AI for SIDS 2.0 – The Caribbean Forum was a four-part online series designed to support Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in exploring the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for public sector innovation, resilience, and sustainable development. The initiative was spearheaded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GoRTT), the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The online series spanned February 18th – June 3rd, 2025, and brought together government officials, digital transformation experts, AI professionals, and civil society stakeholders to discuss the ethical, practical, and strategic use of AI in governance.
Full details of the programme roll out, including key takeaways and session recordings can be found here.
Participation Overview
The Series attracted a vibrant and diverse audience, with over 1,200 registrants across the four sessions. There was participant engagement from more than 20 Caribbean and extra-Regional countries, and from a wide range of sectors. The public sector and government were the sectors most represented, followed by education, academia, ICT, legal, finance, and development organizations.
This broad geographic representation and cross-sectoral participation underscores the multidisciplinary relevance of AI and the growing regional and global interest in AI for public sector transformation in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Also notable was the strong gender balance, with female participants making up approximately 60% of attendees and males making up approximately 40%. This encouraging gender representation reflects the inclusive nature of the event and the increasing involvement of women in digital transformation and AI policy spaces.