Full steam ahead towards meeting sustainable energy objectives for the Maldives

March 3, 2024

Energy Mission meeting with H.E Thoriq Ibrahim of Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, Maldives and team

One of the major goals that came out from COP28(link is external), was to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030. At the sidelines of COP28(link is external), productive exchanges were held between UNDP(link is external) and the Government of Maldives, reflecting UNDP partnership with Maldives to achieve the country’s 33% Renewable Energy Goal by 2028. Joining forces with a consortium of partners is the key to reaching this ambitious milestone.

From March 3-7th, UNDP Maldives(link is external) is deploying a consortium of international expertise, the Energy Mission, with the objective to complement the Government's sustainable energy objectives and assess viability of investment opportunities for clean renewable energy initiatives for outer islands of Maldives and form new partnerships to advance renewable energy solutions. 

Energy Mission meeting with Special Envoy for Climate Change

The mission met with key partners and stakeholders in the energy front, including the Minister and technical team from the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, Maldives(link is external), Special Envoy for Climate Change, representatives from Ministries of Finance, Economic Development, Transport and Ministry of Tourism(link is external)Bank of Maldives(link is external), utility companies, and officials from the The World Bank(link is external)IFC - International Finance Corporation(link is external) and Asian Development Bank (ADB)(link is external) in the Maldives, as well as the UN Resident Coordinator in the Maldives. 

 

Energy Mission important strategic dialogue with The World Bank in Maldives

Energy Mission meeting with Ministry of Economic Development

Important guidance was received by Minister H.E Thoriq Ibrahim(link is external) of Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, Maldives(link is external) at the Energy Mission meeting aligning priorities to Government of Maldives' objectives. Building synergies and financing instruments remains key in achieving results to meet ambition of 33% transition to renewable energy.

At the meeting with ministries, the mission took a deep dive of current and future energy needs across development sectors, to unpack investment opportunities, financial instruments, sector specific interventions and energy security in financing for development. 
 

Energy Mission meeting with utilities companies

The Energy Mission held engaging conversations with Ali Shareef(link is external) Special Envoy for Climate Change, on diversification of energy landscape to achieve mitigation ambitions. 

The mission concluded with a field visit to purview to energy usage and demands in Maldivian communities. 

Update January 2025: Based on the mission's findings, UNDP has successfully mobilized funding through the Joint SDG Fund to accelerate the Maldives' transition to renewable energy. Under this Joint Programme, efforts will focus on exploring debt refinancing solutions to support the energy transition and developing project proposals to secure funding for renewable energy expansion initiatives. The programme will be implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Energy (MCCEE) throughout 2025.

Additionally, the programme includes a key component aimed at strengthening governance and enhancing the resource mobilization capacity of public trust funds to support the energy transition.
 

Photo: Ismail Mohamed/UNDP Maldives