Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Developing States Strategy
International Development Committee
HC 476
Published 1 May 2024
Recommendations
2
Deferred
Provide a written update on progress in delivering the SIDS Strategy by September 2024.
Recommendation
The Government must honour the commitment it made to provide the Committee with a written update on progress in delivering the SIDS Strategy across the six areas of focus by 30 September 2024. Points that the report should cover are listed in Annex
Government Response Summary
The government states it paused drafting the requested progress report due to the general election, but will submit a report as part of a wider UK SIDS Strategy refresh exercise, reflecting the new government's priorities.
4
Accepted in Part
Para 25
Advocate within OECD to reform ODA eligibility criteria for SIDS' vulnerabilities
Recommendation
The UK Government should use its membership of, and influence within, the OECD to advocate that ODA eligibility criteria be reformed to reflect SIDS’ vulnerabilities. This could take the form of a ‘small island exception’ as employed by the World …
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Government Response Summary
The government partly agrees, stating UK representatives are advocating within the OECD for strengthened ODA processes to better reflect SIDS' vulnerabilities, working with like-minded donors. While supporting the principle, they note further improvements are needed for the UN MVI and do not explicitly commit to a 'small island exception'.
5
Accepted
Para 28
Advocate as GCF co-chair for policies improving SIDS' access to climate finance
Recommendation
Accessing climate finance from international organisations such as the Green Climate Fund is a challenge for Small Island Developing States. As co-chair of the GCF in 2024, the UK is well-positioned to push for reforms that benefit SIDS. The UK …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees, stating that as co-chair of the GCF, the UK has supported and ensured progress on reforms to improve SIDS' access, including restructuring the Secretariat, streamlining project approvals, and advancing regional presence and accreditation policies for decision in 2025.
6
Accepted
Para 28
Promote simplified application procedures for SIDS' access to GCF resources
Recommendation
The UK Government should use its co-chairmanship of the Green Climate Fund’s board to advocate for policies that will improve SIDS’ access to GCF resources, consistent with the commitments outlined in its 2024–27 Strategic Plan—especially in the area of simplified …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees and, as GCF Co-Chair in 2024, has supported reforms to improve SIDS' access, including streamlining project approval and progressing policies on regional presence and accreditation, in line with the GCF Strategic Plan.
8
Not Addressed
Ensure reported grant climate finance is disbursed as grants, not loans
Recommendation
The UK Government should ensure that any climate finance it reports as grant funding is disbursed to recipient countries as such, and not in the form of loans. (Paragraph 33) 42 The UK Small Island Developing States Strategy
Government Response Summary
The government's response discusses the overall scale of climate finance needed and the importance of mobilising private capital, but does not directly address the recommendation to ensure reported climate finance designated as grants is disbursed as such.
10
Accepted
Explore better representation for SIDS on World Bank and IMF boards
Recommendation
Therefore, in addition to using its own influence within international financial institutions to advocate for reforms that benefit SIDS, the UK Government should also explore how SIDS might be better represented on the World Bank and IMF boards, potentially using …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees and states it will continue to champion greater voice for the lowest income and most vulnerable countries, including SIDS, on the World Bank and IMF Boards.
12
Accepted in Part
Para 43
Advocate on Loss and Damage Fund board for grant-based disbursements
Recommendation
Now that the agreement is in place, the UK Government should use its seat on the Loss and Damage Fund board to advocate that the Fund disburses its funding in the form of grants.
Government Response Summary
The government will use its seat on the Loss and Damage Fund Board to push for minimum allocations for vulnerable countries and explore innovative financing, and recognizes the need for highly concessional finance.
14
Rejected
Pledge new and additional funding to the UNFCCC's Loss and Damage Fund.
Recommendation
The UK Government should pledge new and additional funding to the Loss and Damage Fund. (Paragraph 45) Legal implications of sea level rise
Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with pledging new and additional funding now, stating it already pledged £40 million to the Loss and Damage Fund at COP28 from its existing £11.6 billion climate finance commitment, and will only consider further contributions once the Fund's operating model is established.
16
Accepted in Part
Commit to recognising SIDS' legal statehood continuity and fixed maritime boundaries despite sea-level rise.
Recommendation
In the light of the ILC’s impending report on the topic, the UK Government should commit to working with like-minded states to explore ways of (i) formally recognising the continuity of Small Island Developing States’ legal statehood, should all their …
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Government Response Summary
The government partly agrees, having formally accepted that maritime zone baselines may remain fixed and published a statement, but it is still carefully considering the issue of continuity of statehood, noting it will review a relevant international report in 2025.
18
Accepted in Part
Para 58
Commit to making multi-year funded programmes the norm in partnerships with SIDS.
Recommendation
In its partnerships with SIDS, the Government should therefore commit to making multi-year funded programmes the norm.
Government Response Summary
The government partly agrees, stating it currently has several multi-year programmes for SIDS and aims to strengthen them during the Spending Review, but does not commit to making them the norm, noting that multi-year programmes are always subject to financial allocations and break clauses.
20
Accepted
Provide annual direct funding to Alliance of Small Island States Secretariat for advocacy work.
Recommendation
The Government should consider providing a small amount of direct funding annually to the Alliance of Small Island States Secretariat to support its work of amplifying SIDS’ collective voice in international fora. The 4th SIDS Conference in May presents the …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it has already provided financial support to the AOSIS Secretariat for several years, including £471,000 in 2023-24, and is currently negotiating the next round of support, though no announcement was made at the 4th SIDS Conference due to the pre-election period.
22
Accepted
Ensure FCDO SIDS approach addresses gendered impacts, promotes equality, and collects disaggregated data.
Recommendation
In its approach to SIDS, the FCDO should ensure that the gendered impacts of SIDS’ environmental and developmental challenges are identified and addressed, and that UK support for SIDS is designed and implemented in a way that considers the impact …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, affirming its commitment to the 80% gender focus target for bilateral aid by 2030, detailing existing support for gender-disaggregated data collection in SIDS, and confirming that the Blue Planet Fund's investment criteria are being refreshed to include a dedicated gender equality criterion.
24
Deferred
Prioritise laying primary legislation for ratifying Global Ocean Treaty before next election.
Recommendation
The Government should prioritise the laying before Parliament of the primary legislation necessary for ratifying the Global Ocean Treaty before the next election. (Paragraph 75) Wider Climate Leadership
Government Response Summary
The government states the recommendation for ratification before the next election is 'no longer relevant/overtaken,' but reaffirms its commitment to ratifying the BBNJ Agreement and notes that work is ongoing on the necessary implementation measures.
26
Accepted
Implement domestic climate leadership opportunities outlined in Climate Change Committee's 2024 Briefing Note.
Recommendation
This Committee urges the Government to implement the next steps on domestic opportunities for climate leadership outlined in the Climate Change Committee’s January 2024 Briefing Note. (Paragraph 80) The UK Small Island Developing States Strategy 45
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation to implement the Climate Change Committee's advice, stating it will deliver an updated plan with full policy detail for net zero by 2037 and provide further details to the UN by February and lay them before Parliament.
Conclusions (12)
1
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Para 14
We welcome the Government’s publication of the Small Island Developing States Strategy 2022–2026. Being a firm, committed supporter of SIDS in addressing their developmental and environmental challenges is not only morally right; it is also in the UK’s geopolitical interest. However, we are concerned that, given the absence of measurable …
Government Response Summary
The government welcomes the report and reiterates its commitment to supporting SIDS through international advocacy, programmes, and recent funding announcements, but does not address the committee's concern about the lack of measurable objectives in the SIDS strategy.
3
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 25
We recognise that there could be risks in moving towards the use of vulnerability- based measures in determining ODA eligibility. However, such a move is necessary for ensuring that vulnerable SIDS have the opportunity to access UK aid. It will remain for individual donor countries to determine where the need …
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that current ODA processes for SIDS require improvement and is using its influence within the OECD to advocate for strengthened processes that better incorporate SIDS' vulnerabilities, while also supporting the development of a multidimensional vulnerability index.
7
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Para 33
We are concerned that the UK labels the climate finance it provides via multilateral development banks as “grants”, but that these are disbursed in the form of loans to recipient countries.
Government Response Summary
The government's response details the scale of climate finance needed and the importance of mobilising private capital, but does not address the committee's concern regarding whether climate finance reported as grants is disbursed as loans through multilateral development banks.
9
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 36
As a major shareholder of the World Bank and IMF, the UK is well-placed to take the lead in advocating for governance reforms that secure better representation for SIDS on these bodies. While this Committee recognises that better board representation would not guarantee that SIDS would enjoy seamless access to …
Government Response Summary
The government agrees it is championing the priorities of vulnerable countries, including SIDS, at international financial institutions and will continue to champion greater voice for them on the World Bank and IMF Boards.
11
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 43
The Committee is concerned that, given its importance to Small Island Developing States, the UK SIDS Strategy makes no mention of issues of loss and damage. We are also disappointed that, having stated its aspiration in the SIDS Strategy to “lend [ … ] our voice to advocate for issues …
Government Response Summary
The UK will advocate for minimum allocations for SIDS and LDCs through its seat on the Loss and Damage Fund Board and push for ambitious financing, including new and innovative sources and highly concessional finance.
13
Conclusion
Rejected
Para 45
The Committee welcomes the Government’s £60 million pledge to the UNFCCC’s Loss and Damage Fund, but is disappointed that this is drawn from previously announced commitments. The Committee understands the Minister’s contention that wider funding streams are needed, but until these are agreed upon, it befalls to donors such as …
Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with the committee's disappointment, stating it used existing ICF funds for an early pledge to the Loss and Damage Fund to demonstrate commitment and will consider further contributions only once the fund's operating model is established.
15
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 49
The issues of legal statehood and maritime zone continuity provide the UK Government with an opportunity to exercise international leadership in supporting SIDS to address an existential threat.
Government Response Summary
The government partly agrees, demonstrating its international leadership by changing its position on fixed maritime zones and publishing a statement, while actively considering the continuity of statehood and supporting relevant research through its £110+ million CLARE programme.
17
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 58
This Committee acknowledges and welcomes the UK Government’s efforts to ensure that its capacity-building programmes in Small Island Developing States are driven by local needs. However, these efforts can be undermined by short-term funding horizons.
Government Response Summary
The government partly agrees, highlights existing multi-year programmes for SIDS, but states further development is contingent on the upcoming Spending Review process, while also noting inherent limitations of multi-year funding.
19
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 61
We commend the UK’s active support for SIDS’ collective action and international advocacy. However, SIDS’ inter-regional co-operation remains underdeveloped and under-resourced.
Government Response Summary
The government partly agrees, responding by detailing its financial support to the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) over several years, including £471,000 in 2023-24, and is currently arranging the next round of support to aid SIDS' collective action.
21
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 69
Given the disproportionate impact of SIDS’ environmental and economic challenges on women and girls, it was disappointing to see no explicit mention of gender in the UK SIDS Strategy.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the disproportionate impact on women and girls, stating it prioritises a gender-responsive approach to SIDS programmes, commits 80% of bilateral aid to gender equality by 2030, and is updating Blue Planet Fund criteria to strengthen gender focus.
23
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 75
Given that the UK SIDS Strategy sets out “Ocean and Biodiversity” as an area of focus, it is concerning that the Government has ostensibly deprioritised the ratification of the Global Ocean Treaty by failing to designate the Parliamentary time necessary to pass the prerequisite legislation in this Parliament.
Government Response Summary
The government did not address the recommendation regarding the Global Ocean Treaty, instead committing to ensuring 80% of bilateral aid programmes with SIDS focus on gender by 2030, supporting SIDS in collecting gender-disaggregated data, and making gender equality an explicit investment criterion for the Blue Planet Fund.
25
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 80
This Committee is concerned that the UK Government’s domestic policies are making it difficult for the UK to be seen as a serious partner to SIDS—the countries likely to be hit hardest by a failure of the international community to meet the agreed target to limit global warming to 1.5 …
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the importance of climate action, detailing its commitment to increasing domestic climate ambition through targets like delivering clean power by 2030 and reducing emissions by 81% by 2035, arguing these efforts enhance its climate leadership.