African Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are sometimes overlooked in global debates that tend to be dominated by the Pacific and the Caribbean. Yet across Africa’s island states, substantial advances are being made in terms of regional collaboration, good governance, sustainable development, climate resilience and cultural protection. At the same time, the region faces distinctive challenges: vast distances separate African SIDS and their critical mass is limited relative to counterparts elsewhere. 

In this episode, Emily and Matt are joined by Stefano Moncada from the University of Malta to speak to panel of experts – Paul Akiwumi from Ghana, Penda Choppy from Seychelles, Ramola Ramtohul from Mauritius, and Antonio Palazuelos Prieto from Cape Verde – about the exciting developments that are happening across African SIDS. They explore what is going on across the continent and why African island development matters to the wider story of small islands, highlighting lessons, successes and insights that can inform resilience and development efforts across the global community of islands.  

Featuring: 

• Emily Wilkinson (host) | RESI Director and Principal Research Fellow at ODI Global 
• Matthew Bishop (host) | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of Sheffield 
• Stefano Moncada | Director, Islands and Small States Institute at the University of Malta 
• Paul Akiwumi | Senior Fellow, London School of Economics and former Director of the UNCTAD Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes 
• Ramola Ramtohul | Associate Professor in Gender Studies and Sociology at the University of Mauritius 
• Antonio Palazuelos Prieto | SIDS Expert at UN Economic Commission for Africa 
• Penda Choppy | Director, Creole Language and Culture Research Institute at the University of Seychelles 

Resources: 

• Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI) 
• Stefano’s profile | University of Malta website 
• Paul’s profile | Paul Akiwumi LinkedIn
• UNCTAD’s work on productive capacities | SIDS PCI website 
• Ramola’s profile | Ramola Ramtohul LinkedIn 
• Ramola’s book | The Mauritian Paradox 
• Antonio’s profile | Antonio Palazuelos LinkedIn 
• Penda’s profile | University of Seychelles website 
• A paper by Jack, our RESI Co-Director | African Exceptions 

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