NEW YORK, JULY 11 – On behalf of the Italian Government, the Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Stefano Stefanile, withdrew today one of the inaugural one of the inaugural awards of the UN Small Island Developing States Partnership Awards. Italy shared the prize in the social category with the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) for the training project “AOSIS Fellowship”.
Each year, thanks to the project funded by the Ministry of Ecological Transition, ten young officials from AOSIS countries can benefit from a 12 months training programme at the United Nations, with a view to strengthening the negotiating and administrative capacities of small island developing states in international negotiations on combating climate change and protecting the environment and oceans. Through intensive classroom sessions, they acquire in-depth knowledge of environmental science, international law and diplomacy, and receive the opportunity to participate in at least two international negotiations annually. In total, 38 young professionals and 25 SIDS have benefited from the Fellowship.
38 States exposed to the dangers of climate change
Italy has traditionally supported SIDS, a group including 38 of the United Nations most exposed to the negative impact of climate change, extreme weather phenomena and in general external shocks (most recently the Covid19 pandemic and the food and energy crisis) Member States, in their development path and is an important recognition of these efforts. With the enhanced commitment of Italy, in 2022 AOSIS welcomed 10 young professionals from SIDS and expanded the curriculum to include ocean and sustainable development. The AOSIS Fellowship serves as a global example of genuine and durable partnerships for the sustainable development of small island developing States.
Together with other major international donors, Italy’s support aims at strengthening resilience against often unpredictable situations of serious insecurity and precariousness that increase the risk factors for the socio-economic and human development of these countries.
Stefanile, common action for sustainable development
In receiving the award together with the chair of AOSIS and Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Walton Webson, Deputy Permanent Representative Stefanile stressed the importance of the partnership. Ambassador Stefanile also praised the excellent work of the ten participants in the diplomatic training program, who attended the ceremony. “The AOSIS Fellowship is an important partnership for Italy. Not only does it increase the capacity of SIDS, it strengthens multilateralism and supports our common actions for sustainable development”, said the Ambassador.
The UN SIDS Partnerships Award was established by the General Assembly in 2021 in the framework of the Annual Global multi-stakeholder Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Partnerships Dialogue, an event organised under the auspices of the SIDS Partnerships Framework of the General Assembly. The Global Dialogue, conceived as a platform where SIDS, their partners for sustainable development and the major entities of the UN circuit, can exchange experiences on best practices, take stock of the progress made in the SIDS Support Partnerships and launch new initiatives to foster sustainable development in SIDS.
As in recent years, the Global Dialogue conference took place on the fringes of the High Level Political Forum (HLPF), which is being held at the UN from 5 to 18 July, and this year shares its key theme “Building back better response to the Covid-19 pandemic as part of the commitments made for a full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. In addition to rewarding partnerships for sustainable development in the social sphere, the award is also given in praise of achievements in the other two pillars of sustainable development, economy and environment. (@OnuItalia)