Page 20 - U4SSC Simple ways to be smart

2.1.1 Small-Island Developing States (SIDS)

SIDS represent some 20 percent of UN membership and more than half the Commonwealth. Most
have populations smaller than 1.5 million people and grapple with vulnerabilities linked to their
size, history and location. They lack economies of scale and depend on a few key exports and
narrow resource bases. Transportation costs are high due to geographical remoteness and the
need to import strategic commodities like food and fuel. As a result, they are sensitive to external
shocks and extremely susceptible to natural disasters, magnified by climate change. SIDS need
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to redefine and augment human and organisational capabilities that have been negatively affected
by a history of slavery, colonialism, and unequal access to global economic and other resources.

Many SIDS have siloed and bureaucratic governance models left over from their colonial past.
Decision-making is highly centralised and slow, which limits the kind of innovation, creativity,
and out-of-the-box thinking that enables modern tech solutions to deliver value. Smart solutions
are inhibited by organisational structures and cultures at odds with principles of collaboration,
agility, accessibility, dynamism, transparency, openness, simplicity, and people empowerment.
Applying even simple smart interventions in unsupportive cultural contexts could increase inherent
vulnerabilities and dependence on imports, rather than unlock local solutions to local problems.

2.1.2 Sub-Saharan African cities

In sub-Saharan Africa many people still lack access to basic necessities such as food, shelter and
safety. Many are in economically precarious situations and in most countries fewer than 10%
of people have Internet access at home Addressing these challenges is difficult because of
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geographic factors and poor infrastructure, such as access to reliable electricity. At the same time
African cities are growing rapidly, with estimates that they will house 1.34 billion people by 2050
and this puts pressure on already limited infrastructure.

Key to improving conditions in sub-Saharan Africa will be better city government and e-government
to provide efficient, high-volume services. Sub-Saharan Africa contributes relatively little to the
climate crisis with low levels of energy consumption. Ideally, living conditions need to be improved
without the negative impacts that have resulted from development in other parts of the world.
There is evidence that smart, climate-adaptive urban development can be effective to address the
backlog of urban service-delivery, and provide employment in African cities. However, solutions
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need to be cost-effective and simple to implement and maintain. Interventions also need to be
suited to the context and local input is needed to align them with local practices.

2.1.3 Latin-American cities

Latin America has reached urbanization rates of around 80%. Despite the fact that this
urbanization process has not produced an equal improvement in development, it has undoubtedly
produced better living conditions, reflected in many indicators, such as employment, education,

8 U4SSC: Simple ways to be smart