The Big Divide: Ten year report on small island developiong states progress towards the Millennium Development Goals

This report provides a comprehensive assessment of progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) from a small states perspective. The authors compare the performance of 46 small island developing states (SIDS) with 10 benchmark states, illuminating achievements and highlighting areas in which countries are falling behind.

The data, 2000–2010, shows that despite their many commonalities, a big divide separates these countries across the range of MDG economic, social and environmental indicators. The report also highlights aspects of the MDG system that are not well attuned to the interests of small states, and recommends how these issues can be resolved. The analysis and recommendations presented in this study will be very useful in the context of on-going international discussions on the MDGs in the light of their conclusion in 2015, and in consideration of successor goals.

John L. Roberts is a British international consultant on macroeconomics and sustainable development, working at present on assignments with the Indian Ocean Commission and the Commonwealth Secretariat. He has published case studies for UNEP on malaria eradication and on cyclone early warning systems.

Ibukunoluwa Ibitoye