MISSION REPORT - MALDIVES
Prepared
by:
Consultant
on Community Development
UNDP-OPS
Integrated Atoll Development Programme
March
1989
MISSION REPORT
For discussion with the MAA
Project Section
18 March 1989
Male, Maldives
Recommendations
1.1
Encourage full discussion of the revised plan at the IDAC
level. Welcome revisions. The objective lies to broaden participation
in local development planning and implementation to ensure IADP objectives will
further take root among the people in the coverage areas.
1.2
Provide channels for feed backing changes in the plan from
the IDAC level to the Atoll authorities.
Encourage the Atoll Chief to schedule discussion of the revised plans in
a meeting of the ADAC.
1.3
Devise a simple monitoring system at the Atoll office to
enable Atoll chief to get prompt information on project progress.
1.4
Make sure IADP progress report is included in the agenda
of ADAC meetings.
2.1
Have an inventory of specific tasks performed by the UNV
for the project. Identify particular
individuals, units and agencies which can begin to undertake the tasks. Spreading out the tasks and responsibilities
at all levels of planning and implementation is a necessary precondition for
institutionalizing the IADP.
2.2
The matching of specific tasks with the knowledge,
attitude, and skills (KAS) level of particular individuals who will undertake
them is a priority action item for the UNV and his partners in government at
atoll, island, and ministry levels.
2.3
The perceived gaps between the specific tasks and KAS
level of each participant/actor in this institutionalization process will serve
as basis for training activities aimed precisely at closing these gaps.
2.4
Define specific roles for the project’s “allies.” They can serve as a viable support system
for the institutionalization process.
Mobilize support from sectors not directly involved in the project. Initially, share information with them.
3.1
Based on observation during the field visits, their
training program can be built into a 3-day quarterly plan review session. All the IDACs need not be trained in one quarter;
rather the training can be spread out to three or more quarters.
3.2
Actual experience in plan implementation by the IDAC
during a quarter will provide the basis for the training inputs. In this way, training builds on the
collective experience of the participants.
Theory-building is linked to the practical aim of making development
plans work at local level.
3.3
Utilizing the current strong interest and involvement of
island communities in projects, the training program can be a modular
Simplified Project Development Course designed specifically for the IDACs.
3.4
For the ADAC, a modular Simplified Project Management
Course can be prepared with emphasis on refining monitoring and coordination
skills.
3.5
Details on these courses will be worked out later.
Proposed
case studies-
4.1
The local-level planning process of IADP at the Meeme
Atoll
4.2
Technology transfer in Atoll communities
4.3
Mobilizing local support:
In-depth study of a coverage island where community support is strong
4.4
Setting-up support mechanism to local initiatives
These
case studies can be used both for advocacy and training purposes.
NMP
DRAFT REPORT
For discussion with the MAA
Projects Section
18 March 1989
Male, Maldives
-----------------------------
Field Visit to Meeme Atoll
Out
of 9 islands in the project area, 6 were visited during the period March 9-15
(Dhiggaru, Maduvarri, Nalafushi, Muli, Mulaku, and Kolufushi).
The
other islands (Raymandhu, Veyvah, and Nadifushi) were represented by their
respective island chief during the ADAC meeting held in Meeme on March 11.
At
each island visited, a structured interview with either the Island Chief or his
assistant was conducted. Each interview
was preceded by an observation tour of the island, taking into account the
general situation, as well as the status of specific projects. If time allowed, other individuals were
sought for additional information.
A dialogue with the IDAC in
Dhiggaru was conducted to gain more insight into local planning and
participatory processes in project implementation.
FINDINGS
-
Majority of the islands visited used the 1987 development
plan as guide to project implementation.
-
Most of the activities listed in the plan are either
on-going or have been implemented.
-
Most of the island leaders interviewed could cite the
status of each project component and activity and pinpoint the constraints
encountered.
-
While each Island Chief showed awareness of the plan
content, there was no indication that the plan itself was formally discussed
during IDAC meetings.
-
Prior to early 1989 when another planning workshop was
conducted, there had been no revision done on the plan despite a number of
activities initiated by the community and the local leadership in support of
IADP objectives.
-
Most of the IDACs meet once a month. The IDAC meets a) upon the instruction of
the Atoll chief; b) when the Island Chief calls for it; c) to raise funds or
solicit labor from the community; and d) when “problem arise.”
-
In Muli where the Atoll office is located, authority for
island affairs seems to have vested on the Atoll Chief as well. The IDAC in Muli rarely meets.
-
In some islands, there may be two persons designated as Island
Chief. A third person acts as committee
chairman.
-
IDAC membership ranges from 12 to 21, 50% of whom were
appointed by the Atoll Chief. Members
selected by either the Island Chief or the community may be changed after a
year of service, while those appointed by the Atoll Chief are generally
retained for longer period.
-
The local leaders in the project area showed tremendous
capacity in mobilizing community support in terms of cash or labor.
-
Like in other atolls, not all islands in Meeme are
represented in the ADAC.
-
The Atoll Chief performs a vital role of providing
day-to-day supervision to the various island units.
-
Matters most often discussed during ADAC meetings include
problems, official or otherwise, brought to the Atoll Chief’s attention by any
committee member.
-
In all the islands visited, infrastructure projects
dominate the concerns of local leaders and community residents. The community is expected to contribute
either labor or cash.
-
To ensure that community labor is available, the Island
Chief often mobilizes dhoni owners to utilize crewmembers for construction
work.
-
The Women’s Committee seems inactive in the project area.
-
Projects initiated by the IADP have high visibility at
each island. This has both advantages
and disadvantages as far as institution-building is concerned.
-
Both local leaders and the community residents have
difficulty describing who are the poor.
-
The Atoll Education Center has been made fully operational
in Meeme. Its classroom facilities can
be used for community activities. A
headmaster, trained in Malaysia, have been assigned to the area.
-
The Meeme-based regional hospital serves neighboring
islands. Local nurses and attendants
now undergo on-the-job training.
-
Projects are now starting to demand greater investment of
time and efforts on the part of the Island Chief.
-
Video cinemas continue to draw nightly crowds in most
islands.
-
Grocery shops or stores are new fixtures in the Atoll
landscape. Their shelves carry packaged
junk foods- among other items.
-
A solar-powered domestic and international telephone
exchange is being set up in Kolufushi.
-
A fish-processing center has been set up in Meeme. It will be operational soon.
NMP 18 March 1989
Male, Maldives