Rapid Livelihood Assessment: Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis in the Maldives

Ms. Akiko Fuji, Resident Representative of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Maldives, presented the ‘Rapid Livelihood Assessment on COVID-19 impacts in Maldives’ report to Minister of Tourism, his excellency, Dr. Abdulla Mausoom, today.

The assessment is carried out to understand the extent and the nature of the impact of the global outbreak of coronavirus on the Maldivian Economy. The report delivers detailed statistics indicating the extent of the COVID-19 crisis on the Maldivian economy, with more focus on the impact on employment and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The findings of the report had revealed that MSMEs suffered more from the downturn of the Maldivian economy. Tourism industry, the main income generator of Maldives, was hit harder in comparison to other existing economic sectors.

(Photo Credit: MoTMV)

Apart from this, a recovery framework in rebuilding the economy is also recommended in the report. During the meeting held in Ministry of Tourism, Ms. Akiko Fuji and the Tourism Minister discussed avenues in which UNDP can engage in linking tourism benefits to island community “on building forward better, bluer and greener.”

The ‘Rapid Livelihood Assessment: Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis in the Maldives” is very comprehensive, so as to reflect on the pandemic, it is a fruitful read. Access to download the full report, or a summary of it for lazy readers, will be found here.