UNDP is the United Nations global development network, an organisation advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 177 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges.

In the Maldives, UNDP is committed to supporting national development priorities. We work with the people to build their capacity to reduce vulnerability and increase equity, to promote democratic governance, and to protect the environment. In all our work, we ensure that the needs of vulnerable groups and women are addressed.

For more information on our programmes on democratic governance, policy and inclusive growth, environment and energy and climate change adaptation visit, www.mv.undp.org

Empowered Lives. Resilient Nations.

Produced by the United Nations Development Programme in the Maldives 2013.

Cover photos: Josh Estay/UN Maldives. Masrah Naseem/UNDP Maldives 2012. Inside photos:

FAST FACTSUNITED NATIONS DEVELOPEMT PROGRAMME

www.mv.undp.org

Donor Total amount (USD)

Bilateral Donors

1 Australia USD 700,0002 Germany USD 413,1753 Switzerland USD 31,2364 US Dept. of State USD 56,2375 UK Funds (Foreign Commenwealth Office) GBP 89,181

Other Funds

6 Global Environment Facility (GEF) USD 1,384,813 7 Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) USD 875,3108 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) USD 172,1689 United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) USD 171,06210 Adaptation Fund USD 269,16211 Democratic Governance Thematic Trust Fund (DGTTF) USD 301,53212 UN Multi-Donor Trust Fund Office USD 423,255

UNDP

8 TRAC 1 and 2 USD 618,0009 Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR) (TRAC 3) 241,635

Total 5,746,766

Demographic Indicators 2000 2012

Economic Indicators 2000 2012

Human Development Indicators 2000 2012

Poverty and Hunger Indicators 2003 2009

2006 2010

2000 2011

2000 2006

2000 2011 M F M F

2004 2011

1995-2001 2000-2006

1 Total Population (in thousands) 270.1 330.7

3 Gross Domestic Product (current US$ in millions) 801.9 2132

10 Human Development Index (HDI) value 0.592 0.688

2 Sex Ratio (males per 100 females) 103 102

4 GDP Growth Rate (%) 6.1 7.0

11 HDI Rank (out of 187) - 104

19 Population living below the national poverty line of Mrf.22 (%) 5% 4%20 Multidimensional Poverty Ratio (%) - 5.221 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) - 0.018

5 GDP per capita (current US$) 2,661 5,247

12 Inequality-Adjusted HDI - 0.51513 Loss in HDI due to Inequalities (%) - 25.214 Gender Inequality Index (GII) - 0.35715 Expected years of schooling 12.2 12.516 Mean years of schooling for adults 4.2 5.8

6 Unemployment Rate (%) ILO definition 5 12

8 GNI per capita (PPP$) 4,158 7,478

17 Literacy Rate 97 93.8

18 Life Expectancy at Birth (in years) 70.7 72.7 72.8 74.8

9 Consumer Price Index 100 155.0

22 Children underweight for age (% aged under 5) 30 30

A Snapshot of the Maldives:

Millennium Development Goals Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty

Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education

Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women Goal 4: Reduce child mortality by two-thirds

Goal 5: Reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality rate

Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other dieases Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development

Economic And Human Development Index (HDI)

Achieved

Very likely to be achieved, on track

Donor Contributions to UNDP Maldives 2012

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7 Unemployment Rate (%) Broad definition 14.4 28.1

Sources: • http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/MDV.html and Millennium Development Goals Maldives Country Report 2010• The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World, Explanatory note on 2013 HDR composite indices, Maldives, HDI values and rank changes in the 2013 Human Development Report retrieved April 10, 2013 at http://hdrstats.undp.org/images/ explanations/MDV.pdf• http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDI_2008_EN_Tables.pdf• http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/hdr03_HDI.pdf• Statistical Yearbook of Maldives 2012, Department of National Planning, Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Maldives• http://planning.gov.mv/hies/HIES2012/combined%20final%20presentation%20 (22.05.2012).pdf

FAST FACTSUNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

www.mv.undp.org

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. With offices in more than 160 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

For over 30 years, UNDP has been supporting the people of the Maldives in areas such as the alleviation of poverty, democratic transition, environment protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation, recovery from natural disasters, and HIV/AIDS. Much of this support has focused on developing the capacity of government agencies, civil society and community members to find sustainable and responsible solutions to development challenges. UNDP Maldives has done so through policy advice, advocacy, knowledge sharing and dialogue. In all our work, UNDP makes concerted efforts to focus on meeting the needs of the most disadvantaged, marginalised and vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth.

UNDP Maldives activities span almost 18 Atolls and 30 islands in the Maldives including the capital city Male’-with three nationwide projects, and atoll wide projects present in 5 different atolls. Within the framework of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and UNDP Country Programme for 2011-2015, UNDP programmes will address the following priority areas for Maldives’ development:

• Democratic governance• Inclusive growth, policy support to poverty reduction, and• Environment, energy and climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction

Support to HIV/AIDS prevention is mainstreamed through our existing projects. UNDP’s work is supported by a group of 40 dedicated staff members based in the capital, Male’.

UNDP in Maldives

OUR WORK

Democratic GovernanceAs the rapid democratization process takes shape, UNDP is supporting Maldives to consolidate and deepen the democratic progress and promote good governance by working with the people in building partnerships and sharing ways to strengthen participation, accountability, and effectiveness at all levels.

The new Integrated Governance Programme, developed by UNDP Maldives together with national partners in 2012, seeks to directly respond to the need for a more resilient and peaceful society. This will be done through setting up effective and accountable governance institutions for enhanced service delivery at national and local levels, improved social cohesion and strengthened capacity of civil society to meaningfully participate in public life.

Environment and Energy Sustainable development in the Maldives is inextricably linked to the effective management of the environment and natural resources. Geographically, Maldives is one of the most vulnerable nations to the effects of climate change impacts such as sea level rise. Protecting the environment and natural resources is critical to sustainable livelihoods and the Maldives economy, as it is to their survival.

Against this background, the implementation of sound environment and energy policies is essential for sustained development in Maldives. UNDP works alongside the Government of Maldives to mitigate and adapt to impacts of climate change, and facilitates access, by vulnerable island communities, to improved environment management measures.

UNDP is supporting the country’s communities in sustainable management of the natural environment, climate change adaptation, and increased livelihood resilience. Continued and enhanced support is envisioned in disaster risk reduction capacity strengthening as well as

adoption of low carbon lifestyles and achieving carbon neutrality.

Policy and Inclusive Growth Maldives has achieved significant economic growth over the past decade, and has graduated to a Middle Income Country in 2011. The country has fared remarkably well on the Millennium Development Goals, achieving five out of the eight goals ahead of the 2015 deadline. Despite these significant achievements, there are a number of critical factors such as rising unemployment, especially among youth and women, increasing income disparities, the current global economic downturn, and national macroeconomic imbalances that are likely to pose considerable risks to the socio-economic situation of the country.

UNDP advocates for nationally-owned solutions and helps to make them more effective by ensuring a greater voice for poor and vulnerable communities. We enhance the capacity of government agencies, partners and vulnerable groups to mitigate economic and social vulnerabilities, particularly among women and youth, through various interventions. UNDP works to expand access to productive assets and economic opportunities, and link programmes with the country’s economic and financial policies, to achieve equitable growth and sustainable development.

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FAST FACTSUNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

www.mv.undp.org

Context

The Maldives has taken progressive steps towards establishing a democratic and just society based on human rights and equality. The first ever multi-party Presidential elections were held in 2008, bringing in the first democratically elected government. The formation of the first fully elected parliament and local governments in islands and atolls are also major milestones in the democratic reform process. The country has now turned its attention to the second Presidential election under the new constitution to be held at the end of 2013. The recurring changes are accompanied by challenges, which must be managed in order to maintain stability, safeguard rights, promote peaceful coexistence and allow development to proceed.

Response Needed

Although the constitution of 2008 and institutions created at the time have endured, these new institutions and the people of Maldives need the support of their international partners to continue on the country’s march towards democracy and development. Measures are needed to address the underlying causes of challenges that the country has experienced in its short democratic life and mitigate such instances in the future. There is enormous expectations on fledgling institutions at local and national levels. The institutions need support to perform their mandated functions in a transparent and accountable way, and to play potentially new roles in light of new challenges. Long-term, multi-sector support in an integrated manner is necessary to help strengthen capacities of both the state and civil society, promote and develop participatory democratic processes, the political arena and facilitate dialogue for a cohesive society.

Our Work

UNDP supports in: Governance assessments and monitoring, civic engagement, electoral systems and processes, independent media, access to information, parliamentary development, access to justice and rule of law, local governance and development, public administration reform, economic governance, and human rights.

Democratic Governance

UNDP in Action

• UNDP engaged early on in the democratisation process and was the main international partner providing the Maldives with technical/policy advice and capacity building initiatives at the start of the reform process. This included support towards the constitutional process, and being involved early in the process of establishing a multi-party system.

• UNDP Maldives continues to support the strengthening of the justice system, including awareness raising, capacity building of the judiciary, drafting of and advocating for the passage of key legislation such as the new Penal Code and Criminal Procedures Code.

• Support to key democratic institutions at the launch of the reform: UNDP has been closely working with the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, from its inception, to support the Commission in advocating and promoting human rights in Maldives, and providing technical assistance and contributing to its capacity building.

• More recent support was provided to several independent bodies that have been set up under the new Constitution, including the Civil Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission, the Supreme Court, the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Maldives Broadcasting Commission. UNDP is working closely with all new commissions by providing technical assistance to ensure a smooth transition.

Photo: UNDP Maldives 2012

Evening of festivities at the UNDP-supported NGO Forum which brought together civil society actors in pursuit of a collective agenda of engagement with government and other development actors.

• Support to the Government in implementing its national decentralization program. Decentralized Governance is a priority area for UNDP support and in 2005 UNDP supported the Government to draft the Administrative Decentralization Strategy and has since been supporting in rolling out the government’s decentralization programme including technical

expertise in drafting the law, awareness raising and capacity building of the local governance institutions.

• UNDP Maldives is supporting the Government, civil society, local communities and other stakeholders to build national capacity to better manage democratic transition and change and promote intra-group dialogue and discussion, through the placement of a Peace and Development Advisor and relevant initiatives. This is in collaboration with the Department of Political Affairs and UNDP-Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery.

• Support to civil society development. UNDP has increased engagement with civil society as partners in development through establishing a small grants facilty and partnering on long-term projects. UNDP’s support to civil society focuses on building capacities of civil society institutions and actors to promote social cohesion with a focus on women and youth participation in public life and decision-making.

New Direction

UNDP Maldives has developed a new Integrated Governance Programme (2012 – 2015) to consolidate its ongoing support to democratic governance and maintain its relevance in a rapidly evolving political context.

UNDP support focuses on the development of transparent and accountable governance institutions, including justice sector institutions; improved capacity for dialogue, information exchange and early warning

to help mitigate, de-escalate and proactively address tensions within and between communities.

The programme aims to build a resilient and peaceful democratic society and deepen democratic principles in the Maldives through effective and accountable governance institutions and enhanced social cohesion and capacity of civil society stakeholders.

It seeks to achieve the following three coordinated programme results: Result 1: National and local level institutional capacities strengthened to ensure transparency and accountability and for supporting democratic consolidation and processes.

Result 2: Equitable access to justice increased and rule of law strengthened through support to the justice and security sector and promotion of human rights.

Result 3: Enabling environment created and strengthened for enhanced social cohesion through inclusive and participatory decision making and development.

The programme maximizes complementarities and synergies through an integrated approach, while ensuring the close coordination of mutually reinforcing activities, in order to achieve the greatest impact. This is evident in how the programme has a single multi-stakeholder board and three technical committees, overseeing the projects.

Programme Resources for the New Integrated Governance Programme 2012 – 2015

OVERVIEWUNDP is promoting democratic principles in the Maldives by working with the people in building partnerships and sharing ways to promote participation, accountability, and effectiveness at all levels.

PROJECT

Result 1: National and local level institutional capacities strengthened for improved transparency, accountability and democratic processes

Result 2: Equitable access to justice increased and Rule of Law strengthened through support to the justice sector reform and promotion of human rights

Result 3: Enabling environment created and strengthened for enhanced social cohesion through inclusive and participatory decision making and development

Programme management and technical support

TOTAL

AMOUNT (USD)

For more information on the Democratic Governance programme contact;

Ms. Zindu Salih, Assistant Resident Representative – Democratic Governance zindu.salih@undp.org

651,500.00

1,720,905.00

2,193,800.00

942,873.00

5,509,079.00

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FAST FACTSUNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

www.mv.undp.org

Context

As the Maldives continues to develop, there is growing concern on threats posed to environmental sustainability by current socio-economic activities and the negative effects of climate change. As one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change, its impacts such as sea level rise, coupled with other impacts such as more intense and frequent flooding, puts communities, livelihoods and economies at a higher level of risk than before. Protecting the environment and natural resources is critical to sustainable livelihoods and the Maldives economy.

Response Needed

The challenge posed by climate change, makes well managed environmental resource exploitation and climate resilient frameworks critical. It has become important, now more than ever, to ensure that communities enjoy improved access to services and are more capable of protecting the environment, adapting to climate change and reducing vulnerability and disaster risks to achieve sustainable development.

Our Work

UNDP is supporting sustainable management of the natural environment, climate change adaptation, and increased livelihood resilience. Continued and enhanced support is envisioned in disaster risk reduction capacity strengthening as well as adoption of low carbon lifestyles and achieving carbon neutrality, through the projects listed below:

Low Emission Climate Resilient Development (LECReD) Programme - In

collaboration with the UN system in the Maldives, the LECReD programme takes a

new approach to climate change programming by focusing on renewable energy

and energy efficiency; community protection from natural hazards; local capacity

and governance enhancement; economic resilience and food security, and capacity

of local public health services.

Atoll Ecosystem Conservation (AEC) of Globally Significant Biological Diversity in the Maldives, Baa Atoll Project - This successful project managed

to set the path and take steps towards biodiversity conservation through the

establishment and partnership management of protected areas in Baa Atoll. The

project enabled the establishment of the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

and the Baa Atoll Conservation Fund that involves private sector and government

contributions. Through time, the structures set by the project are expected to

relieve pressure on local biodiversity by enhancing reef

fishery recovery, property rights and enable locals to pursue

sustainable alternative livelihoods. Duration: 5 years and

concluded in 2012.

Integrating Climate Change Risks (ICCR) into Island Planning in the Maldives – The ICCR project focuses

on mainstreaming climate risk and change into land use

planning, coastal protection and coastal development. Key

outputs envisioned include guidelines for climate risk resilient

land use planning and a climate risk information system.

This is expected to strengthen national and local level island

planning resulting in long term sustainability of climate

change adaptation measures.

Increasing Climate Resilience through an Integrated Water Resource Management Programme (Adaptation Fund Project) - The project will increase the availability of

reliable and safe freshwater supplies as well as the water

resource management capabilities of the local communities

in three selected islands.

Tourism Adaptation to Climate Change in the Maldives (TAP) - The objective of this project is to increase adaptive

capacity of the tourism sector in the Maldives to respond to the

impacts of climate change and invest in appropriate no-regrets

adaptation measures that should ultimately benefit sectors

directly depended on tourism and the Maldivian economy.

Building Capacity and Mainstreaming Sustainable Land Management (SLM) in Maldives – The SLM project

works to ensure the sustainability of urban, agricultural,

forest and other terrestrial land uses. Key elements include

the maintenance of ecosystem stability, integrity, functions

and services while contributing directly to environmental,

economic and social well-being of the country.

Environment& Energy

Photo: Masrah Naseem/UNDP Maldives 2012.

OVERVIEWUNDP supports communities and government institutions to manage the country’s natural resources and the environment sustainably. In doing this, UNDP works to enhance capacities to promote low carbon life styles and climate resilient development.

Mangroves for the Future Project (MFF) - The MFF project was

initiated in recognition of the role

that coastal ecosystems play as

valuable stock of natural capital. The

MFF Maldives programme currently

focuses on coastal ecosystem

management through conservation

of coastal areas and waste

management. The programme

supports small and medium scale

projects on coastal ecosystem

management, and has a grant programme supporting this.

Global Environmental Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) - The GEF SGP Maldives supports small scale

community based projects that protect and restore the

environment while enhancing people’s well being and

livelihoods. The programme’s focal areas are: biodiversity,

climate change, land degradation, climate change,

sustainable forest management and international waters.

UNDP in Action

• Supported by UNDP and partners, Baa Atoll was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2011. Subsequent to this, the Baa Atoll Conservation Fund has been established, in which government and the private sectors are active participants and contributors to the Fund.

• Through UNDP’s partnership on the Mangroves for the Future (MFF) initiative five small grants projects have been undertaken to increase environmental awareness and introduce proper waste management mechanisms in the islands.

• To date, the GEF-Small Grants Programme has funded 27 community projects of which seven have been concluded. Among others, these projects target conservation of endangered species such as marine turtles and restoration of sensitive habitats like mangroves and coral reefs. Tackling climate change by adoption of renewable energy and minimising environmental degradation by establishing proper waste management are other key areas.

• Under the ICCR project a detailed survey of

adaptation measures in the country in 40 islands including ten tourist resorts, has been undertaken which provides a baseline assessment of current practices in coastal protection and rainfall induced flooding mitigation measures.

Programme Resources for Environment and EnergyPROJECT AMOUNT USD

LECReD Programme Development Support 423,255.00AEC Project 2, 720,100.00ICCR Project 550,000.00Adaptation Fund Project 8,285,000.00TAP Project 1,670,438.00SLM Project 550,000.00MFF Project 334,370.00GEF SGP Small Grants Project 950,000.00

For more information on the Environment and Energy programme contact;

Mr. Mohamed Inaz, Assistant Resident Representative – Environment and Energymohamed.inaz@undp.org

In the Maldives, people’s way of life are intrinsically tied to their environment.

VSS Project 310, 000.00

TOTAL 15,643,163.00

Future Direction

Strengthening National Capacity to Respond to and Manage Disasters in the MaldivesDisaster preparedness capacity at national and local level and strengthening the country’s policy and legislative and institutional capacity to respond to disasters will minimize potential losses in development gains. Further support is needed to strengthen national and local multi-hazard early warning systems. Infusion of disaster risk reduction into the formal education system will ensure widespread awareness is quickly attained.

Low Emission and Renewable Energy DevelopmentReducing dependency on imported fossil fuels will not only have environmental benefits but also long term economic benefits for the Maldives. The present time is ideal to seek options on integration of energy efficiency for the transport sector and supports for renewable energy, as the development of nationwide transport system and carbon neutrality are current priorities.

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FAST FACTSUNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

www.mv.undp.org

Context

Despite the absence of absolute poverty in Maldives, there is relative poverty in

terms of income and gender inequities and the growing disparities between the

capital, Male’, and other islands. Rising unemployment, especially among youth and

women, graduation to a Middle Income Country and the global economic downturn

are posing considerable challenges to the socio-economic situation in the Maldives.

Review of the MDGs has shown that progress has been most successful in countries

where economic growth is broad-based and widely distributed, and where inclusive

growth is promoted through policies and interventions targeted for the marginalised.

Response Needed

There is a need to enhance the capacity of the government and its partners to

accelerate the achievement of the MDGs by 2015, particularly focusing on the

vulnerable population, to achieve the MDG targets with equity. Greater focus is

needed to strengthen the national analytic capacity and raise public awareness

on the human development perspective. The national statistical and research

institutions need support to commission studies that would facilitate evidence-based

policy formulation, with the aim to increase the welfare, and strengthen national

social protection programs to mitigate the economic and social vulnerabilities and

prevent vulnerable groups from falling into poverty through upstream policy level

interventions.

Our Focus

UNDP works to expand access to productive assets and economic opportunities, and

contributes to reforming policies and frameworks, trade, debt relief, and investment

arrangements to better support national poverty reduction. As such, focus is given

to supporting national actors in accelerating inclusive growth to ensure equitable,

broad-based human development. In doing this, UNDP enhances the capacity of

government agencies, partners and vulnerable groups to mitigate economic and

social vulnerabilities through various interventions. Most often, a combination

of policies and programs is needed to ensure that growth benefits are shared by

the poor and they reach different groups of vulnerable populations. Hence, UNDP

Maldives’ Poverty Reduction portfolio is being gradually reoriented to Policy and

Inclusive Growth, to focus more on upstream policy level work in order to address

national development through a broad-based and inclusive growth approach.

Our Work

Strengthening National Capacity for Evidence Based Policy Formulation - This

Project Initiation Plan will provide preparatory assistance to develop a full-fledged

project document aimed at building national capacity to

generate and analyze data to strengthen evidence based

policy formulation. With a focus on institutionalizing the

principles of Managing for Development Results (MfDR) into

national planning, reporting, monitoring, budgeting and

aid coordination processes, the project will also support

preparatory activities to commence the formulation of a

National Human Development Report (NHDR). The NHDR

will inform and complement national planning documents

and build the necessary ‘bridges’ between the gross domestic

product/financial accounting approach and the wider, deeper

human development approach.

Establishment of Maldives Institute for Policy Studies

(MIPS) - The Maldives Institute for Policy Studies is to be an

autonomous organization dedicated to the research and

analysis of domestic policy issues. It will aim at fostering

discussion and research on various policy issues and

link academic research and public policy by providing

opportunities for independent analyses for neutral and

informed discussion of key domestic issues. The Institute

will provide an independent voice in socio-economic policy

analysis, through publications, seminars and workshops. The

researches will also provide economic data and expertise to aid

decision makers in the government, businesses, and non-profit

organizations to enable evidence-based decision making and

effective and efficient policy formulation.

Employment and Enterprise Development for Women and

Youth - The project focuses on strengthening opportunities

for economic diversification and employment creation, and

on creating an enabling environment for SMEs to expand

opportunities for integration of local livelihoods into the

private sector and the tourism industry. It also aims to develop

a national framework on employment through assessments

of labour needs and identification of priority areas. The project

Policy and Inclusive Growth

Photo: Masrah Naseem/UNDP Maldives 2012.

OVERVIEWUNDP is helping reduce poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), by addressing growth, poverty and equity through policy support.

proposes to strengthen the

employment opportunities

available in the country’s largest

industry, tourism, and pave way for

establishing a UN Global Compact

local network. The project will also

contribute to bring about legal

reform in the trade sector.

Support to Integrated Farming -

The project follows the successful

demonstration of agriculture

initiatives in eight island communities, including innovative

farming technologies (Auto-pot Growing Systems), medium

scale poultry facilities and a standardized chili sauce processing

facility. It supports market integration by demonstrating

the commercial feasibility of these activities and facilitating

market linkages with the private sector. The sustainability of

the initiatives depends essentially on expansion of production

capacities and strengthening of private sector partnerships.

The project also aims to strengthen institutional capacity of

the agriculture sector through direct support to the Ministry of

Fisheries and Agriculture (MoFA).

MDG Acceleration Framework (MAF): UNDP focuses

policy level work and supports in the formulation of the

MAF for the Maldives. Despite Maldives being South

Asia’s only “MDG Plus” country, there are a number of

critical issues that could undermine the significant

achievements. In order to accelerate the achievement

of MDGs with equity, UNDP with the support of the UN

system provided technical assistance to the government

towards the development of an MDG Acceleration

Framework to guide the country towards achieving the

MDGs by 2015.

UNDP in Action

• Currently supporting the government in the

development of the second NHDR, to raise public awareness

on national human development and bring the perspective

of people-centered development at the forefront of the

national agenda.

• Facilitates market integration through continuous efforts

to create and sustain market linkages between MSMEs and

the private sector by:

- Promoting the formation and strengthening of

cooperatives for community NGOs

- Organizing ‘Partnering 4 Development’ forums to promote

business linkages, strengthen partnerships on CSR and environmental

sustainability, and integrate these components into local livelihoods.

- Developing and disseminating feasibility studies for the

commercialization of autopot, poultry and chili sauce production, for

use by interested private sector businesses.

• Supporting the standardization and quality control of agriculture value

added products in Maldives through assistance to Maldives Food and Drug

Authority and MoFA

• Providing assistance for strengthening the institutional capacity of MoFA

by:

- Developing knowledge materials for the promotion of

commercial mari-culture among the private sector.

- Assisting in improving the effectiveness of agriculture related

information dissemination and collection.

- Strengthening the standardization of the national plant and

animal quarantine system.

• UNDP supported the formulation of Tourism Employment Standard,

to ensure that the working conditions in tourism establishments are

understood, comparable, measurable and form an incentive for engaging in

long-term employment for both men and women.

• UNDP assisted Ministry of Economic Development (MED) in

undertaking an SME impact assessment on their SME loan schemes with

recommendations for future loan scheme planning.

• UNDP supported MED to pilot Economic Policy Discussion Forums,

telecasted on national television, to educate the general public on issues

surrounding economic development.

• Developed the Strategic Human Resource Plan for the Maldives

Tourism Sector, drafting and developing a National Employment Action Plan

framework, and supported Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour

Operators to come up with industry standards to strengthen service capacity

of local tour operators and travel agents.

For more information on our work on Policy and Inclusive Growth contact;

Ms. Athifa Ibrahim, Programme Analyst – Policy and Inclusive Growth athifa.ibrahim@undp.org

Programme Resources for Poverty ReductionPROJECT AMOUNT USDSupport to Integrated Farming 483,844.00Employment and Enterprise Development for Women and Youth 492,141.00Strengthening National Capacity for Evidence Based Policy Formulation 116,293.00

TOTAL 1,092,278.00

UNDP is helping to address vulnerabilities of marginalized groups through policies that focus on human development.

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