The first Advisory Committee meeting for the ‘Preparation of Adaptation Investment Pipeline – Maldives’ project, which is the Commonwealth Secretariat and NDC Partnership’s joint project to support the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment, and Energy in building a pipeline of bankable adaptation projects in the Maldives, convened on 21^st July 2024. The objective of the consultation was to share project details and updates with the advisory committee and obtain feedback on the project deliverables. The composition of the Advisory Committee includes representatives from a broad spectrum of governmental bodies; the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development, Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare, Ministry of Social and Family Development, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the Ministry of Health, and the National Disaster Management Authority.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Ahmed Waheed, Head of the Climate Change Department of the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, who provided welcoming remarks. Following this, representatives from the Commonwealth Secretariat and the NDC Partnership delivered detailed presentations. They outlined the program’s implementation framework, including details on funders, the implementing entity, and other project components. They shared the project’s deliverables and their current status, followed by a comprehensive briefing on the roles and responsibilities of the advisory committee members. Expectations were set for the committee to provide directional and strategic support, review project documents and progress, and offer suggestions to ensure the project’s success.

This was followed by a detailed presentation on the climate adaptation landscape and project prioritisation report. The Commonwealth Secretariat team highlighted the existing adaptation gaps in the Maldives, particularly concerning policy and implementation frameworks. They presented an adaptation finance landscape, revealing the overall requirements for adaptation finance in the country, current financial flows, and significant investment gaps hindering the growth of adaptation projects. The Advisory Committee also discussed a framework for project prioritisation, methodology for scoring, and the development of project ideas into concept notes, as well as the project timelines and the tentative schedule for the next consultation round, which were promptly addressed.