Small Islands Big Picture

Hosted by ODI Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)

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Jul 2026

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Directors of ODI Global's Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative, Emily Wilkinson and Matt Bishop, cut to the heart of the political, economic, social and environmental challenges facing SIDS, and how their incredible people are responding to them. Every episode includes expert guests from the Caribbean, Pacific and elsewhere. To get in touch, visit https://odi.org/en/about/our-work/resilient-islands/ or send us an email to info@odi.org with "small islands" in the subject line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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July 30, 202639 min

Where do African SIDS fit into small-island development?

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 LISTENER SURVEY: To help us make Small Islands, Big Picture even better, we’ve put together a short audience survey and would love your input. You can find the survey at this link and your feedback will help us shape future episodes, topics, and guests. If you have a moment, please fill it out: it only takes a couple of minutes would mean a lot to us. Thanks for listening and supporting the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

June 3, 202641 min

Defending the SIDS special case: what happened at the SIDS Future Forum 2026?

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have long been recognised by the United Nations as a “special case” for sustainable development. This reflects the fact that small islands across the Caribbean, the Pacific, and the Indian Ocean and Atlantic regions face unique and intensifying challenges, including climate change, debt pressures, geopolitical uncertainty, and limited fiscal space. But in a rapidly shifting global system, that recognition is under increasing strain. How do small island states ensure their needs are still understood, prioritised and acted on? In this episode, we explore the key questions at the heart of that debate, drawing on insights from the SIDS Future Forum 2026, a space which brought over 50 experts together - SIDS diplomats, officials from international organisations, representatives of donor governments and researchers - to reflect on the future of the global SIDS agenda and the implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), the UN’s ten-year programme of action. In an extended version of our “Big Picture” segment, we hear reflections from senior SIDS representatives to the UN, including Tania Romualdo (Cabo Verde), Walton Webson (Antigua and Barbuda), Ali Naseer Mohamed (Maldives) and Nicholas Cox (Barbados), on what it will take to keep the “special case” relevant and credible in a world of sustained geopolitical upheaval. In “No Stupid Questions”, Matt and Emily explore some of the new ideas that emerged from the Future Forum, including why fresh evidence, insights and arguments are needed to defend the UN-recognised “special case” for sustainable development that SIDS have held since the first UN programme of action in the 1990s. LISTENER SURVEY: To help us make Small Islands, Big Picture even better, we’ve put together a short audience survey and would love your input. You can find the survey at this link and your feedback will help us shape future episodes, topics, and guests. If you have a moment, please fill it out: it only takes a couple of minutes would mean a lot to us. Thanks for listening and supporting the show! 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 Tania Romualdo | Permanent Representative of Cabo Verde to the UN Walton Webson | Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the UN Ali Naseer Mohamed | Permanent Representative of Maldives to the UN Nicholas Cox | Deputy Permanent Representative of Barbados to the UN Resources: Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI) RESI Book | Sustaining Development in Small Islands RESI Report | How SIDS view their development partners Trailer for new RESI film | Climate Blueprint: Barbados SIDS Future Forum 2026 | Opening session recording: navigating the now SIDS Future Forum 2026 | State of SIDS Report Chapters 1 and 2 recording SIDS Future Forum 2026 | State of SIDS Report Chapters 2 and 3 recording SIDS Future Forum 2026 | Event homepage and resources SIDS Future Forum 2026 | Wilton Park Event Report SIDS Future Forum 2024 | Shaping the Future of SIDS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 8, 202653 min

Have health outcomes in small islands recovered a half-decade after the Covid-19 pandemic?

Small islands generally did far better during the pandemic than bigger (and often richer) countries with more complex health systems. In this episode, Emily and Matt ask: what have been the longer-term effects of Covid-19 more than five years on? Have lessons have been learned for the next shock? Where can we see both improvements and things to worry about in health provision and outcomes? We welcome two global public health experts for our “Explainer”. Sophie Harman tells us why we should worry about not only the decline of multilateral health governance, but also what might be replacing it. Simon Rushton talks us through some of the longer-term effects of the pandemic on the Global South. Then, in the Big Picture, we are joined by Roannie Ng Shiu from Samoa and Aviane Auguste from St Lucia to learn why SIDS did relatively so well in the pandemic but why more prosaic health challenges – from measles to dengue and non-communicable diseases like diabetes – are of greater immediate concern. Finally, in no stupid questions, Matt and Emily ask whether small size and islandness are actually secret weapons in helping SIDS to achieve better health outcomes. LISTENER SURVEY: To help us make Small Islands, Big Picture even better, we’ve put together a short audience survey and would love your input. You can find the survey at this link and your feedback will help us shape future episodes, topics, and guests. If you have a moment, please fill it out: it only takes a couple of minutes would mean a lot to us. Thanks for listening and supporting the show! 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 Sophie Harman | Professor of International Politics, Queen Mary, University of London Simon Rushton | Professor of International Politics, University of Sheffield Roannie Ng Shiu | Director, Institute for Pacific and Global Health, University of Auckland Avianne Auguste | Assistant Professor, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational health, McGill University Resources: Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI) Sophie’s profile | Professor Sophie Harman Sophie’s film | Pili Sophie’s book | Sick of it: the global fight for women’s health Simon’s profile | Professor Simon Rushton Simon’s award | ESRC Impact Prize: Improbable Dialogues Simon & Sophie’s recent Lancet article | Global health partnerships for a post-2030 agenda Roannie’s profile | Dr Roannie Ng Shiu Roannie’s Lancet article | The 2024 small island developing states report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change Aviane’s profile | Dr Aviane Auguste A public lecture by Aviane | Improving health outcomes in small islands An important Lancet piece | SIDS standing together on NCDs and mental health Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

January 29, 202653 min

Will 2026 be an even bigger year for small islands?

In this episode, Emily, Matt and the other RESI Directors look back on everything that happened in the world of small islands during 2025, discussing hot topics, highlights and lowlights while looking forward to 2026 will bring. The team also discusses how their own policy and research has shaped conversations around different SIDS agendas - from debt and oceans to geopolitics and climate justice. NB: Hurricane Melissa cast a very long shadow over the final months of 2025 and will continue to do so for Jamaicans as they rebuild their country. If you would like to support those efforts, you can make a donation to the government’s relief fund here . Featuring: o Emily Wilkinson (host) | RESI Director and Principal Research Fellow at ODI Global o Matthew Bishop (host) | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of Sheffield o Courtney Lindsay | RESI Director and Senior Research Officer at ODI Global o Gail Hurley | RESI Director and Development Finance Expert o George Carter | RESI Director and Deputy Head of Department of Pacific Affairs/Director of Pacific Institute, Australian National University o Jack Corbett | RESI Director and Head of School of Social Sciences, Monash University o Rachid Bouiha | RESI Director and Economic Affairs Officer, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Resources: o Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI) o Our RESI book | Sustaining Development in Small Islands o Courtney’s AI report | Engines of Growth: Building Knowledge Economies in SIDS o Another AI blog | Why SIDS need to act quickly on AI o The documentary mentioned by Courtney | Life and Debt o Hurricane Melissa op-ed | Climate disasters will send many countries into a debt spiral – but there’s a way out o Matt and Courtney’s Jamica debt report | Breaking the Cycle of Debt in Jamaica o The full RESI Debt Project (multiple papers) | Breaking the Cycle of Debt in SIDS o Our Global Voices piece from last year | Why small islands need their own Marshall Plan o Gail and Emily’s work on debt service costs | Tackling the cost of capital in small vulnerable nations o Gail and Emily’s work on oceans | Turning the tide: enhancing ocean equity for SIDS o Emily’s op-ed on UN climate negotiations | Why small climate-vulnerable island states punch well above their weight in UN climate talks o Emily’s piece on climate justice | Tides of justice: how SIDS are redefining the fight against climate change o Our work on capacity building | Fit for size: rethinking capacity strengthening in SIDS o Our work on the FfD4 process | Leveraging the Sevilla Commitment in favour of SIDS o Emily’s work on anticipatory action finance | Bracing for Impact: a Caribbean blueprint o Our work on geopolitical competition | Geopolitical competition, bilateral aid, and the collective interests of SIDS o Short trailer for Emily’s new documentary | Climate Blueprint: Barbados o George’s work on oceanic diplomacy | Reasserting indigenous pathways o Rachid’s work on productive capacities | Stronger and greener productive capacities for just transitions in Caribbean SIDS o SIDS Future Forum 2026 | Wilton Park Website o UN SIDS Partnership Awards 2025 | Partnership Brief Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

December 22, 20251 hr 2 min

Drama and decisions: was COP30 a win for Small Islands?

From momentum against fossil fuels to fires breaking out on site, COP30 was anything but routine. Held just outside Brazil’s Amazon rainforest and framed as the ‘COP of implementation’, the talks delivered a mix of drama, hard-won progress, and unfinished business. But where did small islands feature in the final decisions, and will those outcomes lead to real change? In this episode, Matt and Emily are joined by COP30 attendees—including AOSIS’ Climate Change Advisor and Fiji’s Chief Negotiator—to take listeners inside the negotiating rooms. They unpack the pressures of COP’s relentless schedule, reflect on small island wins and sticking points, and explore why keeping COP climate negotiations on the global agenda is key for small islands’ survival. As attention turns to COP31, the conversation looks ahead to how small islands can build alliances and sharpen their strategy in the race to keep global temperatures under 1.5 degrees. Episode features: 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 Simon Stiell | Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC Soleil Parkinson | Conservationist and COP30 Youth Ambassador, Cayman Islands Tiffany Van Ravenswaay | Climate Change Advisor for AOSIS Sivendra Michael | Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Fiji Carola Klöck | Associate Professor at Sciences-Po, Paris George Carter | Senior Fellow and Deputy Head of the Department of Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University, and RESI Co-Director Resources: Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI) RESI at COP30 | https://odi.org/en/events/watch-live-from-cop30-the-world-film-premiere-of-climate-blueprint-barbados RESI briefing paper: Keeping the International Court of Justice advisory opinion alive at COP30 and beyond. UN Climate Change | Simon Steill's closing speech at COP30 The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Letter to the COP30 Presidency | https://www.aosis.org/aosis-letter-to-cop30-presidency/ AOSIS NDC Report | Ahead of COP30, New NDC Synthesis Report Reveals Dangerous Delay on Global Climate Action SDG News | Live at COP30: Fiji’s Chief Negotiator Sivendra Michael Warns Fossil Fuel Language Has Fallen Out of the MutiRão Text Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

December 1, 202545 min

Is AI a threat or an opportunity for small islands?

The seemingly unstoppable rise of “big data” and Artificial Intelligence is reshaping and destabilising the global economy. But where do small islands fit into this? Could digital technologies like AI level the playing field, or do they represent a new form of technocolonialism? Can Small Island Developing States (SIDS) embed them quickly enough to benefit from new economic opportunities, or are they likely to be left further behind? In this episode, Emily and Matt speak to a number of experts grappling with these kinds of questions. In our "Island Voices" segment Kunal Singh from Fiji talks about the impact of AI on climate finance. We then break down the issue with Preeya Mohan from Trinidad and Courtney Lindsay from Jamaica in our “Explainer”. Next, in the “Big Picture” we speak to Külli Sarapuu, from Estonia, and Donald Baldeosingh from Trinidad, two people who are grappling with the public policy implications of digitalisation. Finally, in “No Stupid Questions”, Emily and Matt ask whether the risks of AI are overstated by critics. 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 Kunal Singh | Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) Advisor, Pacific Community (SPC) Preeya Mohan | Senior Fellow, Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies, University of the West Indies Courtney Lindsay | RESI Director and Senior Research Officer, ODI Global Külli Sarapuu | Associate Professor, Tallinn University of Technology Donald Baldeosingh | Founder, Carbon Zero Institute of Trinidad and Tobago Resources: Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI) Kunal’s LinkedIn page| Kunal Singh Preeya and Courtney’s report | Engines of Growth: Building Knowledge Economies in SIDS Another blog they wrote with Emily | Why SIDS need to act quickly on AI Preeya’s university webpage | Dr Preeya Mohan Donald’s CZITT webpage | Carbon Zero Institute of T&T Külli’s university webpage | Dr Külli Sarapuu An important UN report | Small Island Digital States Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 24, 202558 min

What does the ICJ climate change decision mean for small islands?

In July 2025, The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a unanimous advisory opinion affirming that states have legal obligations under international law to prevent environmental harm and uphold human rights while reducing emissions to stay within 1.5°C of warming. For Small Island Developing States (SIDS), this was a remarkable victory. But what are the political and legal implications, and how can big polluters be held to account? In this episode, Emily and Matt interview six people involved in the process to an offer a thorough expert account of what the ICJ opinion really means for SIDS. 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 Odo Tevi | Permanent Representative of Vanuatu to the United Nations Shiv Shankar | Tuvalu Ambassador for Oceans and Climate Change, Special Envoy to The Commonwealth, and Permanent Representative to UNESCO and the UNFCC Bryce Rudyk | Director, International Environmental Law Program, New York University and Senior Legal Advisor to the AOSIS Chair Nadia Sánchez Castillo-Winckels | Founder and Director, Climate Legal Consulting Coral Pasisi | Director of Climate Change and Sustainability, Pacific Community Francesco Sindico | Professor International Law, University of Strathclyde, and Co-Director of C2LI Resources: Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI) ICJ Opinion | Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change Emily, Matt and Nadia’s op-ed | Why a chain of tiny Pacific islands wants an international court opinion on responsibility for the climate crisis Odo’s homepage | Ambassador Odo Tevi on LinkedIn Shiv’s homepage | Ambassador Shiv Shankar on LinkedIn Nadia’s homepage with links to readings | Nadia Sánchez Castillo-Winckels Bryce’s homepage with links to readings | Bryce Rudyk at NYU Coral’s homepage | Coral Pasisi at SPC Francesco’s Book | Research Handbook on Climate Change Litigation C2LI Website | Climate Change Legal Initiative Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 27, 202550 min

Protecting our oceans: is impact investing the big ticket for small islands?

We are witnessing a boom in new forms of financing that generate both profit for investors and a “social return” for communities. But what is “impact investing”, and why do we need more of it to protect our oceans and support small islands? Matt and Emily – with RESI colleague, Gail Hurley – reflect on the UN Oceans Conference in Nice, June 2025. We ask whether socially responsible investment can unlock new money for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and share powerful stories of islands and investors revolutionizing ocean protection through innovative financing. In Island Voices , Karuna Rana from Mauritius explains why local solutions are key to overcoming investment “ticket size.” In the Explainer , Gail unpacks what impact investing is and why it matters. In the Big Picture , Yabanex Batista (Global Fund for Coral Reefs), Melissa Walsh (Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance), and Hervé Lallement-Moe (Government of French Polynesia) discuss impact investing and the implications of UNOC3. Finally, in No Stupid Questions , Matt, Emily, and Gail ask how impact investing can support SIDS’ policy priorities. Featuring: Emily Wilkinson | RESI Director and Principal Research Fellow at ODI Global Matthew Bishop | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of Sheffield Gail Hurley | RESI Director and Development Finance Expert Karuna Rana | Director, Big Ocean States Initiative (BOSI) Yabanex Batista | Deputy Director, Global Fund for Coral Reefs, United Nations Capital Development Fund Melissa Walsh Director | Director, Blue Finance & Scaling, Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) Hervé Lallemant-Moe | Digital Economy Directorate, Government of French Polynesia Resources: Programme page (RESI) UNOC Declaration | Our ocean, our future: united for urgent action RESI work on ocean equity | Turning the tide: enhancing ocean equity for SIDS Karuna’s profile | Karuna Rana on LinkedIn BOSI website | Big Ocean States Initiative Yabanex’s profile | Yabanex Batista on LinkedIn Melissa’s profile | Dr Melissa Walsh at OORRAA Hervé’s profile | Hervé Lallement-Moe on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 9, 20251 hr 0 min

Narrating disaster: what’s it like to live through a hurricane or volcanic eruption?

Disasters are a constant part of life on islands - but outsiders often just see the stats: storm categories, earthquake scales, eruption sizes. Behind those numbers are real people forced to live through harrowing experiences. In this episode, Matt and Emily ask: how do survivors make sense of the shock - and how do their stories help communities rebuild what was lost? In “Island Voices”, Darenthea Sweeney from Montserrat and Gregory Adams from the British Virgin Islands describe the lasting social effects of disasters. As a disaster management expert, Emily breaks it down for us in the 'Explainer'. Then, three academics – Adom Philogene Heron, Farah Nibbs and Gemma Sou – share how they work with communities affected by disasters to tell their own stories and push back against outside narratives. Finally, in “No Stupid Questions” Matt and Emily discuss whether anyone can ever truly prepare for a disaster on the scale faced by many small islands. Featuring: Emily Wilkinson (host) | RESI Director and Principal Research Fellow at ODI Matthew Bishop (host) | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of Sheffield Darenthea Sweeney | Schoolteacher and Climate Justice Leader, Montserrat Gregory Adams | Chief Planner, Government of the Virgin Islands Adom Philogene Heron | Lecturer in Visual Anthropology, University of Bristol, UK Farah Nibbs | Assistant Professor, Emergency and Disaster Health Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, United States Gemma Sou | Senior Lecturer in Human Geography, Monash University, Australia Resources: Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI) Emily’s documentary | Climate Blueprint: Dominica Adom’s university webpage | Dr Adom Philogene Heron Farah’s university webpage | Dr Farah Nibbs Adam and Farah’s project | Surviving Storms: Caribbean Cyclone Cartography Gemma’s university webpage | Dr Gemma Sou Gemma’s personal webpage | www.gemmasou.com RESI research on loss and damage | The price of a changing climate | Calculating loss and damage from extreme weather events | The costs of inaction | Barriers to addressing climate-related loss and damage Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 19, 202551 min

Is gang-related violence becoming worse in small islands?

Small states are among the most peaceful societies, rarely experiencing war and conflict. Yet, on a per capita basis, some - especially, but not exclusively, in the Caribbean—suffer from daunting levels of homicidal violence. In this episode, ODI Global's Emily and Matt ask whether gang violence is getting worse, and explore how SIDS are investing in young people as one part of the solution. Featuring: Mtima Solwazi - Trinidad’s Roots Foundation on guiding disenfranchised youths away from illicit activities. Adam Baird, a leading gang expert who has pioneered a “masculinities” approach to anti-violence interventions throughout Latin America and the Caribbean Rivke Jaffe, an Amsterdam-based academic who has written extensively about Jamaica’s “Dons” Dylan Kerrigan, who has spent two decades working on myriad community peacebuilding projects across the Port of Spain. Resources: Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI) Mtima in the media | The impact of the USAID cuts on anti-crime programs Mtima’s videos and promos | Roots Foundation YouTube page Adam’s book | From South Central to Southside Adam's recent UNIDIR paper | Focusing on men to reduce global armed violence Adam on the Common Ground podcast | Chronic vulnerability and violence in Belize Rivke’s book | The Rule of Dons Rivke’s University of Amsterdam webpage | Professor Rivke Jaffe Dylan’s personal website with all of his writings | www.dylankerrigan.com Adam, Matt and Dylan’s papers | Breaking Bad: Gangs, Masculinities and Murder in Trinidad and How do gangs mediate ‘residual violence’ to sustain Trinidad’s homicide boom? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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