, geographical remoteness, and exposure to exogenous economic, social and environmental shocks. The side event will present preliminary findings of UN DESA’s corresponding study on how to accelerate the achievement of SDG 6 in SIDS and discuss how to enhance water-resilience in the context of climate-change and the water-food-energy nexus. These conversations will help translate those needs into tangible action items by the UN System. The event aims to develop key messages about the importance of sustainable water management, including sanitation, which will contribute to the outcome of the SIDS Conference.

Panelists:

• Moderator: Mr. Tomoyuki Okada (Senior Programme Management Officer, UN DESA)
• Ms. Jennifer Lee Morgan (State Secretary and Special Envoy for International Climate Action, Federal Foreign Office of Germany)
• H.E. Dr. Maliki Osman (Minister in the Prime Minister's Office of Singapore)
• Dr. Yoermes González Haramboure (Principal Specialist, National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INRH) of Cuba)
• Ms. Kelly Ann Naylor (UN-Water representative, and Lead writer of the UN System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation)
• Ms. Marisha Wojciechowska (Lead writer of the SIDS study report)
• Ms. Diane Quarless (Director, Caribbean Subregional Headquarters, UN ECLAC)
• Mr. Alex Ifill (Manager of Water Resources Management and Environment, Barbados Water Authority)
• Ms. Artie Dubrie (Coordinator, Sustainable Development and Disaster Unit, UN ECLAC)
• Ms. Leticia Carvalho (Head of Marine and Freshwater Branch, UNEP)

More Information:

• UNEP's Lakes Portal
• UNEP's work on fresh water
• The Freshwater Challenge
• UNEP's work on SIDS