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A blog by Neil Balchin (Economic Adviser, Trade Policy Analysis, International Trade Policy, ) and Kim Kampel (Trade Negotiations and Emerging Trade Issues, Commonwealth Small States Office) discussing their paper Investment Flows into Commonwealth Small States: Trends, Challenges and Implications.
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Blog: Closing the gap - small states, big investments
Blog by Bryce Adamson, Commonwealth Legal Officer (institutional matters), Deepa Pullanikkatil (outgoing Commonwealth Climate Finance Adviser to Fiji), Sarthak Roy (Assistant Research Officer, Governance and Peace), and Wei Chen (Programme Assistant, Economic Development, Trade and Investment)
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Blog: World Court tips the scales - Climate justice moves from rhetoric to responsibility
This blog is authored by three experts from the : Dr. Thomas Munthali (Adviser and Head, Economic Policy and Small States Economic Development, Trade and Investment Directorate), Tamara Mughogho (Economic Adviser, Economic Policy and Small States, Trade and Investment Directorate), and Dr. Ruth Kattumuri (Senior Director, Economic, Development, Trade and Investment Directorate).
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Blog: From Brain Drain to Brain Gain: Unlocking diaspora finance in small states
For many small and vulnerable states across the Commonwealth, from the Caribbean to the Pacific and the low-lying regions of Africa, climate-related loss is a recurring reality.
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From climate crisis to building economic resilience across the Commonwealth
Remarks by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, at the Pacific Maritime Ministers Reception on 2 April 2025.
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Secretary-General remarks at the Pacific Maritime Ministers Reception
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, bade farewell to representatives from Caribbean member states, who she describes as “a powerhouse within the Commonwealth”.
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Commonwealth Secretary-General expresses immense gratitude in her final address to CARICOM
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, will join Caribbean leaders at the upcoming Caribbean Community (CARICOM) meeting to find solutions to pressing regional challenges, including climate resilience, economic development, and food security.
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Commonwealth Secretary-General joins CARICOM leaders in Barbados to tackle regional challenges
This month, a group of experts, including representatives from financial and insurance companies and Commonwealth High Commissioners, met to discuss the opportunities to make Small Island Developing States (SIDS) more robust in the face of the growing climate emergency.
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Commonwealth Secretary-General leads discussions on enhancing disaster resilience for SIDS
Sea-level rise is causing irrevocable damage to communities, lives and livelihoods, but also provides some opportunities for growth.
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Fighting sea-level rise a long-term endeavour, say small island leaders
To advance sustainable development and climate resilience initiatives, the and Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) have partnered to accelerate collective action in the Caribbean.
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and CAF development bank to accelerate support for Caribbean SIDS
A message from the Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, ahead of COP29.
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Secretary-General: Our fight for climate justice continues
The main aim of this guiding manual is to improve climate finance flows to Nauru. It can be used as a reference document by the government of Nauru and all the other relevant stakeholders to access international climate funds and different types of funding options available for climate adaptation and mitigation projects globally.
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A Guiding Manual to Accessing International Climate Finance for the Republic of Nauru
The Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small States (CMMSS) convened today in Apia, Samoa, at a critical juncture as the country this week becomes the first Pacific Small Island Developing State (SIDS) to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). This ministerial meeting highlights the urgent need to tackle economic vulnerability, climate change, access to sustainable finance and debt distress – key challenges faced by the world’s smallest and most vulnerable nations.
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Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small States: Paving the Way for Resilient Futures
Following the resumption of normal activity post-COVID, small states have been on a path to economic recovery, largely sustained by a rebound in tourism, which in many small states has reached pre-pandemic levels. However, ongoing shocks – ranging from geopolitical to climatic – have marred this recovery. As such, small states are projected to grow at 3.3 per cent in 2025, a contraction from the 3.7 per cent growth in 2024, as a result of persistent economic challenges.
The combination of socio-economic shocks over the past few years has also affected socio-economic progress in small states. Geopolitical tensions in Europe and supply chain disruptions have had impacts on food security, given the reliance of small states on food imports. This has worsened progress on poverty indicators.
Climate change shocks continue to affect socio-economic progress in the health and education sectors, by damaging social infrastructure, affecting school attendance and promoting the spread of communicable diseases.
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Small States Economic Review and Basic Statistics Volume 22
The combination of socio-economic shocks over the past few years has also affected socio-economic progress in small states. Geopolitical tensions in Europe and supply chain disruptions have had impacts on food security, given the reliance of small states on food imports. This has worsened progress on poverty indicators.
Climate change shocks continue to affect socio-economic progress in the health and education sectors, by damaging social infrastructure, affecting school attendance and promoting the spread of communicable diseases.
A blog by Attila Shaaran, Economic Research Officer in Economic Policy and Small States at the .
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Blog: Tax revenue in Commonwealth Small States - A tax-to-GDP analysis
The and the Government of Azerbaijan have signed a landmark joint declaration in Tonga aimed at enhancing climate action in Small Developing Island States (SIDS) and other vulnerable member countries.
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and Government of Azerbaijan sign joint declaration and MOU to enhance climate action
Today, the and Cambridge University’s Centre for Resilience and Sustainable Development (CRSD) unveiled the final report for "Their Future, Our Action and the COMPASS Model: A New Approach to Finance in Commonwealth Small Island Developing States," introducing the innovative Common Pool Asset Structuring Strategy (COMPASS).
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New report highlights innovative approach to finance for Commonwealth SIDS
12 August 2024 to 12 August 2024
(BST)
Event
As part of the International Day of Youth Celebrations, we invite you to join the launch event for "Their Future, Our Action and the COMPASS Model: A New Approach to Finance in Commonwealth Small Island Developing States."
The fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) will be hosted by Antigua & Barbuda in May 2024, bringing world leaders together to agree on a bold new programme of action for SIDS.
This new 10-year plan will focus on practical and impactful solutions to keep SIDS afloat and give their citizens a sustainable and safe future.
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Commonwealth at the Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4)
This new 10-year plan will focus on practical and impactful solutions to keep SIDS afloat and give their citizens a sustainable and safe future.
Commonwealth-Secretary-General the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, delivered a compelling plenary speech today at the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) held in Antigua and Barbuda. Addressing the critical challenges faced by small states, she underscored the Commonwealth's unwavering commitment to championing their causes on the global stage.
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“Small Island Developing States' challenges are serious, but together we are more than equal to them,” says Commonwealth Secretary-General at SIDS4
29 May 2024 to 29 May 2024
(AST)
Event
Big ocean states (BOS), or Small Island Developing States (SIDS), control 30% of global oceans, holding unique leverage to foster a sustainable blue economy, crucial for attracting necessary investments in Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14).
The Global Children and Youth Action Summit (GCYAS) has concluded with a powerful call to action from from Small Island Developing States (SIDS), urging world leaders to address critical issues such as education, climate change, healthcare, and poverty. The Summit, held at The University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus in Antigua from May 24-26, is followed by the Fourth UN Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) Conference from May 27-30.
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Commonwealth Champions Youth-Led Solutions at SIDS4 Summit
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, will be in Antigua and Barbuda next week for the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4). The conference, taking place from 27-30 May 2024, aims to establish a bold new programme of action to support the sustainability and resilience of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) over the next decade.
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Commonwealth Secretary-General to Advocate for Small States at UN SIDS4 Conference in Antigua and Barbuda
Commonwealth health ministers, senior government officials, global health leaders and civil society groups will meet in Geneva from 24 to 25 May 2024 to examine practical interventions that will enable countries, particularly small and vulnerable states, to strengthen their health systems and recover effectively from exogenous shocks.
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Commonwealth ministers to join forces to strengthen health systems amid escalating threats