SIDS of Change Package

The SIDS of Change package is Singapore’s capacity-building initiative for small island developing states (SIDS). At the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting on 1 September 2026, Singapore announced that it would extend the package for another two years, taking its current horizon to 2028. The package is delivered under Singapore’s development-cooperation engagement and is distinct from the separate SPARKS package, which was extended to 2029 (MFA, 1 September 2026).

Focus areas and delivery boundary

The extended SIDS of Change package focuses especially on Artificial Intelligence for Governance and Public Service Transformation, while continuing work in civil aviation and maritime fellowships. These are government-to-government and institutional capacity-building themes, not a consumer AI product, a domestic Singapore benefits scheme or a promise that every SIDS official receives a fellowship. Specific participants, courses and delivery schedules should be confirmed through the relevant Singapore Cooperation Programme or partner announcement (MFA, 1 September 2026).

Relationship to SPARKS and Singapore’s Pacific engagement

SIDS of Change and SPARKS share a practical knowledge-sharing purpose but are not the same programme. SPARKS is Singapore’s Pacific resilience and knowledge-sharing package, with its next phase focused on leadership and governance, financial management and macroeconomic fundamentals through 2029. SIDS of Change has a wider SIDS framing and a stated 2028 extension, with AI-for-governance, public-service transformation, civil-aviation and maritime-fellowship elements. Keeping their names and time horizons separate prevents the cumulative Singapore Cooperation Programme training figure from being attributed to either package alone (MFA, 1 September 2026).