arrow-circle arrow-down-basicarrow-down arrow-left-small arrow-left arrow-right-small arrow-right arrow-up arrow closefacebooklinkedinsearch twittervideo-icon

City Spotlight: Fuvahmulah, Maldives

Fuvahmulah is the second southernmost atoll in the country and the third most populous island, with 11,000 residents. The Fuvahmulah City Council, which appoints the Mayor, comprises six district councils. The City Council governs the local administration, with each district led by a Councillor. Fuvahmulah became a member of Strong Cities following its participation in the South Asia Regional Hub’s August 2023 workshop on inclusive, city-led approaches to hate and extremism prevention in Columbo, Sri Lanka.

What is the local government concerned about?

Fuvahmulah grapples with a range of challenges common to urban areas in island nations. For instance, climate change, including rising sea levels, coastal erosion and extreme weather events, poses existential threats to the city’s infrastructure and the well-being of its inhabitants. The city also grapples with how to maintain unity among its diverse population and ensure inclusive decision-making. Economic disparities and limited access to resources further exacerbate these challenges, leading to feelings of disenfranchisement and marginalisation. Young people, in particular, are affected by increasing poverty and unemployment. This creates fertile ground for the spread of violent extremist ideologies to take root, making Fuvahmulah vulnerable to the influence of violent extremist groups and hateful narratives.

Equally important, there is a concern about the lack of practical coordination between national and local authorities, which impedes the City’s ability to effectively address and mitigate these threats. The local government recognises the need for both improved national-local cooperation and support from international partners to build resilience against these threats and safeguard social cohesion.

How is the local government responding?

The Fuvahmulah City Council has implemented several initiatives to promote peace, security and social cohesion. Although still evolving, their approach aims to mitigate the risks associated with social divisions and violent extremist ideologies. With support from regional and international organisations, the City Council actively engages community stakeholders in constructive activities, offering educational and awareness programmes. Their goals are to address underlying grievances, which if left to fester might lead fuel radicalisation to violence and foster an inclusive environment where all atoll residents can thrive.

To help achieve these goals, the local government has received training to allow it to launch inclusive governance projects. For example, Fuvahmulah officials participated in the ‘Eejaadhu’ Council Innovation Challenge, an initiative organised by the Local Government Authority and the United Nations Development Programme in the Maldives, which aims to empower local councils to make a positive change in their communities. Officials brainstormed and developed innovative ideas on the creative use of public spaces for the community, establishing participatory democratic processes and increasing women’s participation in politics, and the civic and economic sphere.

The City Council also promotes dialogue and cooperation with and among different social groups, prioritising youth engagement through programmes focused on education, employment and community involvement. It has also included various civil society organisations and youth council committees to contribute to large-scale initiatives and participate in consultations and forums to ensure accountability, inclusivity and transparency in local government decisions and policymaking.

To encourage women’s participation in economic and public spheres, the City Council established a Women Development Committee (WDC), composed of one female member from each of the six districts. The Council allocates 5% of its annual budget to the WDC to support its activities. This includes providing a workplace and resources to implement the Committee’s work plan. One notable national campaign, ‘Kurimagu’, which is implemented with local government support, aims to raise awareness about and address domestic violence, as well as empower women in social, economic and public life.

The City recognises that collaboration with the national government and international organisations is crucial for implementing effective extremism prevention strategies, including by providing financial and administrative support for ‘at-risk’ individuals. With this in mind, the City is co-organising with the National Counter Terrorism Centre capacity building and awareness-raising workshops on prevention and partners with state agencies in deploying youth empowerment programmes. The City Council has also developed initiatives and programmes to improve residents’ wellbeing. For instance, it offers training programmes to equip residents with skills to improve their economic prospects and introduced a microfinance scheme to help home-based and small businesses to launch or expand.

What’s next?

Fuvahmulah City plans to continue implementing development projects to address the above challenges. This includes finalising ongoing infrastructure projects such as road construction, harbour improvements and waste management initiatives and exploring economic diversification opportunities.

The City seeks to collaborate with various stakeholders, including civil society and community-based organisations, to engage its residents to better map and understand their needs and concerns. Additionally, it is aiming to address key prevention needs through strengthened national-local cooperation. For example, in March 2022, Fuvahmulah City Council officials met with the Maldives’ President and parliamentary representatives in the capital, Male, to discuss the city and community’s needs and concerns as well as to advocate for the establishment of a city-level training centre and vocational education facility to enhance local skills and employment opportunities, especially for youth and women. These initiatives would enhance economic opportunity and inclusivity and address key drivers that can lead residents to violent extremism or other malign behaviour.

Is your city a Strong City?

Strong Cities membership is open to local authorities at the city, municipal or other subnational level. Membership is free of charge.