Signing of the Joint SDG Fund and the UN COVID-19 Response & Recovery Multi Partner Trust Fund

(9 July 2020, Male’): The Government of Maldives and the United Nations in the Maldives signed two project documents today, at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The projects were signed by His Excellency Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Government of Maldives and Ms. Catherine Haswell, UN Resident Coordinator, on behalf of the UN in Maldives.

The first of this partnership is funded by the Joint SDG Fund and will be implemented jointly by the Government, UN Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, private sector and other partners. This 2- year project will support the operationalization of an Integrated National Finance Framework (INFF) process in the country. With a total cost of US$ 1.4 million, this initiative is aimed at strengthening the financial planning process and improving the targeting of financing towards the priority areas of climate action and gender responsive and equitable social sector service delivery. This project will deliver long-term development benefits to the Maldives and contribute towards the inclusive 2030 Agenda and the pledge of leaving no one behind.

The second project is the successful joint resource mobilization by the Government and UN Maldives from the first round of the UN COVID-19 Response and Recovery Multi-Partner Trust Fund, amounting to US$ 360,000. This project aims to improve the national response towards vulnerable groups, by expanding mental health and psycho social support services available to the population and by increasing the preparedness of the Home for People with Special Needs. The Government and UN Agencies will partner with Maldivian Red Crescent and other partners for the next 5 months for the successful implementation of this project.Speaking at the event, Minister Shahid thanked the UN for its valuable support to the Maldives in providing much needed and timely assistance to the most vulnerable in our society, especially as we enter the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the opening up of our borders and the easing of lockdown measures.

The UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Catherine Haswell reiterated the UN's commitment to assist Maldives in recovering better from the impacts of the pandemic and accelerate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. She also expressed hope that the partnerships signed today will enable the development of stronger policies to create more inclusive and resilient communities that leave no one behind.

As the Maldives seeks to build back better, the Government of Maldives and the United Nations endeavors to address the challenges to sustainable development and enhance the country’s capacity to meet the needs of the most vulnerable. The Government and UN will closely monitor the targets of the joint programmes and maximize efforts to accelerate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.

ENDS