Strong Partnerships for localized solutions for urban resilience in Pacific Small Island Developing States

The Pacific Urban Partnership was founded at WUF10, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, combining the resources of UN agencies, international NGOs and universities in responding to the needs of Pacific Island SIDS as expressed in the Pacific New Urban Agenda. Since then it has supported Pacific Island communities in sharing their experience and has brokered support for addressing climate change, the post-COVID economic recovery, and tackling the social and environmental problems brought about by rapid urbanization. This work has included hosting two Pacific Urban Forum events (one virtual and one in-person) to facilitate peer support amongst Pacific leaders. At WUF 11, PUP members contributed to sharing the Pacific SIDS experience with those of the Caribbean SIDS around their demands for climate justice.

The proposed WUF 12 Networking Event will review the Pacific Urban Partnership's achievements and the outcomes of the Pacific Urban Forum 6, September 2023, and provide for sharing this experience with other global SIDS, promoting stronger Pacific and global advocacy.

The program for the Networking Session is proposed as follows.

• Welcome and introduction to session objectives
• Setting the Scene (Suva Statement, WUF12 PUP Declared Actions, State of Urbanization in the Blue Pacific Report, Pacific SDG Localization)
• Moderated presentation of case studies delivered by Pacific leaders from Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Tonga, and Kiribati) each addressing:
• Participatory Slum Upgrading
• Local solutions for building resilience to climate change
• Opportunities for greening Pacific infrastructure
• Promoting local strategies for meeting the SDGs
• Defining the PUF7 Agenda
• Yidinji to COP29
• Closing and reflections on strengthening peer support amongst Pacific and other SIDS

The outcomes from this session will inform the programme of the next Pacific Urban Forum (PUF7), planned for mid-2025. Opportunities for global SIDS networking as part of the next PUF will be explored.