Photo: UN DESA/P. Vasić
The name of the person receiving the award (green top) is Gabriella Cassola from the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade. The two persons delivering the award are the Permanent Representatives of Portugal and Samoa to the UN.
A collaboration between the Maltese Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade and the Islands and Small States Institute (ISSI) at the University of Malta (UM) will be bestowed with the UN Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Partnership Award in the social category. The partnership set up a scholarship grant at Masters (Level 7 of the European Qualification Framework) and PhD (Level 8 of the European Qualification Framework) to candidates specifically from SIDS that are eligible for Official Development Assistance.
The UN SIDS Partnerships Awards were established in 2021 and launched the following year on the initiative of Antigua and Barbuda and the Republic of Malta during their two-year tenure (2020-2021) as the Co-Chairs of the Steering Committee. The Awards aim to recognise the efforts of the most genuine and durable partnerships for the sustainable development of SIDS in line with the SIDS Accelerated Modality of Action (SAMOA) Pathway.
The scholarships awarded by the Maltese Foreign Ministry and the UM are aimed at strengthening capacity-building in core areas of research of SIDS, thus contributing to their sustainable development. The partnership highlights Malta’s continuing commitment towards fostering the capacities and promoting the interests of SIDS and builds on the work Malta has done throughout the years in this regard, including during 2020 and 2021, when it co-chaired the UN Steering Committee on Partnerships for Small Island Developing States.
The scholarships are awarded to candidates specifically from ODA-eligible SIDS. They are intended to assist these SIDS in the fulfilment of the aims and objectives of the SAMOA Pathway and the Sustainable Development Goals. Scholarship awardees at Master and PhD level benefit from the expertise of the ISSI. Some concrete examples include the work of Ruth Gutierrez-Corley, who is assessing climate change impacts on the seaweed farmers in Belize, with the aim of informing more effective adaptation policies to increase their livelihoods; or Marie Tolbize’s investigation into food security and the role of agroforestry in the small islands of the Indian Ocean. Finally, the work of Ratu Tevita who reviewed multi-hazards in the coastal community of Fiji, assessing environmental and climate challenges and suitable responses.
The ISSI has established itself as a centre of excellence in Islands and Small States Studies. In its research and teaching it focuses on key areas of the SAMOA Pathway and SDGs, notably all aspects related to sustainable development, climate change, biodiversity and the protection of life below water and on land. Designated as the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre on Health Systems and Policies in Small States, the ISSI furthermore offers expertise in relation to SIDS and public health. The Institute’s Island Tourism Platform delivers top-level expertise in the field of tourism studies, including with a focus on sustainable tourism in small and island states.
Dr Stefano Moncada, ISSI Director, added that “We know that the scholarships are having a positive impact on the lives of these young academics and are confident that their research will benefit their countries and communities", and concluded by saying that “we must thank all offices at the UM, especially the International Office, the Office of the Registrar, the Legal team, and the ISSI board, who have been instrumental to support this rewarding journey”.
The award ceremony was held in New York on 11 July 2023 during the Global Multi-Stakeholder SIDS Partnership Dialogue.
