Portugal appointed Co‑Chair of the SIDS Partnerships Steering Committee, with Belize, for 2026

Portugal welcomes the opportunity to serve the UN membership as Co-Chair of the Steering Committee on Partnerships for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) for 2026, alongside Belize.

Portugal expresses its sincere appreciation for the trust placed in the Co-Chairs by the President of the General Assembly and assumes this responsibility with a strong sense of commitment and readiness.

The Steering Committee is a Member State-led body that helps guide and advance the SIDS Partnership Framework, the principal UN-mandated mechanism to convene stakeholders, review progress, catalyse new partnerships, and support coordinated implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS).

Portugal will approach its role in a spirit of inclusiveness, transparency, and results-orientation, and looks forward to working closely with Belize and all partners to help ensure that SIDS partnerships remain responsive to national and regional priorities and contribute meaningfully to sustainable development outcomes. 

This will be the second time Portugal co-chairs the Steering Committee since 2016, having previously co-chaired its work in 2022–2023 alongside Samoa.