Vice President Faisal Naseem and United Nations Resident Coordinator to Maldives, Catherine Haswell, have held discussions on strengthening social sector services in the country.

The two met at the President’s Office on Thursday morning, along with UNICEF Resident Representative Dr. Munir Safieldin. Special Adviser on Social Policy at the President’s Office, Dr. Mustafa Lutfi, Secretary of Foreign Relations, Sabra Ibrahim Noordeen, and Under Secretary, Aishath Nazhath also attended the meeting.

At the meeting, the UN Resident Coordinator reiterated the UN’s “commitment towards collaborating with the government to further strengthen the Maldives’ social sector” and highlighting the importance “of human resource development, building resilience and management and coordination among all stakeholders”.

Haswell also praised the government's efforts in managing the Covid-19 pandemic and discussed issues concerning the wider health sector.

VP Naseem thanked the UN Country Team’s “continued support provided throughout the years” especially the “generous assistance in dealing with the Covid-19 emergency relief efforts”.

Back in July, Haswell and Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid signed two projects worth over USD 1.7 million; the first projects costs USD 1.4 million and will support the operation of an Integrated National Finance Framework (INFF) process in the Maldives while the second one, was signed for USD 360,000, for the mobilization by the Government and UN Maldives from the first round of the UN Covid-19 Response and Recovery Multi-Partner Trust Fund.