Transparency Maldives participated in the Inception workshop on increasing Climate Change Resilience of Maldives through Adaptation in the Tourism Sector Project, which was organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

This $3 million dollar project aims to:

1. Strengthen adaptive capacity of the tourism sector to reduce risks to climate-induced economic losses
2. Reduce vulnerability of at least 10 tourism operations and 10 tourism-associated communities to the adverse effects of climate change
3. Transfer climate risk financing solutions to public and private sector tourism institutions

The stated aims of the workshop include:

1. To get things done; to shift the gear from talking mode to implementation mode
2. To assist all partners to fully understand and take ownership for the project.
3. To provide an actual working forum for the stakeholders to review and recommend changes to the activities identified in the projects logical framework.
4. To review and agree on the indicators, targets and their means of verification and their risks.

TM made comments especially to Objective 2: TM pointed out that the stated islands for the project should be selected in a participatory and accountable manner and through a transparent criteria.

TM also intervened for strengthening the governance mechanisms of the whole project, including strengthening the institutional framework for the project.