A subsidiary agreement has been signed on 6 April 2023 between the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to utilise the use of Green Climate Fund’s funding made available to implement the ‘Building Climate Resilient Safer Islands in the Maldives’ project.
At the ceremony held at the National Centre for Information Technology, participants included H.E. Ms. Aminath Shauna, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, H.E. Ms. Takeuchi Midori, Ambassador of Japan to Maldives, Mr. Motoo Taki, Resident Representative from JICA Maldives.
The Green Climate Fund’s Board, in its 29th meeting, previously approved a USD 25.1 million grant to undertake a project on Building Climate Resilient Safer Islands in the Maldives. The project is implemented in partnership with JICA which is co-financing an additional USD 35.4 million in grants, with a government of Maldives co-financing of USD 5.5 million in budgetary and in-kind contributions.
In line with the Government’s Strategic Action Plan, the project aims to reduce vulnerability of Maldives to climate change from increase in coastal disaster risk and land loss due to acceleration of coastal erosion through four main components.
Component one will establish integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) to balance coastal development and coastal conservation at inhabited islands. This includes undertaking an inventory study and risk assessment on present coastal and coral reef conditions, and preparation of ICZM plans.
The second component will implement coastal conservation and protection measures at selected sites in Laamu Atoll Maamendhoo, Fonadhoo, Gan and Isdhoo as well as Addu City Meedhoo. Community based beach monitoring and management structures will be established as part of these measures.
In addition, the national disaster warning and information dissemination system will be strengthened under the project, with a system for disaster warning and information dissemination.
Furthermore, wave and sea level observation equipment and their analysis will be introduced. In addition, a monitoring system for coast, coral reef, and land use will be developed under the project.