NDMA and MRC Advance the National Risk Register through Multi-Sectoral Consultations

In partnership with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC) is supporting the development of the National Risk Register and Assessment (NRRA) in line with the Maldives’ Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy 2024–2030, NDMA’s Strategic Plan 2024–2029, and MRC’s Strategic Plan 2019–2030. The NRRA aims to strengthens national level, multi-hazard risk information and supports evidence-based decision-making, coordinated risk reduction efforts, and long-term resilience building across sectors and communities.

The NRRA process has been ongoing since late 2024, initially supported through MRC’s Enhancing Resilience Planning and Strengthening Community Preparedness (ERCP) project, funded by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID BHA). This early phase enabled key groundwork, including the development of the assessment methodology, establishment of risk criteria and matrices, preliminary hazard identification, and initial stakeholder engagement to set a strong analytical foundation for the assessment. Despite early challenges including an initial funding gap following the conclusion of the original project support, which resulted in timeline delays, significant progress has been made. Through close collaboration, NDMA and MRC were able to secure alternative support, allowing the NRRA process to continue and advance.

Following the Risk Evaluation and Analysis Workshop held in February 2025, which brought together 56 participants from government institutions and CSOs, the NRRA process moved into a more in-depth expert consultation phase. This included one-to-one technical consultations with sector specialists and targeted stakeholder engagements to further refine hazard profiles, explore interlinkages and cascading risks, assess cross-sectoral impacts, and develop reasonable worst-case scenarios tailored to the Maldives context. These consultations also helped identify data gaps and challenges, reinforcing the need for expert judgement in national-level risk scoring.

On 15 December 2025, NDMA and MRC conducted a stakeholder workshop to review hazard profiles and risk assessments, marking the third round of consultations under the NRRA process. The workshop brought together 55 participants from 22 stakeholder organizations across government and civil society. Participants worked in sector-focused groups to review hazard definitions, validate reasonable worst-case scenarios, and refine proposed risk ratings, ensuring the NRRA reflects a comprehensive, multi-sectoral overview of key hazards facing the Maldives.

This assessment represents the first comprehensive, multi-hazard national risk assessment of its kind in the Maldives, providing a strong foundation for risk-informed planning. To date, progress includes the identification of 46 hazards across 13 categories, the development and refinement of hazard profiles and reasonable worst-case scenarios, and the consultation process of the risk matrix through extensive expert and stakeholder engagement. 

Looking ahead, NDMA and MRC will focus on consolidating inputs from the December consultations, refining the draft NRRA, and progressing towards national validation and finalisation in 2026. Once completed, the NRRA will serve as a critical reference for risk-informed policy, planning, and investment, supporting national efforts to reduce disaster risks and strengthen resilience across the Maldives.