Building a Culture of Preparedness
The Hushiyaaru Campaign is a national initiative led by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of the Maldives, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC), and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and national partners
It represents a united national effort toward “Building a Disaster-Resilient Maldives” — a shared vision to strengthen preparedness, empower communities, and reduce disaster and climate-related risks across all islands.
The campaign embodies Priority 4 of the Maldives Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy 2024–2030: Empowering Communities for Effective Response, underscoring that real resilience begins at the community level.
A Unified Campaign for Safer Islands
Hushiyaaru (ހުޝިޔާރު), meaning Preparedness in Dhivehi, is designed as a unifying campaign to bring together government institutions, humanitarian partners, civil society, and local communities under one cohesive framework.
It aligns communication efforts, strengthens early action, and enhances public awareness on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), emergency preparedness, and climate resilience.
Through NDMA’s coordination and leadership, Hushiyaaru seeks to:
Create a common national platform for preparedness and risk communication.
Encourage collaboration between key partners and island councils.
Ensure that all public communication on preparedness carries a consistent, reliable, and inclusive message.
Promote community participation, volunteerism, and leadership in resilience-building activities.
Developed Under a Global Initiative
The Hushiyaaru platform forms part of the Disaster and Climate Risk Informed Development in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) project — a joint regional initiative implemented by UNDP to strengthen resilience in the Maldives, Seychelles, and Timor-Leste.
The project enhances early warning systems, community preparedness, and risk-informed governance, while ensuring that gender equality and inclusion remain at the heart of resilience-building efforts.
By integrating disaster and climate risk management into everyday governance, the initiative helps small island nations adapt to a changing climate and safeguard their people, ecosystems, and economies.
Powered by Global Partnership
The Hushiyaaru platform, and the broader SIDS project, are made possible through the generous contributions of the Governments of Denmark, Luxembourg, and the Republic of Korea, via UNDP’s Funding Windows — a flexible global funding mechanism that enables swift, comprehensive, and sustainable action in response to emerging challenges.
How the Campaign Works
The Hushiyaaru Campaign operates through a coordinated workflow led by NDMA and supported by its partners.
The process includes:
Strategic Coordination: A central team defines campaign themes, priorities, and outreach methods.
Content Development: Partner agencies create toolkits, educational materials, and multimedia assets aligned with national guidelines.
Stakeholder Engagement: Collaboration with island councils, schools, media, and local organizations to ensure inclusive participation.
Community Outreach: Delivery through island events, local media, and social platforms.
Monitoring and Learning: Use of key indicators to measure engagement, awareness, and preparedness levels over time.
Where You Can Engage
The Hushiyaaru Campaign reaches people through multiple channels designed for accessibility and inclusivity:
Hushiyaaru Website: A centralized digital hub for hazard information, preparedness guides, and learning tools.
Social Media: Regular updates, awareness messages, and campaign highlights across platforms.
Community Events: Island-level awareness days, school programs, and volunteer activities promoting preparedness.
Local Media: Radio, TV, and newspapers to share key safety messages in Dhivehi and English.
Together for a Resilient Maldives
Hushiyaaru is more than a campaign — it is a movement to build a culture of preparedness across the Maldives.
Every island, school, and community plays a vital role in ensuring that when disasters strike, the country is ready to respond, recover, and rebuild stronger than before.
Preparedness saves lives. Collaboration builds resilience. Hushiyaaru unites both.