The Maldives has established the Tsunami Ready Board to oversee the Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme, an initiative led by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. The board will operate as a sub-committee of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and brings together key government and emergency response agencies.
The seven-member body includes representatives from the Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance and Planning, the Maldives Police Service, the Maldives National Defence Force and the Maldivian Red Crescent. The NDMA will chair the board, with the Cities Ministry serving as vice-chair.
The board is mandated to ensure communities meet internationally recognised safety standards under the programme. To obtain certification, localities must demonstrate effective disaster management plans, maintain trained emergency response personnel and provide clear public guidance for crisis situations. The board will assess compliance and guide islands through the certification process.
While the UNESCO framework primarily focuses on tsunami preparedness, authorities have expanded the scope of the programme in the Maldives to address a wider range of environmental hazards. Kulhudhuffushi City has been selected as the pilot location, with accreditation efforts currently under way.
The initiative aligns with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s vision of building a resilient nation by 2030 and represents a significant step towards international recognition of the Maldives’ disaster preparedness efforts. The NDMA has stated its intention to extend Tsunami Ready certification to all inhabited islands within the next decade.