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The COVID-19 pandemic is threatening the food security, nutrition and climate resilience of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). SIDS share many traits, including a reliance on international trade, tourism and imported foods, vulnerability to climate change and high rates of malnutrition, including obesity.

The Centre led the preparation of a policy brief looking at how the crisis is affecting agri-food systems in SIDS, especially those in the Caribbean and the Pacific, as well as rapid response measures adopted by different SIDS, regional bodies, financing institutions and FAO.

The Centre worked closely with the Office for Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and Land-locked Developing Countries on the brief, with contributions from the FAO Subregional Offices for the Caribbean, Mesoamerica and the Pacific Islands and the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. FAO colleagues from the Nutrition and Food Systems Division, Fisheries Department and Strategic Programme teams also provided technical inputs.

The brief recommends prompt policy and fiscal measures to keep food supply chains alive during the pandemic and suggests a strong role for local governments in coordinating responses. Opportunities exist for SIDS to rapidly adopt digital platforms, enhance their digital capabilities (digitization of value chain actors, e-commerce, mobile banking, big data analytics) and strengthen island and inter-island communication networks. The brief also advocates for reliable statistics and timely data, including early warning systems, for better planning and preparedness.

Due to the SIDS’ similar economic and social challenges, support to SIDS-specific regional integration and solidarity mechanisms should be enhanced. Related technical assistance and financial instruments should be provided in the short term, with investments targeting more resilient agri-food systems in the longer run.