Empowering Communities to Protect Their Ocean
MALDIVES
Healthy oceans,
thriving communities
NOO
RAAJJE
Noo Raajje is a partnership between the Government of the Maldives and the Blue Prosperity Coalition to protect the ocean and its resources in order to build a bright future for communities, the economy, and the environment.
The program will also promote the advancement of Maldivian ocean science and stewardship through research, education, capacity building, and outreach, including collaborating with and providing support to local scientists and civil society.
Learn more by visiting NooRaajje.org and follow Noo Raajje on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
FOUNDING
PARTNERS
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KEY
STATISTICS
ocean protection commitment
20%
of Maldivian territory is ocean
99%
89%
of GDP is supported by marine biodiversity
PROJECT
TIMELINE
MOU
GOVERNANCE & WORK PLANNING
ASSESSMENTS
PLANNING & LEGAL DEVELOPMENT
IMPLEMENTATION
PROJECT
MILESTONES
2019
MOU is signed between the Government of the Maldives and the Blue Prosperity Coalition.
2020
Virtual public launch broadcasted online and on Maldivian television.
2021
Two scientific expeditions were completed to form the first archipelago-wide assessment of the Maldives.
2022
Ocean Use Survey conducted representing more than 26,000 Maldivians.
SITE
TEAM
SITE MANAGER
FATHIMATH NISTHARAN
Fathimath "Nisthu" Nistharan is highly passionate about the marine environment with a keen interest in Protected Area Management and Marine Spatial Planning. Since 2014, she worked with coral reef mapping while working with the IUCN Maldives, in collaboration with the Government of Maldives, under Project REGENERATE, funded by the USAID. She worked as a lecturer at the Maldives National University for the Bachelor of Environment Management Programme and served as an exchange lecturer to the University of Milano-Bicocca in Milan, Italy under an Erasmus+ fellowship. She is well versed in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and is experienced in Maldivian Marine Spatial Planning.
Nisthu supported the Government of Maldives in establishing the Rasdhoo-Madivaru Protected Area, developed cartography for the Maldives as a Biosphere Reserve Plan, and coordinated between the various Government agencies to aggregate spatial data for the Maldives National GIS Database. She holds a Masters Degree in Environmental Management in Sustainable Development from Bond University, Australia and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree in Computer Science & Software Engineering from Asia Pacific Institute for Information Technology, Malaysia (in affiliation with Staffordshire University, UK).
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PROGRAM COORDINATOR
MOOSA ZAMEER HASSAN
Previously having worked for the Maldives Civil Service, Moosa is well acquainted with public administration, strategic planning, tourism development, and environmental management.
Moosa holds a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning specializing in Tourism Planning from the International Islamic University Malaysia and a Bachelor of Science (Hon) degree in Environmental Science from the Bristol University of the West of England, UK.
He has wide interests in working with government agencies and local communities, planning for sustainable tourism, climate change, and biodiversity conservation, as well as environmental education and assessments.
SCIENCE & COMMUNICATIONS LIAISON
MAEESHA MOHAMED
Maeesha has a background in environmental management and marine conservation, having worked in the field for past 6+ years since graduating from University. She previously interned with several conservation organizations including the Maldives Whale Shark Research Program and the IUCN Maldives.
Before joining the Noo Raajje Program, she also worked for The Manta Trust as the Assistant Project Manager for Thaa and Laamu Atolls, conducting research and community outreach and education for conservation of her favorite marine animals and their habitats – manta rays. Maeesha has a major interest in coral reef research and has previously worked as the Liaison Officer and the Coral Component Coordinator for the Climate Change Adaptation Project, administered by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Energy. There, she worked closely with the Maldives Marine Research Institute and other stakeholders to standardize the coral reef monitoring protocols for the National Coral Reef Monitoring Framework (NCRMF). During this time she was also responsible for developing policy briefs to help mainstream the NCRMF and the CoralDatabase.
MSP Engagement Specialist
DR. SHAISTHA MOHAMED
Shaistha is the Noo Raajje Program’s MSP Engagement Specialist. She is working to develop and execute a stakeholder engagement strategy for the Marine Spatial Plan and is supporting the team in preparing engagement and outreach materials. She has a keen interest in understanding ocean users’ needs and concerns and following a people-centered effort for maximising ecological, economic, and social benefits of long-term planning.
Shaistha has a background in social psychology, with a PhD in social influence, leadership and social change. She has worked as a social sustainability consultant in the Maldives since 2017 and has experience engaging with stakeholders, managing community grievances, and coordinating social compliance and management of various developmental projects across the country. She also developed a compendium of Marine Spatial Planning targets relevant to the Maldives for the Noo Raajje Program in 2021, which is guiding the work on the MSP principles, goals and objectives, and planning work.
Ocean Use Survey Coordinator
HULWA KHALEEL
As the Ocean Use Survey Coordinator, Hulwa leads 18 survey facilitators traveling around the Maldives collecting information on ocean use and value. She develops strategies to ensure survey targets are being met.
After graduating from Skidmore College with a BA in Economics and a minor in Education Policy, Hulwa worked for the Ministry of Education to expand vocational education in the Maldives and played a key role in designing the Farukoe program which took 71,442 Maldivian students (93% of school population) out to see their house reef in 2019.
Since then, she worked at Parley Maldives to design and implement educational programs to connect people to the ocean and take action against the threat of plastic. She actively volunteered for IDEAS Maldives towards awareness and protection of mangroves. Hulwa is passionate about place-based education, increasing access to opportunities for all, and using visuals to tell complex stories.
Assistant Ocean Use Survey Coordinator
NASHFA NASHIDH
Nashfa works closely with the rest of the team on the Ocean Use Survey effort. Since graduating from University of Nottingham she worked for 2 years at Water Solutions Maldives, an environmental consultancy firm, where she conducted surveys for environmental reports. She spent another 2 years at Fenaka as an environmental consultant, mainly conducting environmental impact assessments for their powerhouse relocation projects. During the same period, she worked with the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure as a GIS and data analyst for the Maldives National Spatial Plan (2020-2040).
Nashfa holds a BSc in Environmental Science from University of Nottingham. She is passionate about spatial science and mapping, with a keen interest in data visualization.
KEY
PARTNERS
MALDIVES MARINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Through proper scientific research, the Maldives Marine Research Institute (MMRI) serves as an important resource to assist the government, industry and the public in making informed decisions about the rational utilization of the country’s marine resources. MMRI is a contributor and disseminator of knowledge that creates public awareness about the marine environment, which is critical to the well being of the nation.
"71% of Maldivians rely on the ocean for their primary source of income. It's imperative that we protect the health of our oceans now and for the future."
- His Excellency President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
