US to give Maldives additional $4.4 million aid
The funding aims to strengthen media literacy and promote democratic engagement in the country.
At a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) event on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced an additional $4.4 million in aid to the Maldives.
The funding aims to strengthen media literacy and promote democratic engagement in the country.
Of the newly allocated funds, $3 million will go toward initiatives to bolster media literacy programming in the Maldives. This effort will focus on increasing transparency in the public and media sectors and equipping the public, especially youth, with tools to better navigate media and social media content.
An additional $1.4 million will support programs raising awareness of democratic rights and civic engagement. The funds will continue supporting local councils, women's development committees, and advocacy for transparent and accountable democratic processes.
Maldivian Permanent Representative to the UN, Ali Naseer Mohamed, attended the event alongside representatives from other countries undergoing democratic transitions, such as Armenia, Fiji, and Tanzania. He emphasised the importance of continued investment in the Maldives' democratic resilience and welcomed the new US support.
The funding is part of USAID’s broader Democracy Delivers initiative, launched by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Power in 2022. The initiative brings together international governments, civil society, and philanthropic partners to support countries experiencing democratic openings.
