The short course will provide an overview of UNCTAD’s strategy to support Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which recognizes the deep-rooted structural challenges facing them, including their small size, geographic isolation, limited economic diversification, and vulnerability to climate shocks. In response, UNCTAD’s strategy focuses on strengthening productive capacities, promoting innovation and green industries, improving resilience to external shocks, and enhancing access to quality data for decision-making. It is built on consensus that these countries deserve both the policy space to maneuver, and the necessary support, to bolster their economic trajectories. The strategy aligns with international frameworks like the ABAS and UN resolutions that call for tailored development assistance, better financing options, and access to technology for SIDS.
With this backdrop, the short course will also focus on how UNCTAD supports SIDS in leveraging e commerce and the digital economy to overcome structural constraints and remoteness in SIDS, by doing research, assessing their eTrade ecosystem through assessments and strategy development, providing monitoring tools like the eTrade Reform Tracker and assistance in the area of measuring of e-commerce and the digital economy. This part of the course will draw on our extensive experience of working with SIDS in the Pacific, Caribbean and Africa.
Simultaneously, UNCTAD also supports SIDS in addressing trade related regulations such as technical barriers to trade and sanitary and phytosanitary measures by enhancing Non Tariff Measures transparency, understanding and design. UNCTAD’s integrated approach is holistic in terms of SIDS, not only adapting to the digital era but also reducing trade costs and regulatory hurdles, reinforcing their economic resilience and sustainable development.
At the end of this course, delegates will have gained knowledge of:
- UNCTAD’s strategy for SIDS and the deep-rooted structural challenges facing them.
- Requirements for tackling geographic isolation and limited economic diversification through policies based on their economic trajectories and needs.
- Leveraging e-commerce and the digital economy to overcome structural constraints and contributing to economic development and regional and international integration.
- Deeper understanding of NTMs and NTBs in the context of SIDS and their role in addressing challenges that lead to national regional and international integration.
