UNDP’s Integrated Governance Programme III Receives Extended Support From UK & Australia

On Thursday, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Maldives has signed contribution agreements with the Governments of United Kingdom (UK) and Australia as part of its new 5-year Integrated Governance Programme (IGP). The IGP re-establishes the partnership between Maldives and the developmental partners and targets to channel development corporation via the UNDP’s Country Programme for Maldives 2022-2026.

UNDP has designed the Government Portfolio in association with related government stakeholders and an exclusive representative board. Representatives of the board include UNDP Resident Representative in the Maldives, Mr. Enrico Gaveglia, Attorney General H.E Ibrahim Riffath and other notable names in the government of Maldives.

The IGP aims to achieve three main objectives through its implementation. Namely open, decentralized and gender responsive government systems as well as equitable access to justice and human rights. In addition to this, the programme also factors on creating empowered, resilient and cohesive communities.

The support extended by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will focus on delivering three main outcomes. This includes gender equality and inclusiveness for disabled persons, accessibility to justice and lastly, grassroots movements and interacting young people. The Australian Government will work in close collaborations with Maldivian related parties to implement interventions across all three outcome areas.

The support from the Government of UK extended through the Conflict, Security and Stability Fund will assist in strengthening and maintaining the progress of the Legal and Justice Sector Reform Agenda of the Maldives Government. The key goal of their aid lies in amplifying institutional resilience and local governance via citizen partnership and empowerment. In doing so, they hope to create a more resilient, socially cohesive and tolerant society in the Maldives.

Australia and UK have been time-honoured partners of the UNDP and Maldives and their contributions to this cause have paved way to deliver committed need-based support to secure democracy in the Maldives. This includes accelerated efforts to reform the judiciary and justice sector of the Maldives and the support provided to create independent and empowered civil society and media. Many efforts were also undertaken to decentralize and opt for local governance as well as enhancing women empowerment and gender equality.

“We see in the IGP the creation of a new space for participation for policy making which is inclusive and caring to all,” remarked Enrico Gaveglia, UNDP Resident Representative in the Maldives while speaking about this exciting collaboration.