The Board of Advisors on Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States “SIDS4 and Beyond”

Mr. President, 

1. FAO wishes to commend your leadership for bringing together stakeholders and garnering support for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to address the multidimensional and interconnected challenges they face in achieving concrete development outcomes.  
2. Today’s discussions are a great example of your efforts to support the implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States (ABAS). 
3. Bearing in mind those guiding questions, I would like to share with you FAO’s commitment and activities to support SIDS. 
4. FAO recognizes that the unique vulnerabilities of SIDS require an integrated and tailored approach with global and local solutions.  
5. To provide good food for all, for today and for tomorrow, we must all do our part to ensure the implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States (ABAS).  
6. FAO is putting its programs and convening power at the disposal of Member States and all other stakeholders to support the implementation of Antigua and Barbuda Agenda and accelerate agrifood systems transformation simultaneously. 
7. This includes the support offered through a dedicated FAO Office of SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs, as well as through programmes and initiatives anchored in FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-2031.  
8. The Global Action Programme on Food Security and Nutrition in SIDS and the SIDS Solutions Platform are two more examples of FAO’s efforts and commitment to support SIDS to achieve more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable agrifood systems.  
9. In addition, FAO is committed to continue convening and amplifying SIDS voices.  
10. We are fostering the sharing of experiences among SIDS, and with other developing countries, stakeholders and partners, including through the SIDS Solutions Forum and the High-Level Ministerial Event on Transforming Agrifood Systems to Increase Resilience and Achieve the 2030 Agenda: Harnessing the potential of SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs, which was held last June ahead of FAO's biennial Ministerial Conference. 
11. The latter resulted in a Call for Action, where Ministers and high-level representatives proposed the establishment of a Ministerial network with technical support from FAO to share experiences and collectively build resilience to climate change and food insecurity, and secure investments to scale-up the transformation of agrifood systems.
12. We are currently engaged in consultations with Members from SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs on how to tailor and operationalize the proposal. 
13. FAO recognizes that financing will be critical to the successful implementation of Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS.  
14. The last time we met in March, I mentioned some of the FAO flagship initiatives that can help countries to secure funding aimed at scaling-up agrifood systems transformation, including the Hand in Hand Initiative, the 1000 Digital Villages Initiative and the Blue Transformation Roadmap. 
15. FAO also continues to work to facilitate SIDS’s access to innovative climate financing, including the Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility.  
16. As the specialized agency dedicated to end hunger and improve food security and nutrition, we remain committed to sharing the Organization’s knowledge, networks and technical expertise to contribute to the effective implementation of ABAS and transform agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.