A practical digital infrastructure, or data-hub, could help Pacific Small Island Developing States better prepare for disasters, deliver services and attract investment by turning information into coordinated action, driven by shared data systems, digital tools and real-time dashboards.
At a United Nations event during the 2026 ECOSOC Partnership Forum in New York, on Friday, 6 February, Tonga’s Permanent Representative to the UN, H.E. Mr. Viliami Vaʻinga Tōnē, outlined how a SIDS Global Data Hub could turn data into action that benefits Pacific Islands like Tonga.
Ambassador Tōnē said that island nations face similar challenges from cyclones and sea-level rise to service delivery gaps, and need platforms that help translate data into decisions.
“Many governments do not need more reports. They need tools that turn information into coordinated action,” he said.
Integrated data dashboards could show where communities, critical services and infrastructure are most at risk, he told the side event meeting to discuss “The SIDS Centre of Excellence: Building Integrated Data and Infrastructure for Scalable SDG Partnerships”.
SIDS Global Data Hub
The centre that may provide this service, is being designed “by SIDS and for SIDS” as part of the broader global response to island vulnerabilities, built around a SIDS Global Data Hub that connects national and regional systems so leaders and partners can access, share and use data for planning, policymaking and investment.
Tonga’s focus on practical digital capacity echoes wider Pacific efforts to strengthen connectivity and inclusion, such as regional workshops aimed at measuring universal connectivity to ensure no community is left offline.
The side event was organised with the PVBLIC Foundation and the SDG Data Alliance, had brought together governments, multilateral institutions and the private sector, reinforcing Pacific commitment to data-driven development and collaboration that strengthens resilience and prosperity for island peoples.
The panel of the side-event included, Director of Government Affairs at PVBLIC Foundation, Ashaki Goodwin; Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations, H.E. Dr. Walton Webson; Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Nations, H.E. Mr. Viliami Va'inga Tōnē; and Lead Account Manager for the Nonprofit and Global Organizations Team, Esri, Charles Brigham.
