Professionally, I came into this exchange hoping to build practical knowledge that could strengthen our national demonstrations under the African SIDS project.
Those expectations were exceeded.
Whether it was Marine Spatial Planning processes that can support our work in Cabo Verde, community co-management models that resonate with Comoros, or blue finance innovations that can inspire investment opportunities for all six African SIDS -every engagement in Belize and Cartagena offered a direct line of relevance to our work.
On a personal level, I was deeply moved by the generosity of our hosts, particularly the Ministry of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation of Belize, and the sense of kinship between Caribbean and African SIDS.
I remain profoundly grateful to IW:LEARN for enabling this experience, and to the many partners who contributed to such an enriching exchange, including the African Union Commission, the Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute, the Belize Fisheries Department, the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association, the Blue Bonds and Finance Permanence Unit, the World Wildlife Fund, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism, the TIDE, UNDP, the GEF IW:LEARN team, and our PROCARIBE+ counterparts.
SIDS everywhere face the same structural vulnerabilities including limited land, fragile ecosystems, climate exposure, external economic dependence, and capacity constraints. But we also share a remarkable resilience and an unmatched ability to innovate from scarcity. This exchange reaffirmed that African SIDS are not working in isolation; they are part of a wider global island community with shared values, shared challenges, and shared futures.
As we prepare to welcome the PROCARIBE+ team to Africa in 2026, I am filled with excitement. Our African SIDS have much to show including our bold national demonstrations, our evolving governance frameworks, and our regional ambitions through the African Union. This twinning partnership has already shown the power of collaboration, and I am confident that the African leg will deepen this bond even further.
Ultimately, the twinning exchange deepened my understanding of the blue economy space and affirmed the significance of the work we are doing. Our oceans hold the history, identity, and future of our nations. Through partnerships like this, we can shape a more resilient and prosperous future for all SIDS.