1. Background

The Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), held in Antigua and Barbuda in May 2024, adopted the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS – A Declaration for Renewed Prosperity (ABAS) which was subsequently endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly on 16 July 2024 (A/RES/78/317). ABAS is the fourth international programme of action for SIDS, setting out sustainable development priorities for the next decade and identifying support needed from the international community. In line with paragraph 38 of ABAS, the UN Secretary-General convened an Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF-ABAS) to develop a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework with clear targets and indicators. The framework builds on the SAMOA Pathway and is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It leverages existing reporting mechanisms where possible and minimizes additional reporting burdens on SIDS. Furthermore, in line with paragraph 41 of ABAS, the United Nations regional commissions, including the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), are tasked with the conduct of a comprehensive biennial review of progress in each SIDS in their respective regions. Consequently, the Caribbean Development Cooperation Committee (CDCC) in Resolution 112 (XXX) called upon ECLAC “to support the Caribbean SIDS Mechanism for Sustainable Development to enable preparation of the biennial review of progress in the implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States for the Caribbean subregion”

To facilitate the reporting of progress in the implementation of the ABAS, a draft M&E framework was finalized in June 2025 following extensive consultations with the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). Meanwhile, the Caribbean SIDS Mechanism for Sustainable Development is yet to be functional, but it is essential to synergize the functions and activities of this mechanism with existing national mechanisms for development planning, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and other internationally agreed development agendas critical to the sustainable development and resilience building of Caribbean SIDS.

DESA, ECLAC, and the CARICOM Secretariat are organizing this capacity building workshop to provide national statistical offices (NSOs) and policymakers of Caribbean SIDS with relevant technical support to operationalize ABAS and implement the ABAS M&E framework. This workshop will be the first major opportunity to bring thematics experts across NSOs, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Ministries of Planning and Planning Agencies, Ministries of Sustainable Development, and Ministries of the Environment and Climate Change together to validate the framework, strengthen technical capacities, and prepare Caribbean SIDS for early implementation of ABAS and reporting on the agenda starting in 2026.

2. Objectives

The workshop aims to:

• Develop capacity of Caribbean SIDS to institute mechanisms for synergistic implementation of the ABAS and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in alignment with national development priorities;
• Familiarize SIDS stakeholders with the ABAS M&E framework and its indicators;
• Increase knowledge of national statistical experts and policymakers on the ABAS indicators, methodologies, and data sources;
• Document challenges faced by countries in operationalizing the Caribbean SIDS Mechanism for Sustainable Development;
• Document challenges faced by Caribbean SIDS in data production and reporting, focusing specifically on indicators with low data coverage;
• Facilitate peer-to-peer learning among SIDS, including exchanges of best practices and innovative approaches;
• Inform Caribbean SIDS on global reporting processes, ensuring that their perspectives are integrated into ongoing UN statistical and methodological discussions; and
• Support alignment of national sustainable development mechanisms and national data ecosystems with reporting for ABAS, SDGs, and related frameworks (Sendai Framework, Paris Agreement, etc.)

3. Expected outcomes

The workshop is expected to produce a workplan for the establishment of national institutional mechanisms for synergistic implementation of the ABAS and the SDGs and result in the validation of the ABAS M&E framework through direct input from SIDS statistical and policy experts, ensuring that national institutional mechanisms and M&E framework build on existing capacities, reflects national realities and can be effectively integrated into country national development planning framework and data systems, respectively.

An important outcome will be the development of preliminary needs assessments and national workplans, which will provide a roadmap for how countries can implement the ABAS M&E framework in practice. This will help identify specific technical assistance and capacity development requirements, while also laying the foundation for more systematic and coordinated reporting starting in 2026.

The workshop will also strengthen cooperation among SIDS by fostering peer-to-peer exchanges and establishing the basis for networks that enable continued learning and sharing of experiences. This SIDS-to-SIDS collaboration will be essential for promoting innovative approaches and ensuring that solutions are tailored to the unique challenges faced by Caribbean SIDS.

Finally, the workshop will contribute to the greater inclusion of SIDS in global and regional statistical processes, enabling them to bring their perspectives to international discussions and methodologies.