The Government and the United Nations in the Maldives have convened the first Joint Steering Committee (JSC) meeting to begin formulating the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for 2027–2031.

This meeting marked the beginning of a new phase of strategic collaboration between the two parties, aimed at aligning UN support with national priorities and accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States (ABAS).

The JSC serves as the governing body for the UN Cooperation Framework and is co-chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office. Its membership comprises senior Government ministry representatives alongside UN agencies, funds, and programmes operating across the Maldives. The committee meets annually to review progress, assess emerging challenges, and provide high-level strategic guidance for the effective implementation of the framework.

During the meeting, the JSC reviewed the roadmap for developing the new UNSDCF, drawing on key inputs including the final evaluation of the 2022–2026 framework and the UN Country Analysis. The review highlighted both the progress achieved and the ongoing challenges in advancing the SDGs in the Maldives. Members agreed that the next framework must be more focused, integrated, and adaptive, firmly grounded in national priorities, guided by principles of human rights, gender equality, sustainability, resilience, and accountability, and ensuring that no one is left behind.

Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Ahmed Shiaan, Secretary for Multilateral Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underscored the importance of strong and inclusive coordination among all stakeholders. He called for agreed priorities to be translated into focused and actionable measures that deliver tangible results, and stressed that the insights gathered at the meeting should meaningfully shape the next stages of the UNSDCF.

UN Resident Coordinator Hao Zhang, who co-chairs the JSC, highlighted the critical role of the committee in the formulation of the 2027–2031 framework and expressed appreciation for the continued collaboration and engagement of all partners in the process.

The upcoming Cooperation Framework will guide the collective work of the UN system in the Maldives and contribute to the national vision of achieving developed country status by 2040, as well as the broader goals outlined in the upcoming National Development Plan.

The Joint Steering Committee reaffirmed its commitment to an inclusive and consultative process, ensuring that the new framework reflects the aspirations and needs of all people in the Maldives.