Description
GLISPA’s focus to 2015 is two fold:
- To catalyse action on the following priorities:
- i. Leadership and commitments to action on ecosystem based adapation, mitigation and invasive species. This will include strengthening/developing ecosystem based adaptation preparedness in particular funding, channeling climate change funds to ecosystem based adaptation activities for islands and bringing EBA into the green economy.
- ii. Conservation and sustainable livelihoods linking to development and the green economy. GLISPA will work to promote and catalyse island leadership in advancing the green economy, identify early leaders and successes and facilitate the exchange of experiences through a range of processes which lead up to the review of the Millenium Development Goals in 2015.
- To highlight, promote and support commitments made by GLISPA participants.
GLISPA is a unique, entirely voluntary partnership that has been able to have a significant impact since it was formed in 2005 including helping to catalyse more than $US100 million in commitments for island conservation and livelihoods.
The GLISPA model to date has been to convene high level events at significant international and regional meetings to provide a platform for countries and organisations to make commitments to on the ground action for island conservation and sustainable livelihoods. Each commitment acts as a beacon to others, offering hope for success and help along the way.
With a small coordination unit based in the United States and a strongly engaged Steering Committee, GLISPA functions through teams focused on the themes and the functioning of the partnership itself. Thus there are teams on ecosystem based adaptation, invasives, outreach, commitments, development/green economy and GLISPA fundraising. These teams consist of team leads and team members from GLISPA participant organisations and countries who work on agreed objectives to advance priority issues. The Steering Committee addresses partnership governance through regular teleconferences and meeting annually in Washington DC. High level leadership and guidance is provided by the co-chairs - the Presidents of Palau and the Seychelles.
GLISPA does not work on policy but is committed to continue supporting the outstanding leadership and extraordinary commitments of all its dedicated participants, and to sharing island successes and lessons with the world.
Since it was launched in 2006, GLISPA has had some notable strengths including:
- Presidential and high level support who are willing to engage willing leaders at all levels.
- A broad and diverse spread of participants giving it a global and far reaching network which enables interconnectivity between actions at both the island and global level. This large constituency includes governments, non government and intergovernmental organisations.
- It’s coordination and active facilitation role has seen it link good ideas and initiatives with funds and link problems with experience and potential solutions.
- It has experience, a good track record of commitments, results and participation and provides support to implementation in the field through maintaining momentum.
