Maldives Establishes Tsunami Ready Board to Strengthen Disaster Preparedness
Maldives establishes Tsunami Ready Board to oversee UNESCO-led recognition programme | Photo: NDMA
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 function as a sub-committee of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and will bring together key government and emergency response agencies.
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Today, the National Disaster Management Steering Committee convened to establish a subcommittee under its mandate, the Maldives Tsunami Ready Board.
This subcommittee will provide strategic direction for the implementation of UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme and… pic.twitter.com/7drtCw5wjh— NDMA Maldives (@NDMAmv) December 14, 2025
The seven-member board 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 tasked with ensuring that communities meet internationally recognised safety standards under the programme. To receive certification, localities must demonstrate effective disaster management plans, maintain trained emergency response personnel, and provide clear public guidance during crises. The board will assess compliance and guide islands through the certification process.
Although the UNESCO framework primarily focuses on tsunami preparedness, authorities in the Maldives have expanded the programme to address a broader range of environmental hazards. Kulhudhuffushi City has been chosen 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 marks a significant step towards international recognition of the Maldives’ disaster preparedness efforts. The NDMA has expressed its intention to extend Tsunami Ready certification to all inhabited islands within the next decade.
