The Government of Japan pledges USD 4.3 million to strengthen Maldives national response capacity to high frequent natural hazards through community empowerment

Malé, March 25, 2024 – The grant agreement was signed by Her Excellency Mrs. Takeuchi Midori, Ambassador of Japan to Maldives and His Excellency Moosa Zameer, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Under the terms of the Exchange of Note, the Government of Japan committed a grant of Six Hundred Million Japanese Yen (¥ 600,000,000), (approximately USD 4.3 million which is equivalent to Maldivian Rufiyaa 66 million) for further promoting the economic and social development of the Maldives.

The grant project will benefit over 130 outer islands as well as Greater Malé and is intended to enhance resiliency in island communities and strengthen National Disaster Management Authority’s operational autonomy for effective flood management and firefighting capacity.

Equipment procured under the grant will include 264 water pumps, 40 firefighting pumps, 4 firefighting vehicles, and a sludge suction truck.

In 2015, the Government of Japan pledged a grant assistance of 600 million Japanese yen (equivalent to USD 5.5 million) and, in the year 2017, a grant assistance of 500 million Japanese Yen (equivalent to USD 4.6 million) was committed to the Government of Republic of Maldives, to contribute to the National Disaster Centre’s (now known as National Disaster Management Authority) to strengthen the response capabilities of the response forces.

The Government of Japan hopes that this assistance will complement the ongoing efforts of the Government of Maldives to address climate change and natural disasters.