Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works Adam Shareef Umar has said the most significant achievement of the decentralisation system to date is the level of public acceptance it has gained, as the framework marks 15 years since its introduction in the Maldives.

Speaking at a meeting to celebrate Decentralisation Day, the minister said the early years of the system were marked by challenges, including limited public awareness of how decentralisation would improve service delivery and questions over institutional readiness to operate within a multi-party political environment.

The minister said decentralisation remains the governance model closest to communities and called on all state ministries and institutions to recognise local councils as the primary service delivery partners in island communities. He said councils play a central role in connecting Government services with the public and should be treated as key partners in implementation.

Highlighting the importance of public participation, the minister said the current Administration has sought to strengthen engagement with communities, noting that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has consulted local councils and residents during visits to islands to gather public input on development priorities.

The minister said the decentralisation system has progressed steadily over the past 15 years despite initial difficulties, adding that expanded access to services reflects the Government’s approach of governing closer to communities. He pointed to the nationwide rollout of ATM services as one example of services being brought closer to island residents.

The ministry has formulated five policy frameworks to further strengthen decentralised governance, including measures to improve the financial capacity of councils, expand their role in service delivery, and enhance transparency and accountability through greater public participation. Additional policies aim to improve service quality through the use of technology and ICT tools, and to strengthen coordination between councils and the Local Government Authority.

Citing a study conducted by the Maldives National University in 2016, the minister said public perception of the decentralisation system has become increasingly positive, reflecting growing acceptance of the model among communities.

He added that the Government will continue encouraging State institutions and the public to work collaboratively to strengthen decentralised governance and improve community-level service delivery.