1. 1 Brussels Policy Briefing, 4 April 2012 Addressing the vulnerabilities of small island developing States (SIDS) more effectively Pierre Encontre UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

2. 2 SIDS more vulnerable than other developing countries (all data based on the UN's Economic Vulnerability Index)

3. 3LDC-SIDS Other treatments A complex pattern of special treatments for SIDS, yet no special treatment by virtue of SIDS status UN-related travel support for LDCs Market access: * GSP (USA) * AGOA * EU: EPAs; ex-LDCs (3 yrs) ex-LDCs (3 yrs) : Development financing: * WB's "small island exception" (IDA) * ADB, AfDB * EU (EDF…) : Technical assistance: * Various partners * EIF after graduation * UN-related travel support after graduation (3 yrs) Market access: GSP:Australia Canada EU (EBA) : WTO:Concessions : Development financing: Donors : Technical assistance: EIF Ad hoc treatments: Maldives, 2005 Samoa, 2009

4. 4 SIDS AND THE UN: STATE OF AFFAIRS Description and measurement of vulnerabilities UN action: good intentions, missed opportunities Special treatment: a question usually skipped (UNCTAD) In what sense is vulnerability a problem? Could special treatment make resilience- building action more effective? What UN action accordingly ? SIDS more vulnerable Acute economic dependence the "island paradox" Devel. financing Market access Techn. assistance Adopt SIDS criteria Revisit graduation rule Establish an "integr. framework" for SIDS

5. 5 Five lines of UN action actively supported by UNCTAD LINES OF ACTION UNCTAD ACTION IN 2012 RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS TIME FRAME Help least developed SIDS make the best possible use of LDC status Istanbul Programme of Action: 2011-2020 Help graduating SIDS achieve a "smooth transition" Development partners, ECOSOC, GA Ad Hoc Working Group of the GA in 2012 Help SIDS in general find avenues for "SIDS treatment" UNCTAD expert meeting on addressing vulnerabilities: Dec. 2011 All stakeholders involved in supporting the Mauritius Strategy Two years left before next SIDS Conference (2014) Achieve progress toward defining SIDS UNCTAD expert meeting recommended an exchange of views on SIDS criteria Several UN and non-UN entities interested Review of criteria to be undertaken at technical level in 2012 Inputs to the work of the CDP on SIDS in 2013 CDP report will go to ECOSOC, where development partners will be able to consider the idea of "SIDS status" Enable the CDP in 2013 to make recommendations toward SIDS status Advisory services at country level (e.g. Samoa in 2012-2013) Implementation of Istanbul Programme of Action for LDCs ECOSOC, GA, development partners CDP in March 2013 ECOSOC in July 2013

6. 6 Thank you pierre.encontre@unctad.org