Frontier Dialogues

The new series of Frontier Dialogues this week features Abdulla Shafeeu, founder of Vaahaka.com. This Frontier Dialogue will be hosted in Dhivehi by Hussain Rasheed, UNDP Maldives Accelerator Lab’s Head of Experimentation.

This week on Frontier Dialogues - we have with us, Mohamed Mazin to speak about enabling and inclusive workplaces for persons with disabilities.

On this episode of Frontier Dialogues our host Fernando Galindo talks to Ali Adam from Maldives Association of HR Professionals (MAHRP) on  Unpacking the issue of high percentage of NEETs in the Maldives.

This episode of Frontier Dialogues is part of the Maldives AccLab  First Learning Cycle focusing on exclusions in the labor market in the country. We are currently working with many national actors to unpack the issue and co-design solutions. Under this exploratory frame and the celebration of International women's day, we want to dedicate this episode to explore Gender in the Workplace in the Maldives. That’s why today we have a special guest: Fathimath Shaazleen, who has extensive experience in the hospitality and tourism industry in the Maldives and abroad.

In this episode of Frontier Dialogues, our host Fernando Galindo, who is also the  Innovation, Research, and Development Lead at UNDP Maldives is joined by the UNDP Maldives Accelerator Lab team, comprising of  Maldivian development practitioners: Khadeeja Hamid (Head of Solutions  Mapping), Hussain Rasheed (Head of Experimentation) and Fathimath Lahfa  (Head of Exploration). The Maldives Accelerator Lab, which is being launched on March 13th,  is joining a global network of UNDP Accelerator Labs working to re-imagine innovative approaches developed for the 21st Century.

The first episode of 2021 of Frontier Dialogues has UNDP Resident  Representative in the Maldives Akiko Fujii talking to UNDP Maldives  Innovation Lead Fernando Galindo about the Maldivian Innovation Journey in 2020 and the setting up of the UNDP Maldives Accelerator Lab, as well  as innovative development, approaches for the 21st century.

Our last episode of the year finds our hosts Fernando & Khady talking to Ms. Akiko Fujii, Resident Representative of UNDP Maldives about her reflection on the year. Ms. Akiko explores the biggest challenges faced IN 2020, how UNDP adapted to those challenges and how this informs future actions.

In this episode of #FrontierDialogues,  our hosts Fernando and Khady chat with Dr. Arvind Mathur, the  Representative of WHO in the Maldives. Dr. Arvind reflects on 2020, WHO’s response in the Maldives to the Covid-19, and how the pandemic has shaped the role of WHO in the international arena. Dr. Arvind also talks about the COVAX initiative and what we could expect from that in 2021.

This week on Frontier Dialogues we talk to Dr. M. Munir A.  Safieldin, UNICEF Representative to the Maldives who reflects on 2020,  discuss the role of UNICEF in response to COVID-19 in the Maldives, and  innovati ons in education.

This week we have a special episode of Frontier Dialogues with Ms.  Catherine Haswell, the UN Resident Coordinator joining us to reflect on  2020, discuss the role of the UN system in responding to the COVID-19  pandemic in the Maldives, and explore the implications of this pandemic and the Maldives’ role in multinational cooperation.

This week on Frontier Dialogues we have with us Hulwa Khaleel, the  Project Coordinator for IDEAS in the Maldives - an NGO partner of the  Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Small Grant Programme (SGP),  implemented by UNDP. Hulwa has worked with IDEAS on a voluntary basis to manage projects and drive outreach. She has experience in the education sector working on nationwide vocational education and environmental education programs.

This week on Frontier Dialogues we have with us Mohamed Zubair  (Zubair) on behalf of FAAM Foundation- recipient of UNDP and the Global  Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) fund. In this episode, Zubair shares information about the work of FAAM and his passion and commitment to finding innovative and sustainable solutions to the development challenges of his community. He talks about what the  NGO is doing under the GEF-SGP and UNDP-supported 'Kihaadhoo Goes  Organic' project as well as the importance of making a shift to more nature-friendly ways of farming.

This week on Frontier Dialogues we talk to Ahmed Shafiu, the  President of NGO Dhivehi Masverin (Maldives Fishermen). We discuss the story behind Dhivehi Masverin, the effects of COVID-19 for fishermen, as well as the progress of their projects supported by the Global Environment  Facility Small Grants Programme and UNDP.

This week on Frontier Dialogues we talk to Shuhad Ibrahim, who works as a Trade & Investment Consultant at the Ministry of Economic  Development, about his work on the Rapid Livelihood Assessment Report and his thoughts on the crisis and possible ways forward.

This week on Frontier Dialogues we talk to Dr. Assela Pathirana who has worked in the sector of climate and water security for more than 20  years. Currently, Dr. Assela works for UNDP as Chief Technical  Advisor-Water Engineering for the project 'Supporting Vulnerable  Communities in the Maldives to Manage Climate change-induced Water  Shortages', implemented by the Ministry of Environment of the Maldives.  Dr. Assela talks about issues that Maldivian islands face when it comes  to potable water accessibility and how UNDP is collaborating with the  Ministry of Environment to address these issues. Dr. Assela also highlights how digital tools help to effectively manage precious natural resources like groundwater lenses.