| Regional Development Project, Phase 1 |
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| Project Summary |
| The population of
Maldives was around 267,000 in 1998, spread among 200 inhabited
islands (1,000 islands are inhabited). About 63,000 people or 24
percent of the population live on the island capital Male’, one of
the most densely populated places in the world with 360 persons per
hectare. The Northern Development Region (NDR), which consists of
Haa Alif, Haa Dhaalu, and Shaviyani atolls, has a registered
population of about 45,000; the Southern Development Regions (SDR),
which consists of Gaafu Alif, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, and Seenu
atolls, have about 56,000.
The project will provide for more equitable development of the Maldives through focused regional efforts in the NDR and SDR. The institutional, infrastructure, and environmental improvements will provide a better standard of living for the people in these regions far from the capital Male’, the recipient of most development in the past. The NDR and SDR were chosen because both had the potential for establishing the critical mass needed for economic growth. Focus islands are determined primarily on the basis of population where implementation of development could be the most cost-effective. |
| The Project includes a balance of institutional, infrastructure, and environmental improvements in focus islands. Specifically, the main components are |
| (i) regional development and management offices in both the NDR and SDR, |
| (ii) upgrading of a 10.5 km road from Gan to Hithadhoo, |
| (iii) enhancement of rainwater collection and sanitation, |
| (iv) establishing solid waste management, |
| (v) opening up ocean-to-lagoon water flows, and |
| (vi) environmental monitoring. |
| The Project Description,
Scope, Institutional, Social, Physical and Environmental
Improvements described in this Website provides information about
the first phase of the FIRST REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT which is
financed under a loan from the Special Fund Resources of the Asian
Development Bank (ADB), and co-financed by the Islamic Development
Bank (IDB).
Implementation of the Asian Development Bank financed component of the project commenced in May 2000. |