The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility launched a new $135 million Blue and Green Islands Integrated Program (BGI-IP) today during the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4). This initiative aims to emphasize the crucial role of nature and expand nature-based solutions to combat environmental degradation in three key sectors: urban development, food production, and tourism. Targeting 15 SIDS, the program seeks to foster nature-positive changes. Managed by the UNDP and funded by the GEF and partners, this effort represents a new wave of support for SIDS as they embark on the Decade of Action from 2024 to 2034.
The BGI-IP will support 15 SIDS, selected through a competitive “Expressions of Interest” process, representing all SIDS sub-regions: the Caribbean; the Pacific; and the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and South China Sea (AIS). The BGI-IP will provide communities with the resources to expand successful initiatives that solve challenges faced by local people. The program will support sustainable agriculture and fisheries, promote nature-friendly tourism, reduce pollution, and improve resilience to extreme weather events. In partnership with UNEP, FAO, the World Bank, WWF-US, IUCN, and UNCCD, among others, the initiative will provide a crucial and substantial means of support for sustainable economic diversification and job creation ...
