The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in collaboration with the Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC) and the Kulhudhuffushi City Council, successfully concluded the First North Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) 2025 held from 19–20 May 2025 in Kulhudhuffushi City.
This landmark regional forum served as a key platform to strengthen local-level disaster governance, promote dialogue among councils and national agencies, and enhance coordination in disaster risk reduction and preparedness efforts across the northern region of the Maldives.
In her opening address, the NDMA Chief Executive Hisan Hassan emphasized the government’s continued commitment to building resilient communities through collaborative partnerships, localized planning, and capacity strengthening. He underscored that empowering local councils is essential to ensuring communities are better prepared to prevent, respond to, and recover from disasters.
Strengthening Local Capacity for Resilience
The North Regional DRR Platform brought together over 75 participants, including representatives from local councils across Haa Alif, Haa Dhaalu, and Shaviyani Atolls, as well as local leaders, response agencies, and key national and regional partners.
Over the course of the two-day event, participants engaged in plenary discussions and interactive sessions focused on:
Integrating DRR into local development planning;
Enhancing data collection and disaster loss reporting;
Strengthening community-based preparedness and early warning systems;
Sharing practical lessons learned from recent emergency response operations.
These discussions highlighted the importance of multi-sectoral coordination and community participation in shaping effective disaster management strategies.
A Collaborative Approach to National Resilience
The platform also served as a space to foster collaboration and shared learning among government agencies, councils, and community organizations. Participants shared innovative approaches to resilience-building, local response mechanisms, and best practices in preparedness and recovery.
NDMA reaffirmed its commitment to continue supporting local councils in developing and implementing resilient and inclusive disaster management plans, in alignment with national DRR priorities and the National Resilience Framework.
The insights and recommendations from this forum will inform NDMA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen regional coordination mechanisms and advance disaster preparedness across the Maldives, ensuring that local communities remain at the center of national resilience-building efforts.