Maldives and the United Nations in Maldives have signed a project document today, titled, “Protecting Women and Children: Digitalizing and Streamlining Social Services and Creating a Unified Platform for National Care”.
At the ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Maldives and while United Nations Resident Coordinator Catherine Haswell signed on behalf of the UN in Maldives.
Foreign Ministry said that this project will enable the Maldives to recover better from the COVID-19 pandemic and align the Maldives’ road to recovery with progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
It said that the main objective of this project is to strengthen shock-responsive social protection benefits and services to protect women and girls from falling into poverty and to safeguard them from violence in prolonged socioeconomic and emergency situations, such as the global pandemic.
Funded by the global UN COVID-19 Response and Recovery Multi-Partner Trust Fund, the project will be implemented jointly by the Government, UN Agencies, and civil society organizations, with a total budget of US$ 452,500.00.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted the Government’s firm commitment to protecting the most vulnerable groups in our population and noted that a large proportion of the Government’s revenue has been spent on the socioeconomic response to this global pandemic.
Shahid also thanked the UN Secretary-General for the access to the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund and expressed gratitude that the Maldives is one of the few countries that were able to receive support twice under this Multi-Partner Trust Fund.
Minister Shahid also acknowledged the hard work of the UN Country Team and the stakeholders’ team that worked behind the scene.
In her remarks at the event, the UN Resident Coordinator reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to strengthen the social protection system to help the most vulnerable Maldivians.
She also stated that, as we kickstart a new year, the UN Maldives aims to work closely with all stakeholders for a bigger impact on the country’s road to an inclusive, sustainable recovery.
