The Small States Network for Economic Development (SSNED) provides a mechanism for institutional building in small states. The establishment of the Small States Network for Economic Development was first proposed by Malta at the 2005 Small States Forum held in Washington, and the mandate to establish it was given by the 2006 Small States Forum held in Singapore. All small states members of the Small States Forum are eligible for membership, free of charge.
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According to the Network’s statute its mission is to facilitate the exchange of “best practices” among small states, to promote the increased integration of the concerns and interests of small states into the policies and programmes of the international community, and to undertake or support such related actions as will further these goals and the sustainable development of SSNED Members.
Governance
The Network is governed by a Board of Trustees in line with its statute. Mr Grantley Smith, who represents Barbados, currently chairs the Board, while the secretary of the Board is Mr Kyle Peters, who also provides liaison with the World Bank.
The current members of the Board of Trustees are the six founding members of SSNED: Barbados, Malta, Mauritius, St. Kitts and Nevis, Samoa and Vanuatu, and the two founding partners, namely the World Bank and the Commonwealth Secretariat. The secretary of the Board is Mr Stefano Curto, who also provides liaison with the World Bank.
The Network has been registered as a legal entity in Malta and its secretariat is located at Valletta, Malta.
Funding
The Network has received initial seed-money funding from the World Bank. The grant is intended to fund start-up activities, including steps to establish a permanent secretariat of the Network to be based in Malta, and to finance appropriate projects, endorsed by the Board and aligned with the work programme of the Network.
Secretariat
Currently the Secretariat of the Network is it composed of three persons namely Professor Lino Briguglio as Director, with David Pulis as Administrator and Ms Maryrose Vella as assistant administrator.
The Network has been registered as a legal entity in Malta and its secretariat is located at Valletta, Malta.
Projects
The Network funds twinning projects, training workshops and other initiatives, with small states as beneficiaries, on the following core themes: