Enhancing data for development: policy imperatives for tracking the implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean. Policy Brief

For small island developing States (SIDS), sustainable development is a delicate balance of pursuing economic growth, social development and environmental stewardship in the context of economic volatility, social challenges, climate change threats and global uncertainties while striving to build resilience. Recognized as a special case for development since the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, SIDS remain highly vulnerable to external shocks due to their small economies, limited connectivity and reliance on external markets. Over the years, global frameworks such as the Barbados Programme of Action (1994), the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation (2005) and the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway (2014–2024) have helped shape SIDS development priorities. However, traditional challenges remain, including those related to climate change, sea level rise and unsustainable levels of public debt, while new threats, such as pandemics and a new regime of protectionism in international trade and migration, continue to shape the development of SIDS. Building on past efforts to promote sustainable development in SIDS, the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States (ABAS) was adopted at the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States in May 2024 by the Heads of State and Government and high-level representatives of the United Nations Member States. This ten-year plan (2024–2034) prioritizes economic resilience, social wellbeing and equity, environmental sustainability and access to financing, while aligning with global frameworks such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (United Nations, 2024). A core component of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda is the call to establish a systematic monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework, which builds on the Samoa Pathway’s monitoring system and aligns with SDG targets and indicators. This framework envisages biennial regional reviews and progress reports to support policymaking and strengthening of implementation accountability.