Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

Theme: Building the Data Foundations for the SIDS Centre of Excellence and Global Data Hub

Seminar

30 April 2026

 
 

Overview

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are characterized by geographic remoteness, small landmasses and populations, narrow resource bases, and a high dependency on external markets and ocean resources for survival and economic development. They are also highly vulnerable to natural disasters, climate change, sea level rise, and economic shocks. Although facing some of the world's most acute climate, economic, and governance challenges, SIDS are increasingly turning to data, digital infrastructure, and geospatial technology to help build national resilience and prosperity.

At the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, convened in Antigua & Barbuda in May 2024, world leaders adopted the Antigua & Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS): A Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity. Recognizing the need for urgent and practical action to advance resilient prosperity, the ABAS welcomed efforts to establish a SIDS Centre of Excellence, inclusive of a SIDS Global Data Hub, in Antigua & Barbuda.

PVBLIC Foundation and the SDG Data Alliance are convening this first SIDS Seminar with partners to serve as a working platform to advance the establishment of the SIDS Centre of Excellence and its Global Data Hub. Bringing together government leaders, technical experts, multilateral actors, regional entities and private sector partners, the Seminar will explore how geospatial data, digital infrastructure, and data governance can directly support resilience and development planning, as well as how the private sector can play a meaningful role.

SIDS: The Next Decade

At the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, held in St. John’s, Antigua in May 2024, world leaders adopted the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS): A Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity. The ABAS provides a clear, action-oriented framework for building resilient prosperity for all SIDS and reflects a renewed international commitment to support the sustainable development priorities of SIDS over the next decade, listing concrete priorities and actions across 10 thematic areas, including: Improving data collection, analysis, and use; Promoting science, technology, innovation, and digitalization; and Enhancing partnerships.

The adoption of the ABAS included a call to action for the establishment of a SIDS Centre of Excellence (SIDS CoE), inclusive of a SIDS Global Data Hub, as a practical and institutional mechanism to support implementation of the commitments of the ABAS – particularly the priority areas of action.

Now becoming operational in St. George, Antigua, the SIDS CoE is being realized as a key mechanism for fortifying resilience and advancing prosperity so that SIDS will have the necessary infrastructure, knowledge, and productive capacity to harness the benefits of data, innovation, and technology to mitigate their environmental, economic, and social vulnerabilities. To this end, a key pillar of the SIDS CoE is the SIDS Global Data Hub, the central repository of comprehensive data themes and related analytics to strengthen national data systems and support evidence-based decision-making across SIDS.

For the past two years, PVBLIC Foundation and the SDG Data Alliance have led the architecture and early operationalization of both the SIDS CoE and its Global Data Hub, working alongside the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda. A distributed network of Country Data Hubs is now being established and deployed across the Caribbean, Pacific, and AIS regions, creating the foundation for a globally connected SIDS data ecosystem. To learn more, you can view our recent global webinar: SDG Data Alliance Live: Data Foundations for the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS.

SIDS Seminar

Scheduled for Thursday, 30 April, the SIDS Summit at GWF 2026 will serve as a working platform to advance the implementation of the SIDS CoE and its Global Data Hub. Bringing together government leaders, technical experts, multilateral actors, and private sector partners to advance the theme Building the Data Foundations for the SIDS Centre of Excellence and Global Data Hub, sessions will explore how geospatial data, digital infrastructure, and data governance can directly support resilience and development planning, as well as how the private sector can play a meaningful role.

The Summit will introduce the ABAS as a political outcome, the SIDS Centre of Excellence as an operational platform that integrates data, technology, institutional capacity, and partnerships, and will present the development of the SIDS Global Data Hub, initial deployments of SIDS Country Data Hubs, and Country Map Portfolios, including live demonstrations of their capabilities and applications.

Agenda

0930 - 1030
Session 1: Small Island Developing States: Needs, Challenges, Solutions

Session Highlight

This opening Session frames and sets the scene for 'who are the SIDS' as a distinct group of 39 States and 18 associate members spread across three geographical regions: the Caribbean, the Pacific, and the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and South China Sea (AIS). It will provide an awareness of SIDS realities, including their unique vulnerabilities, needs and challenges. The Session will then explore the policy and development environment for SIDS and the motivation for support from the global community through the Antigua & Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS). Providing a clear, action-oriented framework for building resilient prosperity for all SIDS, the ABAS reflects a renewed international commitment listing concrete priorities and actions across 10 thematic areas, including: Improving data collection, analysis, and use; Promoting science, technology, innovation, and digitalization; and Enhancing partnerships.
1030 - 1130
Session 2: SIDS Centre of Excellence and Global Data Hub

Session Highlight

For the past two years, PVBLIC Foundation and the SDG Data Alliance have led the architecture and early operationalization of both the SIDS Centre of Excellence (CoE) and its Global Data Hub, working alongside the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Government of Antigua & Barbuda. Now established in St. George, Antigua, the SIDS CoE is a key mechanism for ensuring that SIDS will have the necessary infrastructure, knowledge, and productive capacity to harness the benefits of data, innovation, and technology to mitigate their environmental, economic, and social vulnerabilities. The SIDS CoE is structured around four inter-connected pillars; data, innovation, investment, and debt sustainability, that collectively strengthen the capacity of SIDS to implement the ABAS and bridge vision into action.

The SIDS Global Data Hub provides the central repository of comprehensive data themes and related analytics to strengthen national data systems and support evidence-based decision-making across SIDS. The ultimate ambition for the Global Data Hub is to ensure all SIDS are able to have greater access to new and relevant data sources, geospatial technology enablers, innovative dashboards, and visualization tools - establishing a sustainable and enduring repository for comprehensive data on SIDS for SIDS. This Session will introduce the SIDS CoE and present the development and initial deployment of the SIDS Global Data Hub, SIDS Country Data Hubs, and Country Map Portfolios as an integrated data ecosystem, including examples of their capabilities and application.
1130 - 1330
Networking Coffee Break Followed by Lunch
1330 - 1500
Session 3: SIDS Country and Regional Perspectives

Session Highlight

To ensure a connected SIDS data ecosystem, a globally distributed network of SIDS Country Data Hubs will be established across the Caribbean, Pacific, and AIS regions - and in partnership with relevant regional SIDS entities. In 2026-27, the first cohort of 10 Country Data Hubs are planned for deployment in Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Fiji, Palau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles. Each SIDS Country Data Hub will initially be deployed 'virtually' and equipped with modular data and technology bundles delivered through secure, cloud-based web services, offering curated datasets, real-time applications, and analytical tools tailored to national priorities and development agendas.

This Session will provide first-hand perspectives from SIDS on how the SIDS Global Data Hub will assist them in enhancing data availability, accessibility, and visualization, close existing data gaps, strengthen national data collection and analysis capacity, and support evidence-based decision-making across development priorities.
1500 - 1600
Networking Coffee Break
1600 - 1730
Session 4: Partnerships: Towards the Future

Session Highlight

The Antigua & Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) has acknowledged that expanding and diversifying partnerships with local authorities, civil society and non-governmental organizations, foundations, the private sector, academia and international financial institutions will be critical for SIDS. The SIDS Centre of Excellence (CoE) is built on multistakeholder partnerships and regionally grounded collaboration, with dedicated engagement channels for governments, donors, private sector, academia, and civil society.

This Session will discuss and showcase emerging capabilities and technologies from industry partners and the private sector supporting the SIDS CoE, Global Data Hub and SDG Data Alliance in numerous ways, with the ultimate aim to support resilient and inclusive development across SIDS.

Target Segments

City planners and urban development officials Landscape architects focusing on nature-based solutions Geospatial Technology Providers and Data Experts Renewable Energy Companies Carbon and Sustainability Experts Government Energy & Climate and Disaster Departments Financial and Insurance Sector Representatives NGOs and Community Organizations Academia & Researchers Policy Advisors and Policymakers