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Freedom of expression and democracy have been recognized in the SAMOA Pathway outcome document as fundamental conditions in reducing inequalities and the development of just democratic societies. As the United Nations agency with a specific mandate to promote “the free flow of ideas by word and image” UNESCO will work to foster free, independent and pluralistic media off and online in the SIDS. As a means to induce the transformative changes needed to address the complex and inter-related challenges that SIDS are encountering to access information and greater knowledge-sharing, UNESCO will work to promote policies for media development, press freedom and the safety of journalists, and strengthen the capacity of SIDS media, including - through its International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC). IPDC will not only provide support for media projects – it will also work to secure healthy environments for the growth of free and pluralistic media in SIDS.

The free sharing of knowledge and information plays a pivotal role in the lives of SIDS inhabitants. The rapidly accelerating development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has the power to positively transform SIDS to create inclusive knowledge societies and empower communities to access, create, share, and preserve knowledge and information for sustainable development. As a key to building peace and sustainable economic development in the SIDS, the Organization, with the support of its intergovernmental Information for All Programme (IFAP), will promote ‘openness’ in content, technology, and processes through awareness-raising, policy formulation and capacity-building. UNESCO will also support, and promote local content production in SIDS, by preserving their documentary heritage and encouraging multilingualism and respect for cultural diversity in cyberspace.

In 2023, UNESCO’s General Conference adopted the Operational Strategy for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which guides the Organization’s actions to support SIDS’ resilience for the period of 2023-2029. It is operationalized through six Accelerator Programmes, including two in the field of Communication and Information: 

• Accelerator Programme 4: “Support SIDS on Crisis Preparedness and Response and Disaster Risk Reduction to move from vulnerability to resilience” 

• Accelerator Programme 5: “Harnessing Digital Technologies for Education and Sustainable Development of SIDS” 

Four priority areas in communication and information are particularly relevant to foster sustainable development in SIDS:

• Media development and;
• Media and information literacy;
• Open access;
• Documentary heritage.

Principle Objectives 

• To help SIDS strengthen media development and media pluralism, including through the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC). 
• To empower media in SIDS to effectively function as key actors in disaster risk reduction, including early warning systems, by enhancing their capacities to effectively report on climate change, natural hazards and disaster srisks, and to function as key elements in disaster risk reduction, including early warning systems. 

Concrete Actions 

• Reinforce programming related to climate change, natural hazards and Disaster Risk Reduction. 
• Support media in developing institutional plans and strategies on disaster readiness and response. 
• Increase access to and use of digital tools in news gathering and production. 
• Strengthen editorial capabilities in investigative reporting and solutions journalism on environmental issues. 

Concrete Actions

• Support SIDS in establishing media and information literacy as a means for intercultural dialogue, peace, and sustainable development among various stakeholders, including young journalists, journalism educators, as well as media and information specialists. 

Principle Objective

To support SIDS in advancing universal access to information through Open Solutions and the Information for All Programme (IFAP).

Concrete Actions

• Foster the use of open solutions and Open Access by actively participating in implementing UNESCO’s global strategy for Open Access to scientific research and scholarly communication.
• Enable access by learners to relevant, high-quality educational opportunities such as Open Educational Resources (OERs) and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).
• Use ICTs as a tool of empowerment, namely for strengthening capacity-building opportunities, improving accessibility to information, preserving as well as for promoting local content, freedom of expression, multilingualism and the ethical dimension in the knowledge societies.
• Assist SIDS with the integration of ICT in education, to ensure that education remains relevant, responsive and effective for all and ensure greater access to ICTs platforms to enable higher education opportunities for those living in remote places and build the capacity of teachers through ICT-CFT.
• Develop comprehensive localized training programmes for effective skills transfer in mobile apps development, to build a vibrant, inclusive community of practice to ensure young people from all communities and all abilities are fully involved.
• Enhance inter-regional and international collaboration between academic research institutions (universities, centres, …) particularly relevant in the context of SIDS, including the potential for establishment of new research chairs.

Principle Objective

To preserve documentary heritage in SIDS, including through the Memory of the World Programme.

Concrete Actions

• Undertake measures for the protection of, and access to, documentary heritage in SIDS through the Memory of the World Programme, while fostering capacities and the contribution of heritage institutions and professionals to knowledge societies to constantly meet evolving trends and developments in this field.
• Use ICTs as a tool of empowerment, namely for strengthening capacity building opportunities, improving accessibility, preserving and protecting documentary heritage.
• Develop documentary heritage education and its importance for memory and identity.