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On Thursday, 29th September IPNLF-Maldives launched the project on “Increasing Economic Benefits for Women Fisherfolk in the Maldives” at an inception event held in Ga. Gemanafushi.
The launching event held at the Zero Beach on the southern end of Gemanafushi Island was an open event held with the
support of the Island Council where over 70 participants were present from the Island community, NGOs, Women Development Committee, government institutions and Business Centre Corporation (BCC) by the Ministry of Economic Development, Maldives.
The inception event held after completing the baseline study for the project, was also used to brief the stakeholders about the project goals and how the activities will be rolled out during the project duration.
Invitees from BCC also informed the participants about the business opportunities available in the Maldives and the work of BCC, and about various ongoing projects.
Funded by the Ocean Innovative Challenge by the UNDP, this 2-year project aims to increase economic benefits for women fisherfolk in the Maldives by giving them direct access to the seafood market, enabling them to have agency to capture their own production and sales data, and supporting them with a consistent income in a post-pandemic world. By the implementation of this project it is also expected to increase local GDP of the fisher community while evidencing women’s economic role in the local economy and community.
An important Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF) Maldives and Ministry of Economic Development (MoED) to collaboratively enhance the protection of migrant workers, through worker voice and empowerment.
The MoU sees both organisations commit to exploring opportunities to collaboratively engage in activities and share information that furthers the promotion of social and economic benefits of Maldives tuna fishing. A key activity of this MoU will be for IPNLF to provide support and assistance in facilitating multi-language translation services to the contents on the online platform and mobile application for expatriate workers being developed by MoED.
IPNLF will facilitate training on handling of grievance mechanisms as specified in the MoU and should provide greater assurance that fair working conditions are in place in the Maldivian tuna fishery, therefore meeting social responsibility requirements of the marketplace.
| “The Maldives pole-and-line fishery is extremely important on a national and international level and it is essential that workers are protected. In the longer term, IPNLF’s work collecting social data and implementing social responsibility improvements will help inform fisheries management strategies for a more equitable future.”
— Dr Shiham Adam Director for Science and the Maldives – IPNLF Maldives “We are excited to be working with IPNLF-Maldives on migrant workers issues, something we have been discussing for some time now. We hope to launch our platform with multilingual translations, rules and regulations relating to migrant workers in the Maldives” |
— Mariyam Nazima
Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Economic Development, Maldives
Please find the press release and more information on the details of the MoU via this link.
In April 2022, IUCN awarded IPNLF the consultancy work to conduct a tuna live bait survey in selected islands of Gaafu Alifu and Gaafu Dhaalu Atolls. The aim of the survey was to capture and understand the changes to the live bait fishery, resource 
usage over the past decade, current patterns in the fishery, and recording key fishing grounds, species and fishing methods associated with those fishing grounds.
The survey was carried out through one-to-one interviews with tuna fishers using a questionnaire. Four trips were made from May to September 2022, to cover the proposed islands of Ga and G.Dh Atoll with a total of 50 tuna fishing vessels from eleven islands of these two atolls.
We’re delighted to announce the joining of Ms Ubaida Raheema on 09 October 2022 as Programme Manager, Maldives. Ubaida (lovingly referred to as Ubi) is deeply passionate about the development of local communities and empowering women through sustainable development. She has previously worked as a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist for COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project funded by the World Bank and co-financed by ADB. With over 7 years of experience in management and administration, she has a bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Masters in Travel and Tourism Management.
She will be working with the project on Increased Economic Returns from Women Processors on Gemanafushi Island. She would also be actively involved in human rights and social due diligence, related projects in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development
Dr M. Shiham Adam