Reflections by Yanga Malotana

My introduction to the IORAG-SA Chapter was an unexpected, yet wonderful, opportunity. From January to February of this year I completed a short course on the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) which focused on key historical, political, economic, security, strategic, diplomatic, cultural and environmental factors that shape the contemporary region.

The unique unit was designed and delivered via collaboration between six regional university partners from the IOR. It is rotationally delivered annually on location at an IOR partner university campus as an intensive programme involving formal teaching, engagement with policymakers and practitioners, socio-cultural immersion and professional networking.

It was through this programme that I was introduced to the work of IORA. I visited the IORA Secretariat Head Office in Mauritius and gained an enlightening insight into the priority areas and cross-cutting issues for the organisation. This was followed by a study I was required to conduct as part of the short course that focused on the data gaps and data centralisation concerns for IORA.

Shortly after the completion of the course, DIRCO hosted a celebration for IORA’s 25th anniversary. It was at this engagement that I got to address key stakeholders from the IORA region about the role that youth can play in the space of IORA. IORA faces a critical challenge of visibility, especially among the youth.

The short course I had completed was just a first step in aiding the organisation’s quest for visibility, however, much more coordination needs to occur among member states with the objective of increasing youth engagement. One of the areas in which this can occur is through the academic chapters of IORA.

My engagement with SA IORAG has been an exciting learning experience. The 8th SA IORAG meeting that I attended in April this year was a gateway into helping me understand the workings of the academic chapters, especially within the South African context. Considering that my engagement with the organisation had been limited up until that point, I did find certain moments overwhelming as I was still learning the mechanisms of the organisation. Regardless, I appreciated the fact that there was an inclusion of young faces in these meetings.

Shortly after this meeting, I was invited to be part of the South African academic delegation to the IORA High-Level Strategic Dialogue held in Mauritius in June. This was a jam-packed and busy week whereby member states, academics and businesspeople from the region met to strategise on the vision of IORA. I appreciated the member states’ recognition of the need to include youth in the IORA spaces.

Additionally, discussions surrounding climate change as a central issue were of even greater interest to me. Climate change remains as a nexus between development issues in the region and economic growth. The academic discussions during the meeting also illuminated the practical role played by academic groups in advising member states on key issues within the region.

I found it interesting that the main issue I had researched during my study course – data gaps – was given priority during these discussions. Therefore, when I attended the 28th IORAG meeting in September, discussions regarding solutions towards data centralisation did not come as a surprise. The Indian Ocean Rim Association Business Forum (IORA-BF) demonstrated the importance of the different industries and academic groups working together in data centralisation and dissemination.

A key highlight for me from the IORAG meeting was the commitment towards developing a platform for young researchers to engage directly with the IORA focus areas.

I was honoured to be part of the discussion surrounding the establishment of the Early Careers Professionals Network. This is a crucial step towards IORA opening avenues for young researchers to contribute directly to the organisation. I am even more honoured that I get to continue pushing this vision as South Africa’s first early-career professional.