Maldives, JICA sign USD 10.5M grant for Male city seawall resilience

On Tuesday, Maldives and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a Grant Agreement for the Project for Disaster Resilience Enhancement in Male' city (Construction Phase). 

The agreement, valued at 1.56 billion Japanese Yen (approximately USD 10.5 million), will fund upgrades to Male' seawalls and provide advanced stormwater drainage equipment to mitigate risks from high waves and heavy rainfall.

The signing follows an Exchange of Notes on July 26 this year between Maldives and Japan, aiming to strengthen disaster preparedness in the capital to protect residents, economic activities, and community resilience. 

The ceremony, hosted by the Ministry of Finance and Planning, saw Deputy Minister Hassan Miras sign for the Maldives and Taki Motoo, JICA Maldives Office Resident Representative, for JICA. Japan’s Ambassador to the Maldives, Ishigami Rumiko, joined senior officials from the Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, and Construction, Housing and Infrastructure.

Taki highlighted Japan’s decades-long support, noting that seawalls built between 1988 and 2006 saved Male' during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. He said the new project will enhance these defenses with modern drainage systems. 

Deputy Minister Miras emphasized the project’s critical role in addressing growing climate-driven water threats, ensuring safety and economic stability for Male' city residents.

The Maldives government expressed heartfelt gratitude to Japan and JICA for their ongoing commitment to the nation’s resilience and sustainable development.