FIJI Pacific SIDS Solutions Forum Welcome Remarks

His Excellency the Prime Minister of Fiji,

Excellences,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Honourable Prime Minister, and the Government and People of Fiji for the warm hospitality, and for co-hosting this important forum for the Pacific.

The unique characteristics of SIDS make them particularly vulnerable to a series of challenges, including food insecurity, malnutrition, the impacts of the climate crisis, economic shocks and other environmental and demographic pressures.

Despite their vulnerabilities, SIDS have a wealth of knowledge and often take the lead on the international stage drawing attention to pressing global issues.   

To capitalize on their experience and capacities, together with the Government of Fiji and the International Telecommunications Union, FAO convened the first-ever SIDS Solutions Forum in August 2021, during the pandemic.

I remember in that year the UN General Assembly President was from a Small Island Developing State - from another part of the world – he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives. 

I wish to convey my appreciation to you for all your support to FAO’s mandate, and for the use of this key platform.

Ever since, FAO has continued to intensify its efforts to provide opportunities for SIDS to share knowledge and learn from each other, together with Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), to bring about the transformation of their agrifood systems to make them more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable.

Key opportunities included the first Pacific SIDS Solutions Forum in Samoa in November 2022; and the High-Level Ministerial Meeting “Harnessing the potential of SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs” held at FAO headquarters in Rome in June 2023.

The active participation of Ministers from SIDS at these high-level events demonstrated their commitment, leadership and solutions-oriented attitude, setting the tone for further collaboration.

Moreover, the Call for Action issued by SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs in June 2023, for the establishment of an informal Ministerial network - with technical support from FAO - represents an opportunity to continuously share know-how and support the development of an integrated and tailored approach, with global and local solutions that are evidence-based and take into account trade-offs.

FAO will leverage its convening power to foster these network exchanges, and to tap into its knowledge and technical expertise to support cross-country learning.

Ladies and gentlemen,

While SIDS account for less than 1% of the global population, they manage 19% of the world’s exclusive economic zones, and contribute to 2% of the world’s annual marine catch, making them an invaluable source of nutrition and an important contribution to their economies.

Consequently, the role of SIDS in delivering on food security and nutrition, as well as global marine management, is crucial.

Recognizing the important role of aquatic food systems for the sustainable development of the Pacific SIDS - as well as other SIDS – FAO has placed them at the core of FAO’s Blue Transformation vision, which is anchored in three measurable climate-resilient objectives, namely:

• One: the sustainable expansion and intensification of aquaculture;
• Two: ensuring effective management of all fish resources; and
• Three: the development and upgrading of aquatic food value chains.

FAO also prioritizes the enhancement of adaptive capacity through increased sustainable ecosystems management, including forests in the watersheds and coastal ecosystems, in support of more resilient agrifood systems in SIDS.

Addressing malnutrition in all its forms affecting Pacific SIDS - from undernutrition to obesity and non-communicable diseases - is fundamental as these countries have some of the highest rates globally.

In this regard, dietary guidelines are key in fostering healthy diets by helping to align and inform policies and programmes ranging from nutrition and health to agriculture, public procurement and social protection.

FAO, together with partners, is supporting Pacific SIDS to develop national dietary guidelines, to inform food-related policies, for awareness raising, and for nutrition education.

To advance gender equality and enhance women’s equitable participation in agrifood systems in Pacific SIDS, FAO, together with other UN partners, and with strategic guidance from national governments, is implementing the Joint Programme on Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment in Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Tonga.

In the past few years, FAO’s engagement with the Indigenous Peoples and Youth in Pacific SIDS increased significantly.

In 2023, 20 Indigenous Youth from the Pacific region-representing 10 Indigenous Peoples participated at the Second Session of the Global Indigenous Youth Forum co-organized by FAO.

FAO is also supporting data collection and statistics related to agrifood systems and the SDGs in Pacific SIDS for effective and informed decision making.

Using key geospatial data, the FAO Hand-in-Hand Geospatial Platform supports the formulation of policies for efficient land use, and access to financing for farmers and local producers.

Through the Global Soil Partnership, FAO stands ready to support Pacific SIDS in tackling soil degradation and erosion, as well as through the development of soil information systems with up-to-date data, strengthening analytical capacities, and improving legislative frameworks.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As part of FAO’s ongoing efforts to support countries to prevent food loss and waste, we supported the development of a methodology to measure food waste, with a focus on SIDS, with its full roll out planned shortly.

These data collection efforts on food loss and waste should however be complemented by, among others, investment in infrastructure and technology, the adoption of innovative agrifood processing and circular bioeconomy practices to increase the availability, accessibility and affordability of local produce.

The timely dissemination of food security related information is key to foster early warning and trigger evidence-based and timely interventions.

The FAO Virtual Learning Centre uses digital approaches to support capacity development in the region, training professionals through online courses covering key topics such as One Health, farm biosecurity, animal nutrition, and animal breeding, among others.

We cannot deliver on agrifood systems transformation without increased and targeted investment.

In this respect, through the FAO-China South-South Cooperation Trust Fund, FAO is contributing to the digitalization of the agriculture sector; the development of specific product value chains; and the reduction of food loss and waste in the fisheries sector in SIDS, including in the Pacific.

During the recent FAO Regional Ministerial Conference for Asia and the Pacific, I committed to support FAO Members in the Pacific to develop the Pacific SIDS Investment Programme, which seeks to transform agrifood systems to improve food security and access to healthy diets, support economic growth, and build resilience, and I look forward to the report on the status of implementation.

Dear Friends,

We have come a long way, together, to learn from each other, to focus on solutions - both existing and new ones - to address challenges and achieve food security for all.

Our efforts to accelerate agrifood systems transformation in SIDS for the Four Betters - better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life - reflects FAO’s commitment to walk the talk and deliver on the ambitious goals set out in the 2050 Blue Pacific Continent Strategy, the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Let’s continue to work together, and enjoy the taro! Taro is one of my favorite foods. When I was a child, we produced a lot of taros in Mekong. Actually, taro originates from the southern part of China and India. So, when I saw the taro, I felt at home.

Let us enjoy healthy food and a healthy life and ensure no one in the Pacific SIDS is left behind.

Thank you.