Launch of National Training Programme on Resilient Infrastructure

Viluntheri Binaaru - Strengthening Risk-Informed Local Planning in the Maldives

Malé, 24 June 2026: The Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (MIHUD), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Maldives and funded by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure's Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund (CDRI-IRAF) under the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) Programme, has launched a national training programme on resilient infrastructure and risk-informed local planning titled "Viluntheri Binaaru."

IRIS is CDRI's flagship programme supporting Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to achieve sustainable development through resilient and inclusive infrastructure systems.

The "Viluntheri Binaaru" programme aims to strengthen the capacity of local councils and technical officers to integrate climate and disaster risk considerations into infrastructure planning, development, and decision-making processes, contributing to safer, more sustainable, and resilient island communities across the Maldives.

This training comes at a particularly important time, as councils across the country are currently undertaking the preparation of their next five-year Island Development Plans. By equipping local authorities with practical tools, methodologies, and knowledge on risk-informed planning, the programme seeks to ensure that climate resilience is embedded within local development priorities and infrastructure investments from the outset.

The nationwide programme will be delivered through three regional workshops in Malé, Addu City, and Kulhudhuffushi, ensuring broad participation and equitable access to capacity-building opportunities for council representatives and technical officers from all atolls of the Maldives.

The opening ceremony in Malé was attended by the State Minister of MIHUD as Chief Guest, alongside the chair of the climate change committee of the parliament, representatives from the Local Government Authority (LGA), UNDP, CDRI and contributors to the Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund, including the Governments of India, Australia, and the United Kingdom, as well as the European Union.

Participants will be encouraged to apply the knowledge and tools gained through the training directly within local planning and decision-making processes, ensuring that the learning translates into tangible resilience outcomes on the ground and supports the development of more climate-resilient communities. The Maldives continues to face increasing exposure to climate hazards, including coastal flooding, erosion, storm surges, and extreme rainfall events, making resilient infrastructure planning a national priority. To support long-term institutionalisation and continued learning, all training modules will be digitised and made available through the Kiyeveni Portal within the next two months following the completion of the nationwide programme. This will provide ongoing access to learning resources for councils, government officials, and practitioners across the country.

The programme also introduces incentives for participation and application of learning. Completion of the training will contribute to the Council Performance Index monitored by the Local Government Authority (LGA) and will be recognised within individual performance appraisal processes in accordance with applicable Civil Service Commission guidelines.

The "Viluntheri Binaaru" programme forms part of broader efforts by MIHUD, UNDP, and CDRI to strengthen local governance, improve infrastructure resilience, and support sustainable and climate-resilient development in the Maldives.

"Resilience is not built through a single project or investment. It is built through the daily decisions of councils, planners, engineers, and communities. Through this initiative, we are investing in the knowledge, skills, and institutional capacity needed to ensure that risk-informed planning becomes part of how development decisions are made across the Maldives," said Adnan Cheema, UNDP Resident Representative in the Maldives.

UNDP Maldives extends its gratitude to the Governments of India, Australia, and the United Kingdom, and to the European Union, for their financial support through the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure's Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund (CDRI-IRAF).

About CDRI: Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is a global coalition dedicated to enhancing the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks. CDRI's membership includes national governments, international organizations, and businesses collaborating to share knowledge, conduct research, and invest in disaster resilient infrastructure. Members benefit from access to global expertise, funding, technical support, research opportunities, innovative solutions, and international best practices.