ADB provides grant and technical assistance to build shelters for victims of domestic violence

Maldivian government, on Wednesday, signed a grant agreement of USD 7.5 million and technical assistance of USD 2.5 million with Asian Development Bank (ADB) for ADB’s ‘Strengthening Gender Inclusive Initiatives’ in the Maldives.

Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer signed the agreement on behalf of the Maldivian government. Meanwhile, Director of South Asia Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination Division Thiam Hee Ng signed the agreement on behalf of ADB.

The USD 7.5 million grant is from the Asian Development Fund, which provides grants to ADB’s lower-income developing member countries – while the technical assistance will be financed on a grant basis, with USD 500,000 from the ADB Technical Assistance Special Fund and USD 2 million from the Japan Special Fund.

ADB’s ‘Strengthening Gender Inclusive Initiatives’, the first holistic gender equality project by the bank in the Maldives, aims to minimize gender-based violence and remove barriers that prevent equal rights, participation, and social and economic benefits for women. 

As per the bank, the grant assistance will allow the Finance Ministry to integrate gender-responsive budgeting into the national budget system, and support efforts by the Maldives Bureau of Statistics to address critical gaps in the collection and use of gender statistics and data disaggregated by sex, age, and disability. 

Additionally, the grant assistance will be utilized to build climate-resilient shelters for victims of domestic and gender-based violence in Hulhumale’, Addu City and R. Ungoofaru. It will also strengthen the capacity of the social service system to provide aged care and early childcare services.