1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States
(AOSIS). We align ourselves with the statement delivered by the distinguished
Permanent Representative of South Africa, on behalf of the Group of 77 and
China.
2. Although separate and distinct processes, there must be coherence between both
the FfD and the Post-2015 Development Agenda. We recognise that they are
linked; especially towards targeting the realisation of the very ambitious set of
Goals we have set ourselves. In this regard, in addition to the specific Means of
Implementation highlighted in Goal 17, the goal-specific targets related to Means
of Implementation must also be fully integrated into the FfD outcome document.
The specificities of how these linkages are manifested are to be resolved.
However, as we move along both tracks, we look forward to identifying ways in
which both processes complement, and not duplicate the work on MoI, and
identifying the specific and clear responsibilities under the two processes.
Co-Facilitators,
3. SIDS have been recognised as a special case for sustainable development. Special
consideration must be given to building resilience, increasing competitiveness,
and expanding the flow of funds for the financing of sustainable development
with specific attention to the particular diversity of needs of the SIDS and our
unique sustainable development challenges.
. Our unique challenges must be given due consideration in both processes.
4. Cooperation and partnerships at the national, regional and international levels
are vital. Effective partnerships should be anchored in national ownership and
based upon mutual trust, equality, respect, and accountability2
. They are a means of building understanding, providing support, and expressing and fulfilling
commitments to support SIDS efforts over the long term taking fully into account
their challenges, development priorities and national circumstances3.
Some of our priorities in this regard are as follows:
1. We recognise that our persistent development challenges require an enhanced
global partnership for development, adequate provision and mobilisation of
financing from all sources, domestic and international, public and private, the
facilitation or trade, technology transfer, capacity building, and an enabling
institutional and policy environment at all levels, as well as strengthened
partnerships at the national, regional and international level.
2. And while we recognise that financing from all sources is important, the most
critical source of financing remains international public financing. In SIDS, our
small size and narrow economic base hinder efforts to realise adequate resources
for financing domestically. Our remoteness and geographical disparity entail
high cost of service delivery on Governments. But these social services are
required to sustain high levels of human development. With regards to private
financing, the private sector is characteristically under-developed in SIDS,
requiring additional support towards stimulating investment. Therefore ODA
needs to be strengthened, as a matter of priority, and better targeted to
complement national priorities.
3. Debt sustainability remains an issue of concern for SIDS. Data shows that many
SIDS suffer from high debt, which hinders their ability to achieve resilient
societies and ensure that development gains are continued and assured.
Addressing debt sustainability is also important for countries that graduate from
the List of LDCs, out of which the majority have been SIDS.
4. Sustainable Development policies can only be adequately implemented through
building and retaining human and institutional capacity, in addition to ensuring
access to appropriate, reliable, affordable, and modern technology. We need
increased financial and technical assistance in this regard, to strengthen national
institutions, to retain and enhance knowledge and, to effectively participate in
the multilateral trading systems.
5. The threat posed by climate change to SIDS cannot be under-scored. It is not
merely an “environmental” challenge: it is a persistent “developmental”
challenge that undermine the ability of all countries, in particular developing
countries, to achieve sustainable development, and threaten the viability and
survival of nations. Mitigation from, and adaptation to the effects of climate
changes pose additional costs for countries. And while climate change should be
considered under the discussions on financing, a distinction must be made
between climate finance as governed and defined by the ongoing processes
under the UNFCCC and traditional ODA. For SIDS, climate finance must not be
double counted as ODA, and considered separate from and additional to ODA.
6. Lastly, we view the inclusion of Date, Monitoring and Followup in both
processes as crucially important. Effective monitoring depends on appropriate
qualitative and quantitative data and statistics. We ask that both processes
consider the importance of collection of data from SIDS in the least burdensome
way, and recognise the need to strengthen data collection and monitoring
capabilities of SIDS. We also call in this context, for the consideration of
alternative measures of development, than GDP per capita, as it measures fail to
adequately capture the development progress and challenges in SIDS.
I thank you.