NDMA Trains Emergency Responders to Build Disaster Resilience Across Maldivian Communities

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has completed a specialized three-day Training of Trainers (ToT) programme designed to bolster disaster preparedness across the archipelago. The initiative focuses on the Community Based Resilience Building (CBRB) Framework, a strategic approach to safeguarding local populations from natural hazards. A total of 20 professionals from critical emergency sectors participated in the training, including representatives from the NDMA, the Maldives Red Crescent, the Maldives Police Service, and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Fire and Rescue Service. The programme concluded with a certification ceremony led by Rasheedha Ali, Deputy President of the Maldives Red Crescent. The primary objective of the training is to decentralize disaster management by strengthening resilience at the community level. By training a core group of facilitators, the NDMA intends to roll out CBRB programmes nationwide, ensuring that remote island communities have the tools and knowledge to respond effectively to emergencies. Unlike traditional disaster response models, the CBRB framework adopts a holistic approach. It integrates critical social and environmental factors, including the impacts of climate change, gender equality, disability inclusion, and social cohesion. This ensures that disaster risk management strategies are inclusive and protect the most vulnerable members of society. As the Maldives faces increasing threats from rising sea levels and extreme weather events, these trained facilitators will play a pivotal role in transforming national policy into local action. The expansion of this framework is expected to significantly improve community safety and reduce the long-term impact of disasters on island infrastructure and livelihoods.