Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

On 8 December 2023, the Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin TD, launched Ireland's Second Strategy for Partnership with Small Island Developing States (SIDS), together with SIDS representatives at the AOSIS pavilion at the COP28 Summit in Dubai.

This Global Ireland strategy ensures that Ireland has a long-term and ambitious framework for sustained engagement with this important group of countries. The second strategy builds on the progress achieved since 2019 when Ireland became one of the first countries in the world to develop a dedicated national strategy for SIDS.

Ireland’s Second Strategy for Partnership with SIDS reflects recent opportunities for stronger cooperation, including through the expansion of Ireland’s diplomatic network as part of the Global Ireland initiative, the current Global Ireland regional strategies and Ireland’s growing contribution to the global response to climate change.

It is product of a consultation process with Irish and international stakeholders. Extensive consultations were held with SIDS’ representatives in order to ensure that the strategy reflects their perspectives and priorities and focusses on how Ireland can be most effective in partnering with SIDS to address their unique challenges and to advance our shared priorities.

Ireland’s commitments for this next phase of partnership with SIDS are set out in the strategy Action Plan under the following interlinked pillars:

Building our Partnership

Ireland will work to further broaden and deepen our relationship with SIDS in the African, Asian, Caribbean and Pacific regions, putting in place structures and mechanisms to ensure Ireland is seen as a long-term, reliable partner, and that an understanding of SIDS’ needs and priorities is mainstreamed across our foreign, development and other relevant polices.

Climate and Oceans

Ireland will work to ensure that the climate challenges faced by Pacific, Caribbean, Asian and African SIDS and their ocean-related priorities are systematically reflected in our policy and funding decisions, and that our climate action and advocacy respond to SIDS’ needs. We will increase our annual climate finance funding to at least €225m per year and ensure it targets countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, prioritising SIDS and Least Developed Countries.

Capacity

Ireland will undertake a series of initiatives to help our SIDS partners address their capacity needs at country level and to facilitate their participation in international policy discussions relevant to their needs and priorities. We will also continue to support international agencies working on SIDS-related issues or on SIDS’ behalf.

Advocacy

We want Ireland to be an advocate for SIDS, using our influence within the UN, EU, OECD, and elsewhere, including in coordination with likeminded countries, to ensure SIDS’ needs and priorities are better understood.

The full text of the second strategy is available at:

Ireland’s Second Strategy for Partnership with Small Island Developing States

Dara Straitéis na hÉireann maidir le Comhpháirtíocht le Stáit Oileánacha Bheaga i mBéal Forbartha

The following documents may also be of interest:

Review of the Implementation of Ireland’s first Strategy for Partnership with Small Island Developing States

Ireland's first Strategy for Partnership with Small Island Developing States