REDFINE

International Day of Peace Webinar

As part of a cross-border cultural and knowledge exchange marking the International Day of Peace, Chrysalis and SIGS organised a regional panel discussion bringing together youth leaders and experts from the Maldives and Sri Lanka to explore the intersections of climate change, environmental challenges and peacebuilding. 

The discussion highlighted the role of women and young people in leading community-based environmental initiatives, strengthening social cohesion and building resilient communities. Drawing on experiences from REDEFINE Project interventions in both countries, the panel provided an opportunity to exchange knowledge, reflect on lessons learned and explore opportunities for regional collaboration on environmental stewardship and peacebuilding.

EU Visit - Visit to Guraidhoo and Kudafari

During the European Union's visit to the Maldives, Ms. Galia Agisheva, Deputy Head of the European Delegation and Head of the Political, Press and Information Section, visited REDEFINE Project sites and engaged with project partners and community participants to learn more about the project's progress and its impact at the local level.

During her visit, Ms. Agisheva participated in the 4th Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting, which brought together representatives from the European Union, government ministries, the Local Government Authority, Chrysalis, SIGS and the participating island councils. The meeting provided an opportunity to review project progress, share updates on ongoing activities, discuss the proposed national Multi-Actor Platform framework and reflect on the next steps for implementation.

Her visit also included field visits to the project islands of K. Guraidhoo and N. Kudafari, where she gained first-hand insights into the community-led initiatives being implemented under REDEFINE. Through project presentations and direct engagement with participants, she learned about the experiences of local women and youth, their contributions to environmental stewardship and the efforts to strengthen community participation, collaboration and resilience.

The visit provided an important opportunity to showcase the progress and impact of the REDEFINE Project, recognise the contributions of local communities and strengthen engagement between the European Union, project partners and participating communities in advancing inclusive and sustainable development.

The REDEFINE Project is funded by the European Union and implemented by Chrysalis (Sri Lanka) in partnership with SIGS – Small Island Geographic Society (Maldives). 

ENGAGEMENTS & ADVOCACY

ICSRI

SIGS researchers Zaha Zahir and Easha Ahmed presented two research papers at the International Conference on Social Research and Innovation (ICSRI). The first, “Understanding the Impacts of Climate Change on Youth Perceptions Regarding Sexual and Reproductive Health,” was conducted in collaboration with UNFPA Maldives. The second, “Natural Resource Conflict Led by Development and the Gendered Impacts on Women’s Livelihoods in the Maldives,” was undertaken under the EU-funded REDEFINE project. Both presentations highlighted SIGS’ ongoing research exploring the intersections of climate change, health, gender and sustainable development.

Theveli Conference

At the Theveli Conference, organised by the Maldives National University (MNU), SIGS presented a research paper exploring the potential of Leptochloa chinensis, an invasive grass species, as a natural sorbent for bioremediation. Building on the abundance of this locally available species, the research explores a sustainable approach to addressing marine pollution, with potential future applications in oil spill clean-up. This pioneering study is among the first to explore the use of a natural sorbent for bioremediation, contributing to the development of locally driven solutions for environmental protection. 

HEYLHI 2.0

Heylhi Data Collection in Kulhudhuffushi City & Environmental Justice Session

Under Heylhi 2.0, SIGS conducted specialised data processing training sessions in collaboration with Water Solutions, engaging council representatives, school students in Kulhudhuffushi City. The capacity building sessions resulted in a series of heat maps that depicted flooding throughout the island, strengthening citizen science, evidence-based policy making and advocacy for coastline conservation. 

SIGS also facilitated a second session on Environmental Justice for staff of the Maldives National University (MNU), introducing key concepts around environmental rights, equity and the unequal impacts of environmental challenges on communities. The session encouraged discussions on the importance of inclusive decision-making, community participation and ensuring that environmental concerns are addressed fairly and sustainably.

Guraidhoo and Kudafari MAP with Inaz

SIGS and project partners continued efforts to establish local Multi-Actor Platforms (MAPs) as spaces for collaboration and community-led action. In Guraidhoo, the Council, Women's Development Committee (WDC) and SIGS came together to exchange ideas and explore opportunities for a local MAP, followed by capacity-building training to support the WDC in implementing its nature-based solution.

A similar milestone was reached in N. Kudafari, where a discussion brought together the Island Council, WDC, Chrysalis, and SIGS to explore the establishment of a MAP, strengthen stakeholder collaboration and advance locally driven solutions for sustainable development. We extend our appreciation to all participants for their continued efforts in building more inclusive and resilient island communities.

Capacity Building Workshop in Guraidhoo and Kudafari

SIGS conducted CSO capacity-building workshops in N. Kudafari and K. Guraidhoo, engaging youth and women leaders from local civil society organisations and Women's Development Committees (WDCs). Participants demonstrated strong interest and consistent engagement throughout the workshops, contributing to meaningful discussions and two-way exchanges with trainers. Feedback from both islands highlighted a preference for more interactive activities, group discussions and opportunities for dialogue in future capacity-building sessions. In K. Guraidhoo, baseline-midline survey data was also collected on the final day of the workshop. 

World Shark Day - Iffy and Mina

To mark International Whale Shark Day, SIGS partnered with Lily Beach Resort & Spa to deliver an educational session highlighting the importance of whale shark conservation and protecting these magnificent marine creatures. We extend our appreciation to Lily Beach and look forward to continuing our collaboration through future educational sessions and engagements to promote marine conservation and awareness. 

UNFPA

Focus Group Discussions