Maldives to receive $23.6 million grant to counter water shortage

Green Climate Fund (GCF) has announced that it would provide a grant worth $23.6 million for projects aimed at finding permanent solutions to the problem of water shortage during the dry season in Maldives.

GCF is a fund within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), founded as a mechanism to assist developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.

Ministry of Environment and Energy said that the projects under this grant would begin in February 2016.

The projects will see strengthening of water storage systems, establishment of water storage facilities and desalination plants, development of human resources, and establishment of standards and procedures for water management.

Proposals were submitted by 37 countries and Maldives is one of the first countries to receive assistance from GCF, Environment Ministry said.