Many small islands do not have large watersheds and catchment areas that allow for extensive surface water-bodies or large underground sources of water, as a result of their small sizes and limited landmass. The impact of growing demands for water, combined with the decreasing availability of water resources, poses a great challenge to the sustainable development of these countries.

In response to the challenge, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) launched a project to support six countries, two of which are located in the Atlantic Ocean (Cape Verde and Sao Tome & Principe) and four of which are located in the Indian Ocean (Comoros, Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles).

The overall objective of the IWRM AIO SIDS project is to strengthen the commitment and capacity of the participating countries to implement an integrated approach to the management of freshwater resources, with a long-term goal of enhancement of the capacity of the countries to plan and manage their aquatic resources and ecosystems on a sustainable basis.