The year 2014 started with a major advocacy success for Transparency Maldives (TM) with the passage of the landmark Access to Information Act following 5 years of campaigning by TM. After a politically turbulent year in 2013, TM looked to 2014 with more determination to address governance issues in the country and strengthen its programs and interventions, based on the lessons learnt in 2013. In addition, a change in the leadership of TM as well as the board of TM in 2014 meant that there was new opportunity for the organisation to invoke new ideas and strategies based on the foundations laid by predecessors.
As in previous years, we continued with our engagement and outreach in communities across the country, undertook research to understand corruption loopholes in various sectors, held discussions with multiple institutions and raised our voice on various platforms to advocate for the cause we believe in.
In the past year, we were also fortunate to receive exposure opportunities for our staff to share knowledge and learn from partners in the region and strengthen our collaboration and partnerships with multiple stakeholders to drive our agenda of change. Our engagements with various stakeholders from local councillors and youth actors to international partners always provide us with new insights to shape our programs.
Unlike previous years, in 2014, we travelled across the country to deliver civic education to young people as we believe the state of democracy in the Maldives requires a long term strategy of education for young people on democratic values and grassroots mobilisation to strengthen democracy in the Maldives. As such, our ‘Democracy Talks’ in schools and ‘Civic Forums’ in various islands proved to be immensely eye opening and rewarding.
We also focused on shaping policy and transforming behaviours through a series of high level events, roundtables and lobbying on issues related to corruption, democracy, and migrant worker rights to name a few. Most notably, we drafted an Associations Act in line with international best practice and standards and held a symposium to bring stakeholders together to collectively lobby for a best practice NGO law in the Maldives.
Despite immense governance challenges for the country, and the precarious environment in which TM operates, TMs efforts to promote good governance and eliminate corruption has been possible through the tireless dedication of its staff, who continue to put in extraordinary effort, as well as our board members, who give their time and expertise to guide the work of TM.
TM is grateful for the generosity of its funders and the time given by volunteers and interns who have continued to believe in our cause.
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Annual Report 2014