The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today announced the launch of a new $5 million project supported by the FAO-China South-South Cooperation (SSC) Programme  to assist Small Island Developing States (SIDS) strengthen their capacities and tackle common development challenges.

The project, announced at the Fourth SIDS Solutions Dialogue held in Geneva today, covers an initial period of three years, from 2022 to 2025 and will focus on areas such as increased innovation, digitalization and knowledge exchange to assist SIDS in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the SAMOA Pathway .

“The message that resonated most loudly during today’s dialogue is the urgent need for investment in capacity building, adaptation strategies and enhanced support to transform SIDS agrifood systems to become more resilient, efficient, sustainable and inclusive. This funding is timely and reiterates the high priority that FAO places on SIDS and the transformation of their agrifood systems to achieve  better production , better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all. ” FAO’s Deputy Director-General Maria Helena Semedo said in her address at the Dialogue.

Fragile ecosystems, high vulnerability to climate change, natural disasters, external economic shocks, distance from global markets, and high rates of all forms of malnutrition and food-related diseases are just some of the challenges hindering the development process for SIDS. Exacerbating this condition has been the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a substantial negative impact on rural livelihoods.

All these factors contribute to the need for expertise and technical support, as well as financial investment in sustainable food production, distribution, and consumption models.

The project will be coordinated by FAO's Office of Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and Landlocked Developing Countries (OSL), together with the FAO’s South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division (PST).