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Story

Strengthening resilience of the most vulnerable in the COVID-19 response & recovery

A teacher's insight into the Psychological First Aid online trainings conducted by the Ministry of Education, UNICEF Maldives and Maldivian Red Crescent.

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Latest

Press Release

07 March 2022

Supporting Small Island Developing States for a sustainable future

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Press Release

13 January 2022

Judicial Curriculum Training Programme Concludes

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Press Release

06 December 2021

WHO provides support to Maldives in conducting a joint COVID-19 and HPV vaccines post-introduction evaluation (cPIE and HPV PIE)

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Latest

Press Release

07 March 2022

Supporting Small Island Developing States for a sustainable future

Learn more
Press Release

13 January 2022

Judicial Curriculum Training Programme Concludes

Learn more
Press Release

06 December 2021

WHO provides support to Maldives in conducting a joint COVID-19 and HPV vaccines post-introduction evaluation (cPIE and HPV PIE)

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Featured Stories Press Releases
Press Release
06 October 2021
Joint Press Release - Signing of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework
The Framework was signed by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Ahmed Khaleel, on behalf of the Government of Maldives, and Ms. Catherine Haswell, UN Resident Coordinator on behalf of the United Nations. The signing was held in the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Abdulla Shahid, senior government officials, and senior officials of the UN Maldives Country Team. The Government and the UN have been working jointly since January 2021 to formulate the UNSDCF in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders and partners. In response to development opportunities and challenges faced by the Maldives, and driven by extensive consultations, three overarching Strategic Priorities were identified, that encompass social, environmental and economic sustainability. Under these Strategic Priorities, four Outcome Results were also formulated, for which the United Nations Development System will focus its support on for the period 2022 – 2026. Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that the Cooperation Framework is designed to contribute to the development priorities and agenda of the Government of the Republic of Maldives, as outlined in the 2019-2023 Strategic Action Plan and the National Resilience and Recovery (NRR) plan. UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Catherine Haswell thanked all partners for their inputs and active engagement in designing an effective and impactful framework for UN support to Maldives for the next five years. She further expressed hope that the joint commitment of the UN and the Government will pave the way for Maldives to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and build a future that leaves no one behind. The implementation of the Cooperation Framework will be coordinated through a High-Level Joint Steering Committee, co-chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UN Resident Coordinator, and comprising of Government Institutions, and UN Agencies and Funds and Programmes with operational activities in the Maldives. The Joint Steering Committee will review progress annually and make recommendations and strategic adjustments to accelerate the achievement of the targets set forth in the Cooperation Framework. Through joint efforts, the Government of Maldives and the UN hope to achieve significant progress in the Maldives’ journey to an inclusive, resilient, healthy, caring, tolerant and skilled society where all people meaningfully participate in, contribute to, and benefit equitably from sustainable cultural, economic, and social development and environmental protection, by 2026.
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Press Release
22 March 2022
Maldives receives Pfizer vaccines and supplies through COVAX, donated by the United States
A team led by the Office of the President, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, Representatives from the US Government and the United Nations, received the vaccines and supplies on the tarmac at Velana International Airport. The Minister of Health, Honourable Ahmed Naseem noted that, “with this batch of vaccines, we can now start vaccinating children between the ages of 12 and 17, which would undoubtedly add renewed momentum to our vaccination efforts. I am confident that today’s donation will not only expand our vaccine eligible population thereby decrease the infection rate and fatalities but will also boost overall economic recovery efforts”. Currently, Sinopharm vaccines are being used to administer the second dose and AstraZeneca vaccines are being used to administer first and second doses to all residents above the age of 18. With a brief delay in the second jab to those who received the Covishield vaccine due to global vaccine supply shortages, the Government of Maldives had resumed the drive to fully vaccinate residents on 4 July 2021.   As of 10 August 2021, around 80% of the eligible population has received the first dose and almost 70% received the second, making the country one of the few which has been able to achieve this impressive result, coming very close to vaccinating everyone eligible against COVID-19. UNICEF Representative Marjan Montazemi stated that “We are delighted about the news of Maldives receiving additional doses of vaccines, thanks to the generous donation of the United States Government through the COVAX facility.  The Maldives has received praise for its inclusive COVID-19 vaccination program which ensure every resident irrespective of nationality receives vaccination against the Coronavirus disease. Surely the timely administration of the vaccines combined with communication and community engagement will go a long way in ensuring that all eligible populations are duly covered and with that children having access to learning at school”. “In preparation for the Pfizer vaccine; provision of technical guidance including facilitation of EUL, assistance for facilitation of multiple documents, and extensive cold chain support paired with the required trainings and capacity building have been conducted with WHO’s support, whilst providing a supportive supervisory role in the vaccine roll-out process from the very start.” said Dr Nazneen Anwar, WHO Representative. “We are optimistic that the new vaccine shipment donated by the Government of the United States of America through COVAX will be an added asset to bridge any existing gaps to reach the unreached, and increase the total population’s immunization coverage to protect the population, reduce disease severity and hospitalization from SARS-CoV-2 infection. As a trusted partner, WHO will continue to support the Government of Maldives’ lead in the vaccine roll-out. We also acknowledge and applaud the country’s steadfast steps towards recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.”  The UN Resident Coordinator Catherine Haswell noted that, “the UN welcomes the arrival of a new shipment of vaccines in Maldives, donated by the US Government and facilitated by the COVAX facility. Vaccines are safe, effective and our best hope to end the pandemic. The UN stands ready to support efforts by the Government to provide Pfizer vaccines to children above 12 years of age as well as pregnant women. Together, we can ensure safety and protection of all, and recognize the great strides made in the Maldives in reaching 70% of the population being fully vaccinated as of today”. The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, and the consequences and impact of COVID-19 go beyond public health risks associated with a pandemic. From what is observed globally, and, in the Maldives, national recovery efforts need to consider the various but interconnected socioeconomic impacts on access to essential services such as education, learning and health services as well as mental health issues faced by children and adults. COVAX, the vaccine equity scheme, co-led by Gavi, CEPI and WHO with UNICEF as an implementing partner, ensures that safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines are available to all countries around the world to help end the pandemic as quickly as possible.
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Press Release
23 March 2022
Supporting Small Island Developing States for a sustainable future
07/03/2022 Male, Maldives/Rome - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has placed Small Island Developing States (SIDS) at the centre of its work to transform agrifood systems,  because of their vulnerability to the climate crisis and other shocks and their importance in the protection of marine biodiversity.  Scattered around the globe but with just some 65 million inhabitants, SIDS account for only 1 per cent of global CO2 emissions, but they bear the brunt of the effects of climate change on their fragile economies. To underline FAO’s commitment to island nations which are both on the front line of the climate crisis and other shocks and at the same time play a vital role as guardians of our oceans’ biodiversity Director-General QU Dongyu is making a two-day visit to the Maldives. While here, the FAO Director-General is signing a Country Programming Framework with the government. It’s aimed at supporting the country’s efforts to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and build back better, increasing resilience to further shocks and addressing development needs. Qu will also meet several ministers and members of civil society and visit a fisheries company and a hydroponic farm, which grows produce without using soil. Innovation crucial to future “Increased innovation and digitalization can help the SIDS, and the rest of the world, achieve the multiple and cross-cutting targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the SAMOA Pathway Framework for Action,” linking commitments on sustainability in all its dimensions and follow-up actions to last year’s UN Food Systems Summit, Qu said. Despite its idyllic image, the Indian Ocean country, consisting of more than 1200 islands, in many ways typifies the challenges SIDS face. Maldivian officials say they are already feeling the effects of precipitation changes and rising temperatures on food production using its tiny total 65 square km of agricultural land. Reliant, like most of the SIDS, on food imports, except for fisheries, the Maldives is suffering the effects of unhealthy diets, resulting in high rates of Non-Communicable Diseases. It is also acutely vulnerable to fluctuating commodity prices, exacerbated by COVID-19, which has battered its vital tourism industry. These factors all contribute to a need for “technical expertise and support, as well as financial investments into sustainable, regenerative food production, distribution, and consumption patterns,” Thilmeeza Hussain, Permanent Representative of Maldives to the UN and Special Envoy of the President of the General Assembly said in a keynote address to the SIDS Solutions Dialogue convened by FAO last month. “We look forward to continuing to work with key partners, such as the FAO and others, to implement the necessary changes to ensure equitable and sustainable food systems,” she added. The SIDS Solutions Dialogue was just the latest in a series of platforms which FAO has organized, addressing the challenges faced by SIDS. It followed a SIDS Solutions Forum, co-convened by FAO and the government of Fiji in August 2021, which showcased a raft of innovative ideas developed in SIDS, with potential to be scaled up and replicated. These included smart phone apps to promote healthier eating, based on locally available foods, to providing farming information and collating data on available health resources. The forum was the first of an event which is to be held biennially. Among other FAO initiatives targeted specifically at SIDS is the The Global Action Programme on Food Security and Nutrition in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). It addresses the need for a more integrated, multi-stakeholder approach to the particular challenges they face in trying to achieve food security and nutrition, and prioritizes stronger international and inter-regional partnerships. The COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme also addresses key needs in the SIDS, while FAO’s establishment of  an Office of Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and Landlocked Developing Countries helps to draw attention to the vulnerabilities of SIDS, as well as countries in the other two categories, and further a common approach to address the unique challenges faced by these countries. FAO flagship initiatives benefit SIDS In addition,  a number of SIDS benefit significantly from FAO’s flagship initiatives being implemented globally.  Among these are the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, accelerating rural investment and development, the 1,000 Digital Villages, helping communities take a giant leap forward in digitalization, the Technical Platform for Family Farming, supporting region-to-region cross-fertilization for policy innovation and the One Country One Priority Product, accelerating the development of new agricultural products. All these initiatives add up to a strong commitment by FAO to ensure that SIDS are at the heart of efforts under its Strategic Framework to work towards better production, better nutrition, better environment, and a better life, leaving no-one behind - in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. That vulnerability was further highlighted in the Pacific region by the aftermath of Tonga’s January 15 underwater volcanic eruption and tsunami, which left parts of the islands’ agricultural land covered in ashfall and caused extensive damage to fisheries.  FAO and its UN partners are working with the Government of Tonga to implement plans for supporting the country’s farmers and fishers to rebuild their livelihoods after the disaster.
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Press Release
20 October 2021
Government of Maldives, United Nations urge greater action to address devastating impact of climate change on children and young people
MALE, Maldives, 20 October 2021 – In the run up to COP26, the Government of Maldives and UNICEF, in collaboration with UNDP, today hosted the “Our Climate, Our Present, Our Future” event in Male, in an effort to spotlight the devastating impact of climate change on children and young people in Maldives and catalyze action and partnerships to mitigate its effects. The event was attended by over 100 experts, business leaders and young people from Maldives and other small islands developing states (SIDS), such as Seychelles. It was opened by H.E. Ms. Aminath Shauna, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, with remarks by the UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for South Asia, Ms. Sun Ah Kim Suh, the British High Commissioner for Maldives, Ms. Caron Rohsler, and the UN Resident Coordinator a.i., Enrico Gaveglia, representing UNRC Ms. Catherine Haswell. Through presentations and panel discussions, the event provided a platform for young people from Maldives and other SIDS to make their voices heard and lead by example through climate action, while also sparking synergies among the private sector for innovations, transfer of technology, know-how and climate resilient solutions. JICA was among multiple speakers supporting a more active role for innovation and private sector partnerships in climate action. “Young people have a critical role to play in ensuring that climate change is addressed in the most inclusive manner to ensure maximum resiliency to our communities. We, as government leaders, need to ensure that their voices are welcomed and heard. We need to ensure that they are given platforms to express their views and concerns, so that youth today can lead their own path for change,” said the Minster of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, H.E. Aminath Shauna. In his remarks, the UN Resident Coordinator a.i. stressed on the unique risks and consequences climate change poses for the future of island nations like Maldives. He also highlighted the crucial role of young people in climate action in accelerating achievement of the 2030 Agenda which will ensure a healthier, more resilient future for the people and planet.  While children and young people across the globe, especially girls, are the first affected by the climate crisis, they often remain the least empowered to influence climate change policy-making and action, despite their numerous solutions and contributions. In a recent poll run by UNICEF, 77% of young people in Maldives said that they were worried about the effects of climate change, and 92% said they wished to take more action, if provided with support. “We must recognize the climate crisis as a child right’s crisis,” said Marjan Montazemi, UNICEF Representative in Maldives. “For children and young people in Maldives, climate change is a direct threat to their schools, their health centers, and their very survival. Children and young people must be given center stage in all climate negotiations and decisions, and the world must accelerate action to reduce emissions, invest in climate adaptation, actively work with young people and provide children with climate education and green and blue skills.” Maldives has the lowest terrain of any country in the world: four-fifths of the country’s land is less than one meter above sea level. Erosion of the shoreline is already a severe issue in 64 percent of the Maldivian islands, and much critical infrastructure for children and families, including many schools, hospitals and health centers, sit within only 100m of shorelines. The country is predicted to become uninhabitable as early as 2050, and disappear before the end of the century. “Seeing the effects of climate change on my country firsthand has been devastating, especially the rising sea levels,” said Aishath Zeeba Hamid, 19 years old, from Male. “It is a constant reminder that my country is right at the forefront of danger. Further worldwide assistance and cooperation is required, not just for Maldives but all other small island nations suffering similar fates.” Plastic pollution and a limited waste management system remain a major challenge in Maldives, with islands across the country left littered with trash, a significant portion of which are single-use plastics which end up in the ocean and inside marine life. According to the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, every year, 104 million non-biodegradable plastic bags are imported into the Maldives. Meanwhile, the archipelago suffers from severe water scarcity, with some islands requiring desalinated water to be shipped in by boat. Water insecurity is slated to increase the incidence of water and vector-borne diseases, destruction of ecosystems, and children’s access to sanitation facilities. The private sector is increasingly being recognized as key to boosting climate resilience through innovative solutions, transfer of expertise, technology, and financing. “To ensure private finance supports the shift to a low-carbon economy, every major financial decision will need to take climate change into account,” said Enrico Gaveglia, UNDP Representative in Maldives. Maldives has taken ambitious steps to respond to the climate crisis and has been playing an active role on the world stage for over more than a decade, including with the country now holding the Presidency of the United Nations General Assembly. Maldives committed to phasing out single use plastics by 2023 and net zero emissions by 2030, and is also actively supporting children and young people’s direct involvement in climate negotiations and decisions, especially within the context of COP26.
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Press Release
25 November 2020
Launching of UN75 Dialogues in Maldives
United Nations in Maldives officially launches the activities of the biggest global campaign to mark the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations. The virtual event was initiated by the UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Catherine Haswell, in attendance of her Excellency the First Lady, Ministers of the Cabinet, Ambassadors and colleagues of the diplomatic community, UN colleagues, senior officials from Government institutions, private sector, civil society and other partners this morning. As the United Nations is marking this milestone at a time of great upheaval around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN75 Campaign will collectively bring people together across borders, sectors and generations to join the dialogue to address global challenges. With a special emphasis on participation of the youth and the most vulnerable, the campaign will aim to encourage open discussions about issues such as pandemics, the climate crisis and reducing inequalities to help Maldives to recover better. This Campaign will include a series of events throughout 2020. Through the UN75 activities, UN Maldives looks forward to marking the 55th year of Maldives’ membership of the UN by partnering with the Government, private sector, civil society organizations and the public to enhance engagement through virtual dialogues, media and social media platforms. These conversations will seek to identify ways in which Maldives can build back better through multilateral cooperation and investing in inclusive, resilient communities that leave no one behind. Speaking at the event, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Abdulla Shahid reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the principles of the United Nations and reiterated the Government’s support to the UN75 dialogues. He also believes that the UN75 initiatives will help Maldives to narrow gaps and build back better with stronger policies. The UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Catherine Haswell called on all partners and Maldivians to join the conversation and ensure that the Maldives is represented in the global discussions. She emphasized the importance of countries working together in a positive spirit of multilateralism to tackle global challenges and preserve development gains for all. UN Maldives expresses sincere appreciation to all our partners for joining the event to kick off UN75 and hopes that the future initiatives under this Campaign will generate ideas and strategies from across the country on the vision that Maldivians have for the future. 2020 also marks the Decade of Action for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Agreed in 2015, Member States agreed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with 17 SDGs to be achieved by every country, by 2030.  The UN supports the Maldives in making progress towards the SDGs, and more inclusive and sustainable development in the country.
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23 March 2022
Listening to young people’s voices – climate change and climate action
On October 20th,  in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, UNDP and the UN family in the Maldives, UNICEF co-hosted a hybrid event, “Our Climate, Our Present, Our Future: a small island developing state (SIDS) perspective” with 150 participants, mostly adolescent girls and boys and young people from the Maldives, and also some participants from other small island developing states (SIDS).  As the world is mobilizing around the COP26 in Glasgow, this was an opportunity to hear from young people most affected by the climate change.  In a recent publication, UNICEF has gathered compelling evidence that the Climate Crisis is a Child Rights Crisis. Every child on earth is exposed to at least one climate and environmental hazard, such as heat waves, cyclones, droughts or floods. There is no secret that with the sea levels rising, low lying island states, such as the Maldives, are on the forefront of climate change. While speakers addressed eloquently the impact of climate change on the Maldives and other small island developing states (SIDS), this was also an opportunity to inspire action and instill hope by highlighting the agency of young people as agents of positive change and showcasing innovations and actions from the public and private sector.  It was great to hear from young people asking panelists about how they can be more involved including in relation to influencing the private sector practices.  Or what can be done to tackle waste management more efficiently and with less damage to the environment?   In a recent survey of young people in South Asia, 77% of young people in Maldives said that they were worried about the effects of climate change, and 92% said they wished to take more action, if provided with support. Many are already taking action. For instance, one of the young participants, Zeeba has just shot a video of herself studying under water to call attention to her country sinking. Others young people across islands are doing beach clean-ups, are concerned about the health of coral reefs and mangroves, are using less plastic,  are planting trees and protecting native trees, making decisions to ride a bike instead of a motorbike and advocating for clean and renewable energy.  This video was shot along with 19 others young people participating in a workshop on climate change advocacy using videomaking, hosted by UNICEF in partnership with One Minute Junior Foundation in September/October of this year.  More videos can be found here. One of the key learnings that came to fore and was highlighted from organizations in the Maldives, such as Save Kudafari and Precious Garbage, or the Ocean Clean Up in the Seychelles or Youth Climate Lab in Fiji, is the importance of organizing, the sense of community coming together regularly taking joint actions to preserve the environment. In the scale of things, sometimes individual acts may not seem enough to address the complexity of climate change but as many speakers highlighted, every action matters. “We can overcome this climate crisis, if we do all we can and I believe that meaningful participation of women, young children is also really important.  I think if we work together, and if you are persistent if you are resilient and if you have the will to bring the change, you can definitely do it. Every one of you, you can use your voice.” Ameera Latheef – MNU student and representative of 'Dhihdhoo Kurimagu'. In the meantime, UNICEF Maldives is actively engaging in climate change programming, working with the Government to support the introduction of climate education into the school curriculum, and will be engaging adolescent girls and boys and young people to build their advocacy skills, reduce plastic pollution through behavior change campaigns, expand green and blue skills for young people and, through programmes like UPSHIFT, a programme to promote social innovation and entrepreneurial action by young people, to provide them with the tools, support systems, space and confidence to take innovative action to build climate resilience. While Maldives contributes only 0.003% to global greenhouse gas emissions, it has made a commitment to net zero emissions by 2030.   As to the COP26, there are high expectations of states and businesses to step up and take action and make real and tangible commitments and uphold priorities identified by children and young people around the world. “We want to be a generation that takes care of the planet”  Hassan Sodhig – founder of Save Kudafari – an environmental NGO  Young people are taking action at their level, how about world leaders? Please follow the link to the agenda of the event, list of speakers and topics. 
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08 July 2021
UN75-Maldives55 and Beyond: The role of creativity and innovation in human development
Last year, UN Maldives had the pleasure of working with the very talented Zuma and Reesha as part of a consultancy with Publicity Bureau on a special project to mark the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations and the 55th year of Maldives as a member state. UN75 was a global conversation throughout 2020 on building a better future for all. Through surveys and dialogues, 1.5 million people from all countries and all walks of life were asked about their priorities for the future and ideas for action. Given that UN75 came at a time of great upheaval and crisis around the world, UN Maldives decided to focus the UN75 initiatives around the most prominent issues in the country context including the impact of digital technologies; conflict and violence; reducing inequalities; the climate crisis; investing in healthcare and closing the gender gap. The end products delivered by Zuma and Reesha were beyond our expectations and showed the key role that creativity and innovation play in human development. So the UN wanted to know more about the faces behind the designs, and had a chat to learn what makes them tick. Zuma and Reesha said that working on this project showed how much they were personally able to relate to the social and environmental issues and made them realize that everyone has a role to play in building a better future. Reesha says that the research aspect of the work helped her learn even more about the challenges faced by Maldivians and the socioeconomic impacts of COVID19, which was the vision driving her creations. Zuma felt a great responsibility to convey these important messages through her illustrations and was inspired to deliver a quality result. As most of the issues considered by UN75 were global threats, Zuma found it challenging to show the uniqueness of the Maldives culture and local context in the designs. Reesha on the other hand said that the hard work always lay in creating designs that are pleasing to everyone and staying true to design fundamentals. Both Zuma and Reesha have had an interest in art and illustrations since their childhood. Zuma has 4 years of professional experience while Reesha has completed 7 years in the field. As they put it, they have always known that this is the field they wanted to make their career, and they look forward to breaking more barriers in a field that was initially male-dominated in the Maldives, just a few years ago. When asked of the one thing the UN should support in Maldives, they believe it would be improving the accessibility of uninterrupted, quality expertise, knowledge, services and tools to everyone in Maldives including the communities outside of Male’ City, to ensure a more inclusive and sustainable future that leave no one behind.
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10 May 2021
While the COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for all of us, it posed unique challenges for children like Kyle, being forced to stay at home and switch to virtual learning
12-year-old Kyle has a passion for photography and enjoys capturing the environment, candid moments, and people’s hard work. He has had a strong interest in taking photos since he got his first digital camera at the age of eight. Kyle said that he was initially inspired by nature, often capturing natural surroundings and the ocean. Having his own camera helped him to research and learn new skills and with the help of his mother and family, he took to Instagram to share his photos with the public. His Instagram page features a compilation of photos, making his passion for capturing the day-to-day lives of the local Maldivian community evident. According to Kyle, in addition to people, some of his favorite captures are of cats and the ocean. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for all of us, it posed unique challenges for children like Kyle, being forced to stay at home and switch to virtual learning. His interest in photography made it easier to cope with the pandemic. Kyle took the opportunity to capture our fight against COVID-19 and the process of people in Male’ adjusting to the new normal. His photos show that at such a young age Kyle has a unique talent to convey emotions through his captures especially in these challenging and unprecedented times for everyone, everywhere. Kyle says that his motivation comes from witnessing the patience and hard work of loved ones around him, especially his mother who is his biggest support system. At such a young age, Kyle believes that persistence and not giving up can lead the way to success. When he is not taking pictures, Kyle likes to express his creativity through drawing. He also spends his free time doing extra reading into photography on how to improve his captures as well as editing skills. In the future, he looks forward to progressing his skills to make a difference for communities through his work in photography.  
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18 March 2021
"What makes me the happiest is not what I have achieved, it is what I have given back"
2020 was a difficult year for everyone, which impacted us all in different ways. For some, it was a year of fulfilling work to help their community. Aishatha Naura Naseem is a volunteer at Maldives Red Crescent (MRC). If you call 1425, you might just hear Naura’s voice. She provides psychosocial support to COVID-19 patients as part of the Rapid Response Teams (RRT) functions under the Health Emergency Operations Centre. Having lost her job at the beginning of 2020, Naura’s was determined to make a difference for humanity. As a volunteer on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response, Naura finds comfort in being able to help and support people get through the unique difficulties faced due to the pandemic. She believes that by giving back, she has also had an opportunity to learn and build her experience and confidence. In addition to her volunteer work, Naura is a STEM teacher for primary school children. She is passionate about teaching and enjoys interacting with children. She strongly believes that learning is a continuous journey and tries her best to teach her kids the same principle.  2020 proved to be a traumatic year, but Naura refused to give up hope. Volunteering gave her a new perspective, and she believes that her work as a volunteer has taught her key skills and knowledge which can help her in her career as a teacher. Her hope for the future is to see a world where helping each other is considered uplifting and empowering. She ended her story perfectly by saying, ‘What makes me the happiest is not what I have achieved, it is what I have given back.’
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14 March 2021
“I live to see my patients fully recover and go home with a smile on their faces”
The year 2020 changed how we look at life significantly. We saw the disease infecting people rapidly across the world. The pandemic has been a challenging time for everyone, and a time that people turned to doctors and medical professionals for support and answers. When the pandemic hit, Dr. Mohamed Ali was one of the first doctors who took to social media to keep the community informed and spread awareness on safety precautions to mitigate the spread of the virus. One year on, he plays a crucial role in the COVID-19 response. As a member of the Maldives Technical Advisory Group on Immunization he is leading preparations for rolling out vaccines across the Maldives from February. Because of his passionate commitment on the frontlines of the pandemic, it is hard to imagine that he first planned to become a pilot. His curiosity about the human anatomy drove him to become a doctor. Dr. Mohamed Ali has worked at the National Centre for Respiratory Medicine since 2018. His journey began in Ukraine, in a very different culture and environment compared to the Maldives. Despite the many challenges posed in adapting, he successfully completed 6 years of University study, followed by a one-year internship in Bangladesh. Having spent 11 years gaining the necessary skills and knowledge to serve as a medical doctor, Dr. Mohamed Ali believes that his experience in a range of hospitals in different countries was vital to how he practices medicine every day.   Dr. Mohamed Ali’s wants to make a difference in people’s lives, and to give the facts about disease, healthcare and wellbeing. Despite the long hours Dr. Mohamed Ali, says that he lives for seeing his patients achieve a full recovery and go home with a smile on their faces. Amid the global pandemic, he continues his work to influence his patients’ behavior and advocate for prevention. He believes that with increased awareness, doctors have the ability to build a happier and healthier society, which makes more conscious decisions and choices. As we aim to build back better from the pandemic, Dr. Mohamed Ali wants to see a more efficient healthcare system in the Maldives that is available to every Maldivian, regardless of where they live, or how much money they have.
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Press Release
22 March 2022
Judicial Curriculum Training Programme Concludes
The 'Judicial Curriculum Training Programme' was conducted by Judge Malcolm Simmons, and included components such as Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Ethics and Judicial Conduct, Judicial Case Management and Legal Reasoning.  Over the years, UNDP together with partners, has been supporting judicial reform and strengthening capacity of the judiciary through various training and capacity building programmes.  With the aims to better inform such interventions, UNDP supported a comprehensive Training Needs Assessment (TNA) followed by the formulation of revised Judicial Training Curriculum for the Judicial Academy (JA) in the year 2020. The TNA re-emphasized the need for continuing the judicial education process inclusive of new judge transition, and ongoing development. The TNA also highlighted the need to go beyond just the knowledge of substantive law, to take a more holistic approach to trainings such that it enhances the capacity of judges to perform their judicial responsibilities fairly, correctly, and efficiently. Speaking at the concluding ceremony,  UNDP Resident Representative to the Maldive, Enrico Gaveglia emphasized the importance of judicial education in the administration and dispensation of justice, and stated that it not only ensures fair and equitable justice for all, but also helps build public confidence in the system.
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Press Release
23 March 2022
WHO provides support to Maldives in conducting a joint COVID-19 and HPV vaccines post-introduction evaluation (cPIE and HPV PIE)
World Health Organization is supporting the Republic of Maldives to conduct a joint COVID-19 and HPV vaccines post-introduction evaluation from 5 December to 12 December 2021. The main objective of the HPV PIE and cPIE is to evaluate the overall introduction of HPV in the national immunization programme and the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines in the country. The COVID-19 PIE and HPV PIE will be an 8-day evaluation exercise conducted at national and sub-national levels using WHO Guidelines. Information will be gathered by local and international experts through interviews, observation and data review at all levels of the health services. The expert group includes representation from all layers of WHO (HQ, RO, several country offices and WCO Maldives), UNICEF, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and MM Global Health to work with the in-country experts from the Ministry of Health. In addition to the Greater Male’ region, the evaluation will also be conducted across seven atolls of the Maldives (Haa Alif, Shaviyani, Meemu, Lhaviyani, Thaa, Gaaf Dhaal and Gnaviyani). The team will collect data by conducting desk reviews, guided interviews, field visits to vaccination sites, households, health facilities, schools and vaccine cold storage sites using a specifically designed web based software tool . To conclude the evaluation, the team of experts will be presenting their findings to Ministry of Health and partners. The Republic of Maldives initiated its COVID-19 vaccination campaign on 1st February 2021. Since then, there has been significant progress in the rollout and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines; corresponding to 87.44% (first dose) and 80.50% (second dose) vaccination coverage of the eligible population of 12+ years)

The HPV Vaccine was introduced in Maldives in 2019, targeting young girls between 10-14 years of age, followed by routine vaccination of age 10 in the national immunization schedule. In the first year of introduction, an EPI review (conducted from 18 to 26 August 2019) assessed the first-dose national administrative coverage to be at 91.9%. The joint COVID-19 and HPV post-introduction evaluation supported by WHO is intended to highlight successful vaccine deployment and best practices from Maldives, recognize problems that need corrective action, identify lessons learned from the COVID-19 vaccine deployment to strengthen the overall national immunization system and services; specifically related to health workers, older adults, essential workers or persons with co-morbidities. After the evaluation exercise is concluded, the team will provide recommendations to improve roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines, especially in the context of vaccination of phased-in target groups and strategies for booster vaccination. The team will also document and share the lessons learned with other countries for their own COVID-19 vaccine deployment, and for future pandemic vaccine deployments.
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Press Release
22 March 2022
UNDP Maldives together with Dhiraagu commenced ‘Film for Change: Climate Edition’
Initiated in 2017, the purpose of ‘Film for Change’ - an ongoing collaboration between UNDP and Dhiraagu, is to use the alternative medium of film to stimulate dialogue on different social issues amongst young people, decision-makers and the wider community. This year’s series is focused on empowering young people to explore and form narratives on issues of climate change in Maldives through the medium of film. The platform provides them with the necessary technical and creative skills on producing documentary-style short films using accessible devices such as mobile phones and tablets. Speaking to the participants at the opening ceremony, Dhiraagu’s Manager Corporate Social Responsibility, Bishaara Hameed stated “We are very fond of this programme for a number of reasons. We believe it is such a unique and an impactful approach which gives a voice to young people. The best part is that it would be your story, your narrative that would be told through the medium of film. We hope it would also be an opportunity for you to think, explore and reflect on key issues related to climate action through this year’s climate edition” Thanking Dhiraagu for the continued partnership with UNDP on initiatives such as ‘Film for Change’, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Vera Hakim alluded to how this year’s ‘Film for Change’ is timely as it coincides with COP26, and as the world is focused on this pivotal moment in the fight against climate change. “UNDP is committed to confront climate change, markedly by bringing the private and public sectors together to showcase our unified efforts for sustainable development and community resilience. We are focused on empowering youth to bring out their voices on issues such as climate change and give them a platform to play the catalytic role in delivering fresh new ideas and solutions, in spreading awareness and transforming behaviours,” said Vera Hakim.  The youth participants of ‘Film for Change’ will undergo a training component and a post-production component with industry experts where trainees in groups will produce five short films under the main theme inspired by the Sustainable Development Goal: Climate Action (SDG-13). The films will then be screened via social media and other public platforms to be followed by dialogue. Additionally, the films also have the potential of being showcased on platforms for youth advocacy on climate change at local, regional, and global levels.
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Press Release
23 March 2022
Diabetes Society and World Health Organization jointly celebrate World Diabetes Day 2021 across Maldives
An array of activities have been planned across five days in these islands to commemorate the occasion, with coordinative support from partners such as Eye Care Opticals, Society for Health Education (SHE), Health Protection Agency (HPA), Glow Fit Gym, Dhangethi Council, Dhangethi Health Centre, Island Councils, Schools, and locally based Women’s Empowerment Committees. Activities include Diabetes awareness and screening, eye screening for diabetic patients, mental health sessions, dialogue with young leaders and numerous physical activities (such as Diabetes Day Run, Zumba and Aqua aerobics). The activities will conclude with a Forum on Access to Diabetes Day for stakeholders.

“World Diabetes Day is a global occasion on which people with diabetes, health professionals, diabetes advocates, media, the general public and government organizations unite to raise awareness on diabetes. Your participation – both in the build-up to and following 14 November – is key to the success of the campaign.” said Aishath Shiruhana, CEO of Diabetes Society Maldives. “Taking part can be exciting and hugely rewarding” “The starting point for living well with diabetes is an early diagnosis – the longer a person lives with undiagnosed and untreated diabetes, the worse their health outcomes are likely to be.” said Dr Nazneen Anwar, WHO Representative to Maldives, “Diabetes is preventable, treatable and it’s onset can be delayed through healthy lifestyle changes. WHO is delighted to support Diabetes Society of Maldives in this endeavor to raise awareness and instill good practices such as healthy diet, physical activity, usage of medication and importance of regular screening and treatment for Diabetes within our communities.” 14 November of each year marks the celebration of World Diabetes Day. Established in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation with support from WHO in response to growing concerns about the health and economic threat posed by diabetes, World Diabetes Day became an official UN day in 2006. Celebration of World Diabetes Day each year promotes universal health coverage for affordable and equitable access to diabetes management, including improving the knowledge and capacities of people with diabetes and their families to take charge of their own care, to reduce economic hardship in households which have few strategies for coping with the economic burden of diabetes. During a global pandemic which has already taken the lives of well over a million people; people with diabetes are seen to be paying a particularly high price. Not only do they have a higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease and death when infected, globally many are observed to have difficulty accessing the treatment they need due to disruptions to essential health services. WHO estimates that 6% of the world’s population has diabetes. The total number today is four times what it was in 1980. The gravity of the situation demands a strong, united response from all organizations working in the areas of monitoring, prevention and treatment of diabetes.
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Press Release
23 March 2022
UNICEF delivers equipment procured with the support of Government of Japan, to strengthen cold chain/supply capacity to the Ministry of Health
The pandemic has brought to the forefront the importance of strengthening health system’s response to emergencies while ensuring continued essential health services to children and pregnant women. Through this initiative, funded by the Government of Japan, UNICEF provided freeze free vaccine carriers, temperature monitoring devices/tool kits, personal protection equipment (PPE) for vaccination staff and related ICT equipment as well as the setting up of a vaccine store. The delivered items, combined with upcoming supplies in the pipeline and additional technical support worth over USD 950,000, will address immediate capacity gaps in the health system needed to continue the COVID-19 response as well as strengthen the national immunization programme. The Government of Japan has been a firm supporter of the Government and people of the Maldives in its COVID-19 response since the initial outbreak of the virus. The Embassy has worked very closely with the Government authorities and International Organizations to strengthen the capacity to respond to COVID-19 public health emergency and to revitalize its socio-economic activities affected by the pandemic. Since 2020, Japan has committed grants to the Maldives health sector to address the urgent needs by providing emergency supplies and to mitigate the negative economic impacts, namely through: USD 5.6 million to the Government of Maldives to equip and improve the health services at atolls and regional hospitals across the Maldives. USD 1.4 million to UNDP Maldives in support of small and medium enterprises in agri-businesses affected by COVID-19. USD 356,400 to UNICEF Maldives and USD 185,000 for the Maldives Red Crescent to complement the Government’s effort to respond to COVID-19 and, USD 956,222 to UNICEF Maldives to assist the Government of Maldives to strengthen capacity and continue building a sustainable immunization supply chain system under the “Last One Mile Support” programme. USD 2.7 million to UNDP Maldives to further strengthen local productivity of agricultural produce in the Maldives. In addition to these grants, USD 47.5 million was extended to the Government of Maldives as 'The COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support Loan’ and, 112,000 doses of AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine manufactured in Japan was donated to the Maldives through the COVAX facility as part of Japan’s “Last One Mile Support”. The financial support to strengthen cold chain and supply capacity received from the Government of Japan through UNICEF will have a positive and lasting impact on the health system’s capacity, including the vaccination efforts at the decentralized level.
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