Parting Insights: Gaveglia on UNDP’s Role in Maldives

Enrico Gaveglia concluded his term as UNDP Maldives Resident Representative to Maldives on June 19. In his final day in office, he took some time out of his schedule to speak with The Edition about his time in the Maldives.

Gaveglia finds that the most striking thing about the Maldives is its breathtaking beauty with the wide expanses of ocean and coral islands. He highlighted meaningful interactions with a wide range of Maldivians, including State officials and the people of Maldives across the atolls as being impactful, but, asked to choose, he finds the views and hues of Maldives most memorable.

Delving into the work of the UNDP, Gaveglia guided us through how the UNDP works. UNDP works by partnering with countries to tackle unique challenges faced, with the aim of achieving Sustainable Development Goals. To do this, UNDP relies on core-funding and on their extensive network, with UNDP working in about 170 countries. They foster ties between countries, government agencies, civil society and the private sector with the main target areas being reaching Sustainable Development Goals, accountable governance, natural resources and climate resilience, improving livelihoods, innovation and digital transformation, and gender equality.

Since forging their partnership in 1978, UNDP and the Maldives have journeyed through decades of transformation. Gaveglia noted that the agency’s focus has continually shifted in response to the nation’s evolving realities—from scattered islands once defined by isolation to a country now deeply engaged with the international world.

Gaveglia went on to share some of the key programs being conducted in the Maldives by UNDP.

UNDP is supporting the Maldives in tackling its mounting debt challenge by mobilizing development finance, providing policy guidance, and facilitating access to capital market investments.

In 2021, a unified framework was designed to mobilize domestic and international financing in support of the Maldives' Sustainable Development Goals. This initiative culminated in the launch of the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) in 2023.

UNDP also assisted the Maldives in setting up the SDG Taxonomy Framework and the Sustainability Framework. The SDG Taxonomy allows the Ministry of Finance to classify USD 3.3 billion in public funds across the budget, directing resources towards environmental and social objectives. The Sustainability Framework, introduced by CDMA, could reorient Maldives USD 2.2 billion capital market towards greener, socially viable investments.

In 2024, UNDP assisted the Maldives in establishing its inaugural ESG reporting framework. It is also partnering with financial regulators to examine strategies for channeling development assistance into private capital mobilization. Additionally, UNDP collaborated with the Maldives Monetary Authority to introduce the country's first parametric insurance product—the reef protection instrument—designed to safeguard vulnerable coral reef ecosystems.

These initiatives are poised to attract private capital for sustainability, reducing by $20 million the Maldives’ annual climate-related spending and strengthening the insurance sector to de-risk future investments.

UNDP also assisted Maldives’ in managing rising healthcare costs through providing technical assistance and cost saving options in procuring medicines while facilitating access to better quality medicines.

Also in the works is assistance in setting up a national procurement body to streamline public spending and centralize state purchasing.

The success of a program conducted by UNDP is measured through gauging the impact it has on lives, Gaveglia said.

A key area of focus for UNDP, according to Gaveglia, is strengthening women’s participation—especially in policy and governance. While he praised the Maldives for progress on gender equity, including its 83rd place on the 2021 Gender Inequality Index, he also voiced concern over ongoing barriers, evident in the low visibility of women across all branches of the State.

Gaveglia closes his chapter in the Maldives while celebrating meaningful advances toward UNDP's goals. He offers heartfelt thanks to his dedicated team and all contributors who made the journey successful.