Male’, 27 June 2007 – A powerful new tool for measuring the progress of development in the Maldives was launched today. “MaldivInfo” is a database with mapping capabilities that will provide policymakers, media and the general public with up-to-date information on key social indicators used to track the country’s progress towards the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).
Through MaldivInfo, users with basic computer skills can now see how the Maldives has progressed in key areas of development over the last 17 years, and where additional work – and resources – are still required. Comparative information on the status of key development indicators in the Maldives can also be generated via tables, graphs and maps. Where available, data is disaggregated down to island level.
MaldivInfo supports the improved use of disaggregated data and information for more equitable policy development. Evidence-based planning and programming is a key principle of the 7th National Development Plan (NDP) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), which is a UN system’s programming framework in support of the NDP, covering 2008-2010. MaldivInfo provides a critical tool for fulfilling the principle of evidence-based planning and policy development.
MaldivInfo has already helped streamline and standardize national statistics to enable more transparent monitoring of key indicators. During the Launching Ceremony, the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Patrice Coeur-Bizot said “Access to information is an integral component of establishing good governance and as a monitoring tool, MaldivInfo will be key to transparent monitoring of progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.”
The database was adapted from the internationally-developed DevInfo technology to the Maldivian context, and was developed by the Ministry of Planning and National Development in conjunction with UNICEF and supported by other UN agencies. MaldivInfo will continue to be expanded to include national indicators and emergency preparedness data that reflect the 7th National Development Plan as well as the UNDAF.
MaldivInfo holds Millennium Development Goal indicators from key national data sources, spanning 17 years: Census (1990, 1995, 2000 & 2006), Vulnerability and Poverty Assessments (1&2), Tsunami Impact Assessment Survey, Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (1&2), Reproductive Health Survey (1&2), and the Statistical Yearbooks since 1990. Other indicators available from survey sources have been incorporated to provide a total of more than 280 indicators and more than 70,000 data values. Thirteen MDG indicators that have been calculated for the first time down to island level from the last four Censuses are also being released for the first time in this edition of MaldivInfo.
MaldivInfo CDs are available from the Ministry of Planning and National Development, and the database can also be accessed on the Internet at www.maldivinfo.planning.gov.mv.
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“The world must advance the causes of security, development and human rights together, otherwise none will succeed. Humanity will not enjoy security without development, it will not enjoy development without security and it will not enjoy either without respect for human rights.”
Kofi Annan – Former UN Secretary-General
Notes to editors: For further enquiries, please contact Jasmine Pittenger, Communications Officer - UNICEF jpittenger@unicef.org or Abheet Solomon, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer – UNICEF asolomon@unicef.org
