Although many small Commonwealth jurisdictions, including Small Branches, differ in population size, geography and development progress, they share many challenges and vulnerabilities. This includes high exposure to natural disasters, climate change and global economic shocks, as well as more limited domestic revenues and opportunities for borrowing. Their vulnerabilities are also compounded by low economic diversification, often characterised by high dependence on tourism and remittances. These factors seriously hinder their economic growth prospects and ability to invest in sustainable development.  

Small jurisdictions have long found solutions to many of their challenges and pursued unconventional development strategies often with great success, harnessing innovation, ocean resources and local community knowledge, among others. However, in an increasingly volatile world, under what conditions can small jurisdictions navigate these challenges, future-proof their economies, promote sustainable development and increase resilience? 

Parliaments and Parliamentarians are well placed to use their legislative, oversight and representative functions to bettering governance through more effective, democratic and accountable institutions. This will help ensure that the right policy decisions are being taken by government and resources are being allocated for the mutual benefit of the national economy and the needs of individuals and communities.  

Sustainable development and environmental governance have been embedded as key thematic priorities for the CPA Small Branches network, as contained in its Strategic Plan 2021 – 2023. In February 2020, the network delivered a Sustainable Economic Development workshop in Malta, which sensitised Parliamentarians to the importance of sustainable development across key themes including ocean governance, food security and social inclusion.  

General Resources

Climate Change and Small States - CPA Parliamentarian's Toolkit

CPA Small Branches Sustainable Economic Development Workshop Report

Institute of Island Studies, Prince Edward Island

Finance for Development of Small Island States, UN-OHRLLS

Island & Small States Institute, University of Malta

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This session explored the factors affecting economic growth and sustainable development in small Commonwealth countries. Although many small Commonwealth jurisdictions, including CPA Small Branches, differ in population size, geography and development progress, they share many challenges and vulnerabilities. As the workshop’s Chair noted, this includes high exposure to natural disasters, climate change and global economic shocks, as well as more limited domestic revenues and opportunities for borrowing. Their vulnerabilities are also compounded by low economic diversification, often characterised by high dependence on tourism and remittances. These factors seriously hinder their economic growth prospects and ability to invest in sustainable development. 

Small jurisdictions have long found solutions to many of their challenges and pursued unconventional development strategies, often with great success. These strategies have harnessed such assets as innovation, ocean resources and local community knowledge. Delegates heard about some of the challenges faced by the Cayman Islands and Malta in recent years, as well as the efforts to address them, from two panellists.

Notable among these challenges are the COVID-19 pandemic and an increase in the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones. Delegates were also given an overview of the work being done by the Institute of Island Studies on Prince Edward Island in Canada to increase understanding of the issues faced by islands around the world regarding sustainable development.

Parliaments and Parliamentarians are well placed to use their legislative, oversight and representative functions to better governance through more effective democratic and accountable institutions. This will help ensure that the right policy decisions are being taken by government and resources are being allocated for the mutual benefit of the national economy and the needs of individuals and communities.  

As part of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference outcomes, each workshop put forward a recommendation. The following recommendation was agreed:

“Through their legislative, oversight and representative functions, Parliamentarians from small jurisdictions should actively engage in economic development policies to ensure that are responsive to all societal groups, are environmentally sensitive and are broadly aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).”  

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