Project

Building Climate Resilient Safer Islands in the Maldives (BCRSI)

06 Feb 2024

The Government of the Republic of Maldives through Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy (MCCEE) is implementing ‘Building Climate Resilient Safer Islands in the Maldives’ project financed by Green Climate Fund (GCF) and supervised and co-financed by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Project Goals

Project interventions aim to shift the paradigm away from current common understanding and action on coastal protection in the Maldives by modification of natural beaches artificially using hard structure measures without sufficient climate data and consideration for impact due to artificial modification towards a new paradigm to maintain the natural resilience of sandy beach and coral reef that the islands of the Maldives originally owned and has a potential to adapt to uncertain climate impact by realization of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and to implement the coastal conservation measures at some of densely populated area together with delivery of disaster early warning information, by transferring knowledge and expertise on the proper implementation of soft (nature based) measures for coastal zone and beach protection and long-term sustainable management, to alleviate the loss of  land and to maintain safe and secure livelihood. This approach should ensure the maximum mitigation of maladaptation cases experienced by the country.

Project Objectives

The main objective of this project is to strengthen the long-term and sustainable resilience of Maldives Islands against climate change for enhancing economic development of the islands while maintaining the sustainable link between the residents and the beaches and implementing appropriate management of coral reefs, and beach and coastal vegetation with physical measures at the coastal areas through combination of soft and hard components.

Project Components

The project will establish and realize the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and implement and maintain the coastal conservation measures with delivery of disaster warning information. This will be achieved through the following four inter-related Project Components:

 

  • Component 1: Establishment of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
  • Component 2: Implementation of Coastal Conservation/Protection Measures against Coastal Disasters
  • Component 3: Development of Disaster Warning and Information Dissemination System
  • Component 4: Development of Basic Data Collection and Sharing System Related to Climate Change

Project Timeline

07 Feb 2024

JICA HQ Director’s Field Visit: Project Site Tour in Laamu Atoll

The purpose of the trip was to facilitate the JICA HQ Director's first-hand understanding of the ongoing endeavours within the "Building Climate Resilient Safer Islands in the Maldives" project. The field trip aimed to showcase the current beach erosion conditions in the project target islands and discuss the proposed basic design for coastal protection. With JICA serving as the Accredited Entity and co-finance partner, the visit provided an opportunity to elucidate the current beach erosion challenges faced by these islands and present the proposed solutions outlined in the project's basic design.

07 Feb 2024

4th Joint Coordination Committee Meeting (JCC)

The Joint Coordination Committee meeting held on 7th February 2024 at 4th Floor Meeting Room of MCCEE and On-line (Hybrid). Participants reviewed the progress of the project, focusing on Component 1 and Component 4. They discussed current achievements and challenges, highlighting milestones reached and areas needing improvement.
The meeting emphasized the importance of collaboration and coordination among stakeholders to ensure project success. Future action plans were outlined to address issues and enhance project performance, with a commitment to achieving project goals within the designated timeline.

06 Feb 2024

1st Project Steering Committee Meeting

The 1st Project Steering Committee of the project “Building Climate Resilient Safer Islands in the Maldives”, was held on 6th February 2024 at the Meerumaa Event Hall in Male' City.
The project steering committee meeting was a crucial gathering of key stakeholders to oversee and guide the project's progress.

06 Feb 2024

Project Inception Workshop

The Project Inception Workshop took place on February 6th, 2024, at the Meerumaa Event Hall in Male' City.
The objective of the Project Inception Workshop for "Building Climate Resilient Safer Islands in the Maldives" was multifaceted, aiming to engage all stakeholders and foster a shared understanding of the project's goals, activities, and timelines.

23 Nov 2023

ICZM Plan workshop in Laamu Gan

The second stakeholder workshop for the preparation of the Island-level Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan was conducted in Laamu Gan on November 23, 2023. Stakeholders from government offices and members of NGOs attended the workshop. The JICA Expert Team presented the framework for the island-level ICZM Plan and obtained feedback from the stakeholders. The results of the discussion will be used in the preparation of the ICZM plan for Gan Island.

22 Nov 2023

Sustainable Coastal Protection Measures at Island Countries

This training program aims to deepen understanding of the significance of coastal protection based on coastal engineering and pragmatic practices in Okinawa for central and local governments. Its goal is to acquire the capacity for planning, designing, and implementing coastal protection, including structural measures (with a main focus on beach nourishment) and non-structural measures, by learning from both successful cases and failures in Japan.
Three participants participated in the Knowledge Co-Creation Program from November 22, 2023, to December 15, 2023. They were Ms. Khadeeja Jumana Siraj, Coastal Analyst from MCCEE; Ms. Aishath Shaikha, Environment Analyst from EPA; and Mr. Saaif Mohamed Saleem, Project Coordinator from MNPHI

22 Nov 2023

ICZM Plan Workshop in Laamu Fonadhoo

The first stakeholder workshop for the preparation of the Island-level Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan was conducted in Laamu Fonadhoo on November 22, 2023. Stakeholders from government offices and members of NGOs attended the workshop. The JICA Expert Team presented the framework for the island-level ICZM Plan and obtained feedback from the stakeholders. The results of the discussion will be used in the preparation of the ICZM plan for Fonadhoo Island.

06 Aug 2023

Practical Training on Wave Observation

From August 6th to 9th August 2023, two representatives from the Maldives Meteorological Service participated in a practical training program on wave observation held in Japan. This specialized training, designed to enhance the capabilities of meteorological professionals, provided the participants with essential skills and knowledge in wave observation techniques. By engaging in hands-on activities and real-time observations, the Maldivian participants were able to deepen their understanding of wave dynamics and improve their proficiency in utilizing modern observational tools. This training is expected to significantly contribute to the enhancement of wave monitoring and forecasting capabilities in the Maldives, a nation highly susceptible to the impacts of oceanic and climatic changes.

25 Jul 2023

Technical Transfer Training on Shoreline Monitoring System

Technical Transfer Training on Shoreline Monitoring System was conducted on 25th July 2023 to transfer the automatic shoreline monitoring system to MECCT and MMS.

01 Jul 2023

Coastal Inventory Study

A coastal inventory study was conducted to assess the current coastal conditions of the inhabited islands in the country. The study collected data on existing coastal structures and beach erosion issues on these islands. A questionnaire was distributed to all inhabited islands, and data were collected through island councils. The results of this study will be crucial for the preparation of a national-level integrated coastal zone management policy under this project.

28 Nov 2022

Sustainable Coastal Protection Measures at Island Countries

This training program aims to deepen understanding of the significance of coastal protection based on coastal engineering and pragmatic practices in Okinawa for central and local governments. Its goal is to acquire the capacity for planning, designing, and implementing coastal protection, including structural measures (with a main focus on beach nourishment) and non-structural measures, by learning from both successful cases and failures in Japan.
Four participants took part in the Japanese training program 'Sustainable Coastal Protection Measures at Island Countries' held from November 28 to December 12, 2022. They were Mr. Ahmed Anwar, Senior Environment Analyst from MCCEE (Project Director); Mr. Ahmed Raidh, Coastal Analyst from MECCT (Project Manager); Ms. Miaasa Hussain, Engineer from MNPHI; and Mr. Hashim Abdulla, Senior Environment Analyst from EPA.

28 Nov 2022

1st ICZM Policy and Planning Seminar

The 1st Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Policy and Planning Seminar took place at the Manhattan Business Hotel in Male on August 28, 2022. Stakeholders from MCCEE, MNPHI (Ministry of National Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure), NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority), MMS (Maldives Meteorological Service), EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), and LGA (Local Government Authority) participated, discussing current situations and issues regarding coastal zone management aimed at building climate-resilient, safer islands. The JICA Expert Team presented the framework for the ICZM policy and received feedback from the stakeholders. This seminar marks the initial step in the preparation process for the national-level ICZM policy.

Project Team