Reporting back: The UN's SIDS Civil Society Engagement Forum. New York - May 12 & 13.

MAY 17, 2025 -

I recently got back on island from the United Nations SIDS Civil Society Engagement Forum at the UN in New York, Monday 12th - Tuesday 13th May, and wow, what a productive couple days! I wanted to share some key takeaways that I think our creative community should really vibe with, while the experience is still fresh in my mind.

The forum focused on getting civil society more involved in the SIDS Action-Oriented Partnership Framework (ABAS)—essentially, how we can better support our island nations in achieving global goals. I am particularly interested in goals 13 ( climate action), 14 ( life below water) and 17 (partnerships). For more info on the agenda and participants follow this link. 

Diving straight in, here are some key recommendations from the Caribbean region.

Key Recommendations:

1. Strengthening Our Community:

• We need to broaden inclusivity and bring in more voices, especially from those not traditionally heard.

• Push for a civil society-led approach at every level—national, regional, global.

• Invest in our youth and their leadership skills.

•  Ongoing financial and technical support is a must for building our capacity for ocean-climate action! 

  
  

2. Collaboration Is Key:

• We discussed mapping all the community-based groups in our islands, so we know who’s who in the community.

• Re-establishing a SIDS CSO registry platform as a space for sharing resources and support.

• Continuing to strengthen regional and global civil society forums every year.

• Leverage our connections with regional and international organizations as a route to equitable collaboration.

  
  

A Shared Vision:

The hope is for civil society to be recognized as crucial partners in crafting a sustainable future for our island nations. It’s all about equitable partnerships, access to inclusive finance, and making sure our voices are heard in the big decision-making rooms—like at the CARICOM Heads of Government meetings in the Caribbean.

I Stand for Community Care

On a personal note, I have to be honest—this journey in community-based conservation has broken me several times. The relentless nature of ocean-climate action (advocacy, research, and capacity development)  overstretched, and under-resourced has left me fatigued and drained. Time spent connecting and sharing is always worth it but I’ve recognizing that I need to take a step back from project work to focus on self-care. Adopting a mantra from Addie Gengenbach

It was this sentiment that encouraged me to suggest the edits in pink to the Caribbean statement at SIDS Civil Society Engagement Forum , interactive dialogue.

Friends, it’s time to redesign a route forward that is more sustainable, for me and my family, and yours too. I believe that there needs to be a robust monitoring and evaluation framework that SIDS manage for accountability. This is an area I’d happily work to co-design.

A shoutout to BOSI co-founder, and UN DESA Consultant, Karuna Rana from the Mauritius, who puts it best.

I’m honoured to have the privilege to ideate, celebrate and commiserate with some incredible human beings, but truly, there needs to be policy and budgetary space to support locally-led social innovation in our evolving blue economies, because without people there is no point!

Bonus: Behind the scenes footage - UN SIDS Civil Society Forum. Addressing Guiding Questions for Day 1 Interactive Breakout Groups. Topic: Addressing CSO capacity development needs. Contributors : Veta Wade - Caribbean, Faa'tino Utumaqu and Nicc Moeomo Samoa.

What Can You Do?

• Policy Allies: Advocate for policies at every level that uplift our civil society in decision-making, support flexible funding, and help amplify their voices globally.

• Creative  Allies: Create art that showcases the beauty and resilience of island communities, raise awareness about their challenges, and collaborate with them on projects that spotlight their stories.

As I reflect on my path forward, I choose art as my medium because it allows me to cultivate a softer, more creative life while also providing a restorative space. Art is not just a passion for me; it’s a sanctuary where I can explore my feelings about this work and find solace amid the challenges.

Here are a few things we can collectively focus on for the remainder of the year:

1. Experimentation: Dive into new techniques that could spark fresh ideas for your main project.

2.Create Art Journals: Document your thoughts, feelings, and inspirations in an art journal. Doodling or sketching can lead to breakthroughs in your creative process.

3. Collaborate with Others: Engage in collaborative art projects. This fosters community and provides fresh perspectives that may inspire your original work.

4.Attend Workshops or Classes: Join classes, like those led by Beth Spencer at  Introvert Drawing Club, to learn new skills and enhance your art practice while networking with other creatives.

5.Reflect on Past Works: Revisit your previous artwork. Analyze what worked and what didn’t to guide your future projects.

I’ve  drafted a playbook that guides you through all of this in a playful way. If you’d like to help me improve and test it,  I’d love that! Just email me at veta@vetawade.com. Or if you want to create some co-working time to focus on any of the above, I’m open to this too - I could even join your existing group.

While the work ahead may feel daunting, acknowledging our exhaustion is a sign of strength, not weakness. We have the power to transform our collective struggles into meaningful action. By restoring our energy and creativity, we can also uplift ourselves and our island nations. Together, let’s harness our resilience to tackle the pressing issues ahead, turning our shared experiences into catalysts for real change.

We can keep this conversation alive and support one another through the tough times, with tenderness, and good vibrations. 🌊💙

xo

Veta

Gift: I enjoy making ocean science more accessible, so here’s an image taken by me of a rocky outcrop of coral reef outside The Clubhouse, a part of Montserrat’s fringing reef system. You can use it as a screen saver if you like :)

P.S. Pardon the typo’s, I never see them until I press publish.