MOBILIZING THE

RESOURCES FOR MDG

ACHIEVEMENT IN THE
MALDIVES:
experience from the
environment sector
Aishath Aileen Niyaz
Ministry of Environment and Energy
Republic of Maldives

STATUS OF MDG ACHIEVEMENT

Maldives has achieved 5/8
MDGs ahead of 2015.
Substantial progress in:
MDG-1: eradicating extreme
poverty and hunger
MDG-2: Achieving universal
primary education
MDG-4: Reducing child
mortality
MDG-5: Improving maternal
health
MDG-6: combating HIV/AIDS,
malaria and other diseases

STATUS OF MDG ACHIEVEMENT

Slow progress in:
MDG3- Achieving gender
equality and womens
empowerment
MDG7- Ensuring
environmental sustainability
MDG8- Developing a global
partnership for
development.

Graduated from LDC status

in January 2011.

MDG-7: ENSURE
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
Target 7A: Integrate the Principles
of Sustainable Development into
Country Policies and Programmes
and reverse the loss of
Environmental Resources.
Protection of environment enshrined
in new Constitution as a
fundamental duty of the state.
National Strategy for Sustainable
Development.
Third National Environment Action
Plan.
National Adaptation Plan of Action.
2020 Carbon neutral goal
Maldives as a UNESCO Biosphere
Reserve by 2017

MDG-7: ENSURE
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
Target 7B: Reduce
Biodiversity Loss, Achieving,
by 2010, a Significant
Reduction in the Rate of
Loss.
Declaration of protected
areas and species.
The major economic sectors
of tourism and fisheries
depend on coral reefs and
have eco-friendly practices.
Harbour dredging, land
reclamation and other
development activities
threaten ecosystems.

MDG-7: ENSURE
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
Target 7C: Halve by 2015, the Proportion
of People Without Sustainable Access to
Safe Drinking Water and Basic Sanitation
Due to salt water intrusion and pollution of
groundwater, populations in the rural islands
have switched from drinking water from
shallow groundwater wells to collected
rainwater.
For the past three years, an unusually long dry
season has been observed. Government had
to provide emergency water supplies to more
than half the inhabited islands, at high cost.
Over 90% of atoll households do not use any
method of treatment for drinking water.
Of the 192 inhabited islands, only 29 islands
have improved sewerage systems and 4
islands have desalinated piped water
networks.
Solid waste management emerging as a key
issue threatening the ecosystem.

MDG-7: ENSURE
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
Target 7D: By 2020, to Have Achieved a Significant
Improvement in the Lives of at Least 100 Million Slum
Dwellers.
No informal settlements or settlers in Maldives.
Rapid urbanization and in-migration to capital Male has resulted
in severe congestion.
More than 103,000 people live in an area barely 2 square
kilometres.

Government implementing housing projects under PPP

model

ISSUES
Environmental issues tend to get lower priority in government budget
allocations over other development needs.
On average, less than 1% of government budget has been allocated to
environment sector by central government each year.
However, in 2013, for the first time ever, 1.2% of the total government
budget was allocated for water and sanitation projects, as the issue has
become a priority concern for the population.
As of 2007, 15.6% of donor commitments to Maldives was the for
environment sector.
Total budget needed to address priority environmental problems in the
Maldives is 482 million USD. In contrast, total state budget for 2013 is
992 million USD.
Climate change adaptation is our greatest concern
Extremely vulnerable: Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 caused damage
exceeding 62% of national GDP.

LESSONS FOR POST 2015

Unable to cover costs of meeting targets nationally
ODA though much needed and appreciated, has been
insufficient to address all development challenges
Need to develop innovative financing mechanisms
Success of the Baa Atoll Conservation Fund modeldevelopment of Maldives Green Fund
Fund revenues include government allocations, donor contributions,
voluntary contributions from tourist resorts and safari boats, access
fees to protected areas and sale of merchandize with fund logo.

Need to build national capacity in project implementation and

execution to make ODA more effective
Public private partnerships to provide environmental services.

Thank you!