These policy briefs offer evidence-based, practical guidance for SIDS governments, policymakers, and the funders who partner with them, distilling years of research into actionable insights for those working at the intersection of ocean law, governance, and finance.
This series emerged from the doctoral research of Dr. Angelique Pouponneau, a Seychellois lawyer, and ocean governance practitioner. Dr. Pouponneau brought both scholarly rigour and hard-won practitioner experience to a question that has long frustrated small island governments: what legal and policy conditions actually enable sustainable ocean economies to be financed and built?
Her PhD, completed at the Islands and Small States Institute at the University of Malta, examined this question across three case study countries — Belize, Fiji, and Seychelles — and produced findings that challenge conventional assumptions about the relationship between law and finance.
The policy briefs in this series translate that research into accessible, actionable guidance for the governments, ministries, and officials who need it most. If your country is working to build or strengthen its blue economy, these briefs were written for you.
Dr Pouponneau is a Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP) Research Fellow.
Does a strong legal framework automatically unlock blue finance? The research says: not quite. This brief unpacks what funders actually look for and how SIDS can position themselves strategically to secure it.
Funder Engagement Toolkit a practical companion to Policy Brief No. 2. Know your funder, ask the right questions, and walk into every engagement prepared.
Small Island Developing States face a distinctive legislative challenge: crafting ocean governance frameworks that are legally robust, domestically appropriate, and aligned with rapidly evolving international obligations.
This database is a practical tool for legislative drafters and legal practitioners working in and with SIDS. It brings together legislative instruments across three case study jurisdictions — Belize, Fiji, and Seychelles — spanning primary and subsidiary legislation, constitutional provisions, policies, and key judicial decisions. Instruments are indexed thematically and cross-referenced with model provisions drawn directly from best practice across the case studies, making it straightforward to identify precedents, locate source texts, and adapt proven legislative approaches to your jurisdiction.
Whether you are drafting new fisheries legislation, strengthening marine protected area frameworks, or designing a blue finance mechanism, the database offers a ready reference point grounded in the lived legislative experience of SIDS.
This is an evolving platform, updated periodically to reflect new legislation, amendments, and emerging best practices across SIDS jurisdictions.
Research across Belize, Fiji, and Seychelles reveals that funders identify 'trusted individuals and businesses' as among the most important determinants of their investment decisions, ranking this factor alongside political stability and institutional frameworks.
08 January 2026
Authors: Dr. Angelique Pouponneau and Ambassador Ronald Jumeau
Small island states are most at risk to the effects of climate change but their vast ocean territories also make them central to the solutions. This report investigates the success of the Seychelles blended finance model in supporting their sustainable ocean economy.
28 August 2024
Author: Dr. Angelique Pouponneau
SIDS depend on external financial resources to develop their SOE. Therefore, understanding what motivates investors and funders is essential to guide national priorities. Governments should demonstrate bold political commitment, establish clear plans and institutional frameworks and take concrete steps to translate vision into action.
May 2025 - South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA)
Author: Angelique Pouponneau