Maldives GCC Quarterly Performance Report (January-March 2012)

The project's objective is to demonstrate processes and outcomes that enable Maldives island communities to mitigate the impacts of global climate change. The project provides assistance to the Government of the Maldives, primarily through the Ministry of Housing and Environment, as well as to island councils, provincial utilities, and residents of two northern islands, Hinnavaru and Dhidhdhoo. The project aims to build central and local government capacity for long-term and integrated planning, as well as build capacity among island residents, local governments, provincial utilities, and responsible national ministries. This will enable adaptive management at each level, allowing the Maldives to prepare for climate variability. The project is the second major USAID initiative in the Maldives, following a $12 million relief and reconstruction effort after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. The project's implementation is led by Chemonics International Inc., and activities during the second quarter focused on establishing the project's operational platform, conducting key assessments, and identifying and organizing the implementation of initial technical activities on both islands. Technical activities and deliverables included completing and submitting draft reports for two key assessments, conducting the Social and Community Development assessment, and initiating background studies and assessments needed for the Utility Management Plans. Program support activities and deliverables included establishing a fully functional project office and administration system within the Ministry of Housing and Environment, establishing field offices on the target islands, and mobilizing Island Coordinators to operate these offices. The project administration, finance, and operational functions are now capable of fully supporting technical activities. Chemonics also completed and submitted revised drafts of all planning documents, including the Grants Manual and Management Plan, Annual Program Statement to solicit grants, Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan, and Performance Management Plan. The project is on schedule with six of the nine activities scheduled to be addressed during the second quarter, with three activities a few weeks behind schedule. Corrective action will be taken to realign them according to the work plan. Next quarter, Chemonics will implement sets of rapid, high-profile, and immediate-impact activities on both islands, including training workshops, grants, and small-scale construction related to expanding communal rainwater storage in Dhidhdhoo, and collaboration with the Maldives Environmental Management Project to construct and equip a solid waste collection and processing facility in Hinnavaru.