Laamu Gan, 6th December 2016: UNFPA is one of the seven UN Agencies currently working under the LECReD (Low Emission Climate Resilient Development) programme. LECReD is assisting the Laamu Atoll, and its inhabited islands to realize how to become more climate resilient by mainstreaming issues into development planning and service delivery.
In the past few months, UNFPA has been working closely with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and local governance authorities in leading the population data revolution in Maldives.
The most recent collaboration with the NBS under the LECReD Programme has been the development of Laamu Koshaaru.
Laamu Koshaaru is a local data entry platform that fills a vital gap between evidence-based data and climate resilient planning, and will help ensure quality data for local and national-level monitoring and statistical reporting.
To acquaint the Laamu councils and surrounding islands with the data platform, UNFPA took initiative to facilitate a training course for participants from National Bureau of Statistics, National Centre for Information Technology, Local Government Authority and Island and Atoll Councils who use large amounts of data in their work.
Usage and Training
The two-day program familiarized participants with Laamu Koshaaru and how to use it. Participants also learned how to navigate data entry, queries, reports, and analysis. The training also included discussions with senior experts on structures of data indicators and how the platform can be used to visualize varying types of data.
The event was graced by the President of the Laamu Atoll Council, Mr. Yoosuf Amir and in his speech mentioned: “Inconsistencies in population data in Laamu emphasize the need for accurate data”.
Speaking at the event UNFPA Country Director in Maldives and Sri Lanka, Mr Alain Sibenaler, stated: “We strive to go beyond numbers and show how data brings emerging issues to the forefront of the nation’s development agenda”
Next Steps
This is just the beginning.
The next step is to build capacity for data compilation and analysis. Furthermore, atoll councils will need to start entering local data onto the platform, which will then help visualize population concerns in each area.
The informative data can then be integrated into local planning, be used to develop evidence based advocacy and most importantly, this knowledge and expertise can then be shared with other atolls to help generate their own data
Mr. Ismail Rasheed, from the Maabaidhoo Council, who works with data explained: “Laamu Koshaaru is very useful, as we are currently in the process of creating a five year development plan (local and national) in Maldives, and having accurate data will be extremely helpful for this”.
With evidence-based data to improve the rights of women and youth in the Maldives at the heart if its mandate, UNFPA in Maldives ensures that informed decision-making and planning takes place not just at the local level, but also at the National level.
