Title: Workshop for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

Dates: 22-24 July 2025

Location: Saly, Senegal 

Language: English, with live interpretation in French. Key workshop materials will be available in English and French.

The government of Senegal and the Santiago network will host a capacity building workshop for LDCs and SIDS in Africa, with a specific focus on their unique challenges and opportunities. The workshop will introduce Santiago network operative guidelines and assist countries and other stakeholders in understanding the processes for making requests for technical assistance and becoming a Member of the Santiago network.

The key objectives of the workshop are: 

• Familiarize and update LDCs and SIDS in Africa on the Santiago network and its progress
• Enhance understanding on modalities of access to technical assistance through the Santiago network (including orientation on the operative guidelines)
• Facilitate the identification of capacity gaps in regional and country contexts, and based on this, initiate the drafting of requests for technical assistance
• Discuss and articulate the next steps for enhancing capacity relevant to loss and damage through technical assistance from the Santiago network

The workshop will be run in an interactive ‘write-shop’ format with a focus on developing demand-driven technical assistance requests by countries. Every session will be structured around introductory presentations to provide overview, followed by interactive discussion and exchanges and write-up exercises to complete the technical assistance template. 

This workshop is targeted to representatives from LDCs and SIDS in Africa, particularly national liaisons to the Santiago network Secretariat, loss and damage contact points and disaster risk reduction focal points. 

Event concept note