Sustainable Ocean Economies in African Small Island Developing States

The document examines the transition to a sustainable ocean economy (SOE) in six African SIDS, identifying that while legal frameworks are important, they are not the primary driver of investment. Instead, investors prioritize political will, a track record of marine preservation, and trusted in-country partners. The briefing highlights the role of innovative finance, such as blue bonds and debt-for-nature swaps, and recommends that governments strengthen institutional coordination and regulatory transparency to unlock these flows.

• Investment and funding decisions for a sustainable ocean economy in SIDS are primarily determined by five factors: location and environment, political will, a track record of commitment to marine preservation, institutional arrangements for ocean affairs, and the presence of trusted in-country partners.
• While a supportive legal framework is a determinant of investment, it is not the primary one and is insufficient on its own to attract funders, especially when there are gaps in infrastructure and skills for emerging sectors.
• Among African SIDS, Seychelles, Mauritius, and Cabo Verde have most actively prioritised sustainable ocean management in their policy agendas, with Seychelles and Mauritius having ratified the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement.
• Actual marine protection in many African SIDS remains minimal despite commitments to the 30x30 global campaign; Cabo Verde, Comoros, Mauritius, and São Tomé and Príncipe have protected less than 1% of their exclusive economic zones (EEZs).
• Innovative financing mechanisms have enabled significant conservation gains, such as a $21.6 million debt-for-nature swap that increased Seychelles' protected EEZ from less than 1% in 2015 to 33%.
• African SIDS generally prefer formalised institutional arrangements for ocean affairs, with four of the six states establishing dedicated ministries for the blue economy.

APA

Pouponneau, A. (2025). Sustainable Ocean Economies in African Small Island Developing States. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SAIIA_PB-307_SIDS.pdf

Chicago

Pouponneau, Angelique. Sustainable Ocean Economies in African Small Island Developing States. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2025. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SAIIA_PB-307_SIDS.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Pouponneau |first1=Angelique |title=Sustainable Ocean Economies in African Small Island Developing States |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=May 2025 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SAIIA_PB-307_SIDS.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{pouponneau2025sustainable, author = {Pouponneau, Angelique}, title = {{Sustainable Ocean Economies in African Small Island Developing States}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2025}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SAIIA_PB-307_SIDS.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }