The brief
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, but are leading solutions to shape the global policy agenda.
An initiative of ODI Global, RESI serves as the world’s dedicated centre for Small Island Developing States (SIDS): synthesising research, amplifying lived experience, and galvanising support for policy and action. Our mission is to ensure Small Island Developing States are not only represented in global decision-making, but actively shape it.
Small island nations face escalating and compounding risks from climate change and global instability. SIDS are often the first and worst affected by increasingly severe and more frequent extreme weather, a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, and international crises linked to conflict, economics and health. These pressures reinforce one another, deepening vulnerability and limiting response capacity. But SIDS can, and do, shape global institutions to meet their development needs.
Out now · The data lab
RESI introduces the data lab, a visual and interactive experience for policy-makers, researchers and journalists to understand some of the most important challenges and opportunities facing small islands today.
39 SIDS. The global hub
Data analysis
Dr Vikrant Panwar, ODI
This dataset is curated to provide insights into the flow of international development finance supporting climate resilience in SIDS. It helps understand who is providing funding, where investments are being directed, and how financial support aligns with countries’ vulnerability and resilience needs. The resilience finance is primarily a sub-set of the overall official development assistance (ODA), targeted to increasing climate resilience.
This dataset explores the human and economic impacts of climate-related disasters across SIDS. It highlights how much of total loss and damage can be attributed to climate change, how losses and damages have evolved over time and where the greatest impacts are being felt.
This dataset offers a snapshot of debt burdens and fiscal pressures facing SIDS. It helps illustrate how debt dynamics can influence governments’ ability to invest in development priorities, climate resilience, and long-term sustainable growth.
This dataset examines the multiple dimensions of poverty across SIDS, moving beyond income-based measures to capture broader aspects of deprivation and vulnerability to poverty. The dataset also explores the relationship between poverty outcomes and development finance to reduce poverty.
Loss and Damage · Resilience Finance · Multidimensional Poverty · Debt
Island leadership
SIDS are not defined by vulnerability alone and are pioneering resilience strategies that the rest of the world will soon need. Dominica is on a quest to become the world’s first climate resilient nation after being hit by the catastrophic category 5 Hurricane Maria in 2017. Local entrepreneurs in Barbados are turning a highly toxic seaweed affecting Caribbean shores and coastlines into sustainable biofuel for cars. And Barbados’ Government is leading on calls which could reform the whole international financial system.
University students in Vanuatu are winning changes which go all the way up to the United Nations and affect the legal responsibilities of the world’s largest and wealthiest nations. These are just a handful of the stories of small island determination and innovation setting a blueprint for the world to follow.
Now screening · Climate Blueprint
RESI presents a new film series, featuring three short documentaries on Dominica, Barbados and Vanuatu. Small island states have no choice but to build a blueprint for change, as their survival depends on it. And as the climate crisis grows, this is a blueprint we will all need. These stories are proof that a nation’s size is no limit to its impact - and that we all have the capacity to change the status quo.
Three nations, one blueprint.
Papers
Flagship report · 2026
Our new digital-first report, made to be read online. It opens on a film of the Vanuatu coast that moves as you scroll, with the sound of the sea on desktop.
Find your way with a chapter navigator that carries a download for each chapter, a ruler that shows where you are, and a Brief or Full view to suit the time you have. Figures and tables are live, and galleries gather every figure, table and photograph in one place.
Working paper · 2026
Briefing paper
Articles
TopicIssue 01 · 2026
The article's subheading, one line that says what it argues.
First paragraph of the article, as published, so a reader gets the opening argument here.
Second paragraph of the article, cut short where the space ends so the reader follows the link for the rest of the piece and the full argument…
TopicIssue 01 · 2026
The article's subheading, one line that says what it argues.
First paragraph of the article, as published, so a reader gets the opening argument here.
Second paragraph of the article, cut short where the space ends so the reader follows the link for the rest of the piece and the full argument…
TopicIssue 01 · 2026
The article's subheading, one line that says what it argues.
First paragraph of the article, as published, so a reader gets the opening argument here.
Second paragraph of the article, cut short where the space ends so the reader follows the link for the rest of the piece and the full argument…
TopicIssue 01 · 2026
The article's subheading, one line that says what it argues.
First paragraph of the article, as published, so a reader gets the opening argument here.
Second paragraph of the article, cut short where the space ends so the reader follows the link for the rest of the piece and the full argument…
TopicIssue 01 · 2026
The article's subheading, one line that says what it argues.
First paragraph of the article, as published, so a reader gets the opening argument here.
Second paragraph of the article, cut short where the space ends so the reader follows the link for the rest of the piece and the full argument…
TopicIssue 01 · 2026
The article's subheading, one line that says what it argues.
First paragraph of the article, as published, so a reader gets the opening argument here.
Second paragraph of the article, cut short where the space ends so the reader follows the link for the rest of the piece and the full argument…
TopicIssue 01 · 2026
The article's subheading, one line that says what it argues.
First paragraph of the article, as published, so a reader gets the opening argument here.
Second paragraph of the article, cut short where the space ends so the reader follows the link for the rest of the piece and the full argument…
TopicIssue 01 · 2026
The article's subheading, one line that says what it argues.
First paragraph of the article, as published, so a reader gets the opening argument here.
Second paragraph of the article, cut short where the space ends so the reader follows the link for the rest of the piece and the full argument…
Topic
The paper's subtitle, one line saying what it found.
The opening of the summary, so a reader gets the finding here and follows the link for the paper itself…
Topic
The paper's subtitle, one line saying what it found.
The opening of the summary, so a reader gets the finding here and follows the link for the paper itself…
Topic
The paper's subtitle, one line saying what it found.
The opening of the summary, so a reader gets the finding here and follows the link for the paper itself…
Topic
The paper's subtitle, one line saying what it found.
The opening of the summary, so a reader gets the finding here and follows the link for the paper itself…
