Background Information
From inception to execution
The history of the Sustainable Island State Agenda, and how the network behind it functions.
Why the Agenda exists
As a small island developing state, Saint Kitts and Nevis remains highly susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change. Since 1950, numerous extreme weather events have undermined livelihood security and hindered development progress.
The Federation’s reliance on climate-sensitive sectors such as tourism and agriculture, coupled with the exposure of low-lying coastal communities to storm surges and sea-level rise, puts livelihoods, socio-cultural practices, and critical ecosystems at serious risk.
In August 2023, the Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis proposed the Sustainable Island State Agenda (SISA) as the vehicle that will drive a Federation-wide sustainability transition.
The Government aims for full operationalization and integration of the initiative, revolutionizing the trajectory of St. Kitts and Nevis’ sustainable development and upscaling the nation’s performance and self-sufficiency by 2040.
- Strategic Alignment: aligned with the National Development Planning Framework (NDPF), leveraging its methodology, data-driven analysis, and sustainability indicators.
- Resource Mobilization: mobilizing resources for climate resilience by promoting existing projects and identifying flagship initiatives for regional and international funding.
- Visibility and Communication: a central hub to promote sustainability efforts and raise public awareness.
- Inter-Ministerial Collaboration: coordinating cross-ministry efforts for holistic, cross-sectoral initiatives.
- Societal Engagement: shared responsibility and collective action across all segments of society.
The chart of the SISA’s human resource structure, depicting how the network of line Ministries and partners functions, will be published here once supplied by the Secretariat.