Strengthening Civil Society Engagement and Partnerships for ABAS

This report presents the findings and recommendations of a 2025 UN DESA study on the opportunities, challenges, and capacities of stakeholders in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to implement the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS). The study aims to inform UN DESA’s initiatives to strengthen stakeholder engagement and capacity-building. 

In line with paragraph 37 of ABAS - which requests recommendations for strengthening the SIDS Partnership Framework - the study also proposes measures to reinforce civil society engagement in the Framework. Established under the SAMOA Pathway, the Framework monitors existing partnerships and stimulates new, genuine, and durable ones for SIDS development. 

Focusing on civil society across the three SIDS regions, the study identifies barriers, opportunities, and capacity needs for more effective participation. Findings draw on a broad consultative process, including a global online survey, three regional consultations, desk research, case studies, and the SIDS Civil Society Engagement Forum in New York (May 2025). 

The study shows that civil society actors are advancing climate resilience, biodiversity, and sustainable development, but continue to face challenges such as limited funding, exclusion from policymaking, weak institutional support, and fragmented coordination. Awareness of the SIDS Partnership Framework remains low at grassroots level, compounded by language barriers and digital divides. 

The report proposes six cross-cutting recommendations: 

1. Strengthen ABAS Awareness and Access: Translating and localizing frameworks, improving grassroots outreach, and creating regional coordination mechanisms, especially for the Civil Society Roadmap
2. Funding Reform and Reallocation: Inclusive, accessible funding for all; simplifying donor processes; mandating civil society allocations in regional programs; and establishing a SIDS Civil Society Development Fund.
3. Civil Society Classification and Capacity Needs: Long-term, context-specific support that expands inclusivity and CSO organizational resilience, fosters national coordination, empowers youth leadership, and enables community-led data and evidence to shape policy.
4. SIDS-SIDS Collaboration and Knowledge Transfer: Stakeholder mapping, a regional CSO registry, regular in-person forums, and formal mechanisms for cross-regional collaboration and civil society input into global processes.
5. Strengthening CSO-Government Partnerships: Formalizing engagement through partnership guidelines, a Government-CSO Framework, dedicated civil society roles in decision-making, and early involvement in policy/MEAs.
6. Strengthening CSO-Private Sector Partnerships: A CSO–Private Sector Innovation Lab with transparent governance, equal representation, and support from the SIDS Partnership Framework and Global Business Network. 

Region-specific recommendations include: 

• AIS: Defining and strengthening CSO coordination through participatory mapping, a shared regional roadmap, and support from the SIDS Partnership Framework for convenings and governance structures.
• Caribbean: Enabling regular convenings to share lessons, best practices, and existing initiatives, leveraging the SIDS Partnership Framework to enhance coordination and align civil society efforts with ABAS priorities.
• Pacific: Developing a centralized, communitydriven “Living Map” to visualize CSOs, partnerships, and resources—improving transparency, alignment with national plans, and access to funding and collaboration. 

These recommendations aim to strengthen civil society’s role in ABAS implementation and the SIDS Partnership Framework. They emphasize that civil society is not only a partner but a cornerstone of durable partnerships— bringing innovation, accountability, and community leadership essential to SIDS sustainable development.