Review of the decentralization framework in the Maldives

Abstract

The Review of the Decentralisation Framework in the Maldives is produced with the purpose of empowering local communities and strengthening local governance. This review seeks to understand the historical context and experiences of decentralisation during the past few decades, with the aim of informing policy actions of Transparency Maldives and other actors. The review explores the legal and structural framework of decentralisation as well as experiences of local government officials including elected councillors and administrative staff of local councils. The review discusses Maldives’ governance systems of the past decades, from monarchy to republic, back to autocracy and finally the adoption of a democratic Constitution in 2008. Governance of the islands, dimensions of decentralisation, the Decentralisation Act and the amendments brought to it, Local Council Elections, governance of councils and the Local Government Authority (LGA), and challenges faced by the decentralisation system are analysed in the review. Local Government Authority, civil society, representatives of the government, and councillors were interviewed for the review