Local development through decentralized administration in Maldives | |
| Author | Shakeeb, Mohamed |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.RD-11-01 |
| Subject(s) | Decentralization in government--Maldives Local government--Maldives |
| Note | NOTE 500 A thesis submitted in pa1tial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Regional and Rural Development Planning, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. RD-11-01 |
| Abstract | Maldives currently is going through a period of major political reform and democratic transition targeted to strengthen the local development through the decentralized administrative system. This process will help to hear voice of people concerns in relations to their development. After three decades of centralized government system, the new administration of President Mohamed Nasheed in 2008 introduced innovative policies aimed at decentralized government system through delegation of power to local government authorities particularly; in political and development perspectives. If Maldives want to achieve MDGs, the government needs to empower the local administration to provide effective services even to those marginalized and uneducated population (UNDP, 2006). Decentralization process in Maldives it is very new concept. In Maldives, there is still a lack of comprehensive and detailed researches on decentralization process. Therefore, this study intends to examine the implementation of administrative decentralization at subnational levels and its effects on local development activities in Maldives. Specifically the study is aimed at understanding the real condition of local development in relation to the ongoing decentralized administration, assess the effects of decentralization on delivery of rural services, identify the local development needs associated problems and finally recommend the improvements of administrative decentralization on delivery of rural services. The study involved a number of methodologies which were used to collect data such as; questionnaire survey which was used to collect primary data. Interviews were conducted in 20 Atolls and islands including capital city of Male'. The secondary data was collected from different sources that are reliable from existing documents; some of the documents were constitution and government reports on decentralization, UNDP and World Bank repo11s as well as documents from President's Office and Ministry of Home Affairs. The results from this study revealed that, despite of all effo11s being undertaken by the governn1ent to implement decentralization of administration to local levels such as atolls and islands, still the concept of decentralization is not clear to both government staff members who are supposed to pioneer the process as well as local community members at their respective areas. That is why to date most of the decentralized outputs such as accelerating development activities i.e.; education, health and transp011ation at local levels are not yet achieved as expected. Therefore, among others there is a need of speeding the process by showing political commitments in the demonstration of concrete actions at both macro and micro aspects of decentralization, for example, political and administrative. A consensus among broader segments of the population needs to be generating for wi1ming peoples support and commitment. Finally, more funds should be allocated for development activities (education health and transportation) at local level. |
| Year | 2011 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. RD-11-01 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Rural Development, Gender and Resources (RD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Routray, Jayant Kumar |
| Examination Committee(s) | Soparth Pongquan; Ahmad, Mokbul Morshed |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Ministry of Health and Family, Maldives |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2011 |