The status quo of the last three decades in the Pacific is shifting. Small Island Developing States are repeatedly showing they can adapt geopolitical shifts to their benefit.
Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)
RESI is a global advisory network based at ODI, working with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and their partners to frame policy problems, influence international institutions and find solutions to growing sustainability challenges in small islands. RESI aims to improve the conditions under which SIDS can achieve financial sustainability, environmental justice, international alliances and equitable societies.
RESI Directors
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Emily Wilkinson
Senior Research Fellow
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George Carter
Research Fellow in Geopolitics and Regionalism at the Department of Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University
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Michelle Scobie
Senior lecturer and researcher, Institute of International Relations at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine
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Jack Corbett
Professor of Politics at the University of Southampton
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Rachid Bouhia
Economic Affairs Officer, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
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Matthew Bishop
Senior lecturer in International Politics at the University of Sheffield
Insights on Small Island Developing States
In this blog series, RESI Directors examine the particular challenges facing Small Island Developing States. They highlight opportunities for creating more favourable international conditions for their resilience and sustainable development.
Caribbean Comeback podcast
How Caribbean countries are recovering from hurricanes and volcanic crises, adapting to climate change, and producing lessons for Covid-19 recovery around the world.
This podcast is hosted by Jamaican journalist Paula-Anne Porter Jones, in conversation with co-directors of the Caribbean Resilience and Recovery Knowledge Network (CRRKN) Emily Wilkinson from ODI, and Donovan Campbell from The University of the West Indies.
Small island nations call for deep reform of climate finance
The Covid-19 pandemic and its economic fallout have been disastrous for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which were already highly vulnerable to climate change and other shocks and stresses. A policy roundtable at ODI on 28 July 2021, convened by Courtenay Rattray, High Representative, UNOHRLLS, and Dr Emily Wilkinson, Senior Research Fellow, ODI, examined SIDS’ special case for finance and debt relief – and highlighted specific action areas that international donors and financial institutions could take to support SIDS, on the road to COP26 in Glasgow and beyond.
Small-Island Developing States need urgent support to avoid debt defaults
In the lead up to COP26, clear plans are needed to resolve the debt crisis in the short term and debt sustainability over the longer-term – so SIDS reduce their vulnerability to climate change and other shocks.
Research and events
The ODI team
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Latest work
The Caribbean - a region of excellence for urban climate resilience: lifelong learning for urban planners -
Latest work
Understanding the role of anticipatory action in Somalia -
Latest work
Future directions in Aid for Trade -
Latest work
Understanding the institutions of domestic health financing decisions: insights from immunisation services in three low- and middle-income countries
In the media
The Caribbean must think carefully about how and where to ‘build back better’ after the hurricanes of 2017
"Building back better” to create more resilient societies is a laudable goal, but every country is different and there are no quick fixes.
Opinion: To finance resilience in small states, governments and development partners must take some risks
After Hurricane Maria swept through Dominica in 2017, causing extensive damage to crops, livestock, and 90% of homes, and generating losses of 226% of its gross domestic product — this island of some 70,000 people set out a bold vision to become the world’s first climate-resilient nation