Project

Strengthening the Water Sector for Enhanced Planning, Programming and Implementation of Climate Finance

05 Jan 2026

The Ministry of Tourism and Environment (MTE) is implementing the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness project “Strengthening the Water Sector for Enhanced Planning, Programming and Implementation of Climate Finance in the Republic of Maldives”, in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

The project is implemented over a two-year period, with a total value of EUR 948,588, financed through the Green Climate Fund Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme. The project is executed by the Climate Change Department of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment.

Project Background

Water insecurity remains one of the most critical climate change challenges facing the Maldives, particularly for outer island communities that rely heavily on rainwater and fragile groundwater systems. Climate change impacts such as sea level rise, flooding, prolonged dry periods, and saltwater intrusion further threaten the availability and quality of freshwater resources. Strengthening institutional capacity, technical expertise, and access to climate finance is therefore essential to improve water security and resilience across the country.

This project builds on a previous GCF Readiness project “Readiness and preparatory support to operationalize the Climate Smart Resilient Island (CSRI) Initiative across Small Island Developing States”, which was also in collaboration with GIZ.

Project Background

The objective of the project is to strengthen national and sectoral capacity for planning, programming, and implementation of climate finance, with a particular focus on the water and sanitation sector. The project supports the National Designated Authority (NDA), the Water and Sanitation Department (WATSAN) of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, utility service providers, and other key stakeholders to develop practical tools, skills, and frameworks that enable effective climate-resilient water investments.

Key Activities

Key activities under the project include:

  • Specialized technical training for NDA staff to support country planning, programming, and implementation of climate finance projects.
  • Specialized technical training for water sector personnel in water and sanitation management, targeting utilities and service providers.
  • Formulation of Water and Sanitation Safety Plans and Water and Sewerage Emergency Plans for selected islands using participatory and capacity-building approaches.
  • Expansion of the existing Hakathari Program to include additional water-using appliances to promote efficient water use.
  • Convening a regional Water Security Forum for members of the Coalition of Low-lying Atoll Nations on Climate Change (CANCC) to facilitate knowledge exchange, peer learning, and sharing of best practices on climate-resilient water and sanitation solutions for atoll nations.