To coordinate effectively and efficiently, several inter-agency groups have been established. Based on their TORs,the groups discuss UN agency issues and concerns and recommend appropriate action to the UNCT.

The following are the UN inter-agency groups established for 2010:

M and E Working Group (chaired by UNICEF) -  The UN M&E Working Group will be responsible to finalize the  UNDAF M and E Framework and plan and in monitoring its implementation.  The Group will also support national efforts to report on the country’s progress towards the MDGs. 

HIV/AIDS Theme Group  (chaired by WHO) -  The UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS (UNTG HIV/AIDS) is mandated to coordinate the work of individual agencies in this sector in support of Government of Maldives (GoM) policies and strategies on HIV/AIDS in a concerted manner. The UNTG HIV/AIDS will concentrate on information exchange between agencies and the GoM, coordination of ongoing initiatives, future joint programming in the context of the new UNDAF and general advocacy and promoting of sound HIV/AIDS policies and activities for the Maldives.

Communications Group (chaired by UNDP) – The Communications Group is composed of UN agency Communications Officers to collaborate efforts to implement joint advocacy strategies and initiatives. The Group has the responsibility to ensure a coordinated approach of communication activities outlined in the  Communication Plan; promote and enhance the United Nations image, message and activities through joint commemoration of selected International Days and the UN Day; promote information and knowledge sharing within the Agencies; contribute to strengthening internal communication within the United Nations System; promote efficient partnership relationships between press, NGOs, Civil Society and the United Nations System; and,  support common advocacy activities and promote joint and collaborative activities with partners and stakeholders.

Operations Management Team  (chaired by UNDP) -  The OMT is composed of Agency Operations Managers and key operations staff. The primary role of the OMT is to improve administrative management systems and procedures aimed at ensuring efficient, cost-effective and transparent utilization of these resources. The OMT is tasked to identify alternative ways of doing business better by optimizing the use of pooled common resources and adopting  best practices; simplify structures and processes to cater to the changing/evolving needs and requirements of UN, its internal and external clients and partners, with accuracy and speed while ensuring due diligence and quality of results; set the criteria and standard for the assessment and selection of Common Services, its management and implementation, as well as the quantification and apportionment process, in accordance with the Operational Guidelines on Common Services set forth by UNDG and with all other future directives of the General Assembly; and, lead the evolution and Institutionalization of the common services initiatives.

In preparation for the roll-out of the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers  under the new programming cycle for UNDG Excom agencies (UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF), the OMT was also tasked to prepare the process of the HACT roll-out in 2008.

Disaster Management Support Group (chaired by UNDP) - Under the guidance of the UN Resident Coordinator, the Disaster Management Support Group, is responsible for providing technical advisory and coordination support to the DMT for the effective and efficient implementation of UN inter-agency coordinated disaster preparedness, management and response in the country.  The UNDMSG members are also the focal persons for Avian and Human Influenza Pandemic Preparedness and Planning.

Gender Group – The heads of UN agencies have designated their respective agency gender focal persons, tasked to ensure that gender concerns are mainstreamed in programmatic and operational matters.  The UNCT agreed to convene the agency gender focal persons as a group to form the Gender Group, specifically tasked to ensure that gender is mainstreamed in the agency Country Programme Action Plan, as well as discuss opportunities for collaboration in efforts to improve capacity of agencies to mainstream gender in programmes and operations.