About us
Since 1978, UNICEF has supported children’s rights in Maldives.
UNICEF in Maldives
Around the world, UNICEF is working to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potentials. We have been in the Maldives since 1978, when we responded to a cholera outbreak that spun out of control. At the time, only 15 percent of Maldivian children were enrolled in primary schools, and one in five children died before their first birthday.
In the four decades since, the Maldives has become a development success story. Today, the country has one of the lowest poverty rates in South Asia. Nearly all Maldivian children are enrolled in primary schools. And the average life expectancy has increased by more than 30 years. Such successes, along with the rapid growth of infrastructure, the sprawl of the tourism industry, and the expansion of public services, propelled the Maldives into middle-income country status in 2011. Unfortunately, however, these improvements did not happen in a vacuum. As pockets of the country improved, others – particularly remote, far-flung islands – lagged behind.
All children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – in the Maldives and around the world.
Throughout the years, UNICEF has altered its strategy to reflect the country’s progress, shifting our programs to address children’s most pressing needs. In the early 1980s, for example, we directly intervened in children’s lives, driving health boats around the islands to ensure every child had access to quality care. Today, we focus on strengthening the national and local systems that effect children, working with governments, civil society organizations, and youth themselves to create impact. In addition, we amplify children’s voices by engaging in policy and advocacy work, ensuring children and adolescents are constantly at the forefront of conversation.
We have also responded to floods, storms and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunamis, boosted knowledge and awareness through communications campaigns, and empowered young Maldivians through our volunteer program and other youth-focused initiatives. We strengthen systems and inform dialogue on topics that concern children, including health and well-being, learning, child protection, climate change and social protection, among others.
