Ageing of the population poses several profound impacts on every aspect of life. This phenomenon has been visible in the Small Island Developing States of Africa (SIDS) and is expected to continue in the next few decades as the SIDS are continuously experiencing one of the fastest ageing populations in Africa. In this context, SIDS in Africa including the Islands of Mauritius, Seychelles, Cape Verde, Comoros, Guinea Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe have a unique demographic structure which is characterised by a large proportion of older persons.
The ageing profile of these countries presents a golden opportunity for research on aging and older persons in Africa as a blueprint for the rest of the continent. This paper argues that older persons in the SIDS in Africa are an important resource in the development process post-2015 and harnessing their potential for social economic development will lead to a second demographic dividend.