Maldives Policy Think Tank -

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

A Decade of ‘Neighbourhood First’: India’s Maldives Gambit

by Eva Abdulla

The past 10 years have seen India navigate the ebbs and flows of Maldivian politics: from the ‘India-First’ stance of one government to the ‘#IndiaOut’ of another, Maldives has been a true litmus test for India’s Neighbourhood First policy.

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

Breaking the Implementation Gap: A Call for Transformative Change in Disability Rights in the Maldives

by Muawiyath Mohamed Didi

As someone who has spent over a decade advocating for disability rights in our island nation, I’ve witnessed firsthand how progressive legislation, while crucial, often fails to manifest as meaningful change in the lives of persons with disabilities.

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

Between Decree and Democracy: Muizzu’s Urban Centres and the Democratic Deficit

by Eva Abdulla

This unilateral approach to urban development, bypassing established planning frameworks and stakeholder engagement, signals a concerning gap between democratic principles and development planning.

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

Disability through a Different Lens

by Aishath Nazhath

The motto “Nothing About Us Without Us” relies on the principle of participation, and it has been used by Disabled Peoples Organizations throughout the years as part of the global movement to achieve full participation and equalization of opportunities for, by, and with persons with disabilities.

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

The Journey to Diagnosis: Living with an Invisible Disability

by Nazyha Alym

What made it such a challenge was that my disability was invisible, and it took years to get a proper diagnosis – something that’s unfortunately all too common for many people living with hidden conditions.

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

Why Lowering the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility in the Maldives is a Step Backward

by Jeehan Mahmood

Lowering the MACR would be a step backward for Maldivian society, abandoning principles of the best interest of the child and risking the well-being and future potential of the nation’s children.

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

Joe Public will always pay for the excesses of the state

by Athif Shakoor

In a very practical sense, we always pay for the excesses of the state, any state. We, the citizens pay for the ill-disciplined extravagances of the government either through explicit taxes, or due to the result of inflation and finally by contributing to repay national debt, in fact with interest.

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

Toward Fiscal Stability and Economic Resilience: Overcoming Misaligned Incentives in the Maldives’ Energy Sector

by Ahmed Saruvash Adam

The Maldives’ energy landscape is characterized by a heavy dependence on diesel fuel for electricity generation.

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

Old Concept, New Approach: If We Must Have National Development Plans

by Afshan Latheef

When we talk about national level long term development planning it is not surprising to focus on the ‘big stuff’. The million-dollar mega projects. The flamboyant renderings and images.

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

Guarding the Guardians: Why the Maldives Cannot Afford to Ignore the Right to Information

by Eva Abdulla

Freedom of information is an integral part of the fundamental right of freedom of expression, as expressed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the right to information underpins all other rights.

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

Bring Back the Dhow Route: The Resilience of the Indian Ocean Rim Ports

by Mohamed Nasheed

For centuries, Indian Ocean navigators, ship owners and merchants were the custodians of all the trade routes that crisscrossed their ocean.

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

Do we need a national dialogue on ‘adaptation focused population consolidation’ in the Maldives?

by Maeed M. Zahir

Due to their composition, the soil in these islands tend to be proorer, and from a human exposure standpoint, settelements face particular chanllenges such as coastal inundation by high tides, while fresh water remains scarce.

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

Women and Fiscal Reform: The Dawn of Austerity in the Maldives – Building Sustainable Alternatives

by Eva Abdulla

Austerity measures now grip 6.7 billion people globally, with international institutions identifying nearly 80 low- and middle-income countries in either debt distress or at risk of falling into it.

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

The Maldives 2025 Budget Through a Demographic Dividend Lens

by Jeehan Mahmood

This analysis explores the extent to which the Maldives’ 2025 Budget aligns with the key investments needed to maximize the demographic dividend, while also considering the impact of high debt levels and a significant fiscal deficit.

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

The Journey to Diagnosis: Living with an Invisible Disability

by Nazyha Alym

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

Virtual But Real: Digital violence against women in Maldives

by Jeehan Mahmood

Last week brought to light the Telegram nude content case in the Maldives serving as a glaring example of violence against women and girls in digital contexts, shedding light on the systemic gender-based violence occurring within online spaces.

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

Impact of Civic Apathy on Democracy: From the Maldives

by Afshan Latheef

Following the first democratic, multiparty elections held in the Maldives in 2008, the change of power was perceived as the end of an era and heralding a new one.

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

The Urban Development Bill: Undermining Decentralisation, Good Governance, SDGs and Risking Increased Corruption in the Maldives

by Eva Abdulla

The government of Maldives has introduced an “Urban Development Bill” to the Parliament. The proposed Bill, if passed in its current form, threatens to unravel years of progress towards decentralised governance and, thereby the Maldives’ path to building robust democratic institutions.

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

Maldives Adrift: Political Short-termism and Economic Peril in the Indian Ocean

by Eva Abdulla

At the heart of this crisis lies a troubling pattern: short-sighted political manoeuvres that prioritise immediate gains over long-term economic stability. This approach has not only jeopardised the nation’s fiscal health but has also set the stage for a potential economic meltdown that could rival or even surpass the challenges faced by our regional neighbours.

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

Fitch downgrades Maldives : Alarming Economic Freefall Looms

by Editorial team

The Maldives faces a precarious economic situation following Fitch’s downgrade to ‘CC’. With dwindling foreign exchange reserves and rising external debt, the country risks defaulting on its obligations.

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

Urban Development Bill; Is Local Governance Headed for Turbulent Waters?

by Afshan Latheef

For the local governance system in the Maldives, change appears to have been the only constant. The Decentralization Act has been revised and amended fervently throughout the period of its existence, over the past 14 years.

The Maldives’ Tightrope Walk: Balancing India-China Relations Amidst Mounting Debt

By Eva Abdulla

The Maldives finds itself at a critical juncture, navigating the turbulent waters of great power competition in the Indian Ocean.

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

by Afshan Latheef

There are cases where local governance is perceived to be failing, but a deeper study would reveal there are often other issues at play

Islands of Power – In Defence of Decentralised Governance in the Maldives

Maldives Gender Gap: Our Unfinished Business of 21st Century

by Jeehan Mahmood

It is, of course, frightfully alarming that the Sustainable Development Report 2024 tells us that we have regressed as a country in making sure our women have equal representation and participation in the labour force.

Focus Areas

The core of our work is conducting rigorous research and analysis on a wide range of policy issues, economic trends, and social developments. Our expertise and focus areas include:

Good governance

Promoting transparency, accountability, and efficiency in government institutions. We analyse governance structures and best practices from around the world to recommend reforms that enhance democracy, citizen participation, combat corruption, prevent torture, ensure compliance with the human rights treaties/mechanism and improve public service delivery.

Foreign Policy

Examining the Maldives’ international relations, diplomatic strategies, and regional alliances. We provide insights focused on crucial foreign policy and national security challenges facing the Maldives, offering strategic recommendations.

Decentralisation and Local Governance

Studying the effectiveness of local governance structures and decentralisation efforts. We propose strategies to empower local councils, and women’s development committees and improve service delivery at the atoll and island level.

SDGs

Assessing the Maldives’ progress towards Sustainable Development Goals. We identify challenges, opportunities, and policy interventions to accelerate the achievement of these global objectives.

Economic Trends

Monitoring and forecasting economic and financial developments in the Maldives. We provide analysis on key sectors, economic indicators, and policy recommendations to foster sustainable growth.

Social Issues

Investigating social challenges facing the Maldives, based on recent data and experiences. We propose policies addressing demographic shifts, including ageing population, youth unemployment, higher education demands, housing needs, and other emerging social concerns. We recommend policies to address gender disparities and promote inclusive development across all sectors.