Consultation meetings on the National Development Plan (NDP) have now been held in 50 percent of all inhabited islands.
The NDP is a 20-year blueprint currently under development to shape the Maldives' long-term future. Rooted in national aspirations, it seeks to steer the country towards resilience, equity, and transformative progress.
The formulation of the NDP is an inclusive, nationally driven process designed to determine the Maldives’ development trajectory over the twenty-year period, drawing input from communities across all islands. The consultation process for the NDP 2045 began in mid-September, and also involves meetings with various agencies and associations.
Oversight of the plan’s formulation has been entrusted to Nexia Maldives, a local consultancy firm operating independently under government supervision. Ten teams have been dispatched across the country to facilitate dialogue with communities and stakeholders.
The Resilient Maldives team said that the consultation meetings have been conducted in approximately 100 islands, representing half of all inhabited islands. Nexia Maldives said it has so far visited all islands in 10 atolls to engage with residents and gather their views.
The atolls where the consultations have been held are:
• Addu City
• Fuvahmulah City
• Laamu Atoll
• Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
• Haa Alifu Atoll
• Vaavu Atoll
• Alifu Dhaalu Atoll
• Meemu Atoll
• Lhaviyani Atoll
Consultations are currently underway in six additional atolls: Gaafu Alifu, Alifu Alifu, Noonu, Raa and Baa Atoll. Meetings in the remaining atolls are scheduled to commence soon.
The primary objective of the NDP is to formulate a vision for how the Maldives will develop over the next 20 years. The plan will take into account changes in the Maldives’ population and lifestyle, environmental, infrastructural and technological changes. Consultations are expected to be completed by the end of October, with the government aiming to launch the full plan in January 2026.
The NDP is a legally binding long-term framework and is considered a cornerstone in the country’s ambition to achieve developed nation status by 2045.