LocationsConserving Reefs through Adaptation & Livelihood (CORAL)
Summary
The CORAL project (2025–2030) addresses the Maldives’ urgent climate and environmental vulnerabilities by combining coral conservation, renewable energy transition, and sustainable livelihood development. With an AU$5M budget, the project aims to enhance Nature Park management, scale up coral restoration technologies, and transition a pilot island to 100% solar energy—while embedding gender equality, social inclusion, and community empowerment across all interventions.
The Maldives hosts one of the world’s largest and most biodiverse coral reef systems (~4,500 km²), but it is highly threatened by sea-level rise, marine heatwaves, erosion, and local pressures such as pollution and overfishing. These environmental threats intersect with socioeconomic vulnerabilities—high dependence on coastal resources, limited technical capacity, and climate‑sensitive livelihoods—making climate adaptation, renewable energy adoption, and ecosystem protection national priorities.
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Project Objectives
Outcome 1: Economic benefits and investments for inclusive climate and disaster resilience are strengthened through revitalized National Park management
Improve economic resilience and disaster preparedness by revitalizing nature park management through a national master plan, climateresilient park infrastructure, and natural capital accounting to guide sustainable development.
Outcome 2: Enhanced integration of transformative technologies for the effective management and restoration of coral reefs with increased national capacity and knowledge, ensuring a gender responsive and inclusive approach
Strengthen coral reef conservation through national assessments, capacitybuilding for CSOs, and the adoption of innovative, climateresilient coral restoration technologies, ensuring longterm health of critical ecosystems.
Outcome 3: Enhanced energy security through the integration of gender responsive and inclusive renewable energy systems in island communities to strengthen the resilience of small island communities, support sustainable tourism, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Support one island to fully transition to solar energy, trains local women and PWDs as renewableenergy technicians, and installs solarpowered EV charging stations to enhance energy security and reduce reliance on diesel.
GEWE / GESI Component
The project is classified GEN2, meaning gender equality is intentionally integrated across all outputs. Key GESI strategies include:
- A dedicated Gender and Social Inclusion Plan within the Nature Park Master Plan.
- Ensuring meaningful participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in conservation and renewable energy sectors.
- Prioritizing women in technical training for solar O&M.
- Ensuring park infrastructure improvements are accessible and disability inclusive.
- Using gender disaggregated indicators to track equity and participation.
These approaches align with the UNDP Gender Equality Strategy and the Maldives’ National Gender Equality Action Plan
Planned Achievements
- Strengthen local governance by integrating Nature Park planning and management into local development processes.
- Improve Nature Park facilities with more resilient, accessible, and inclusive infrastructure.
- Advance data-driven conservation through Natural Capital Accounting and climate-informed assessments of coral reef health.
- Build national and community-level capacity for coral restoration, monitoring, and the use of innovative reef restoration technologies.
- Expand community skills in renewable energy, with a focus on women’s technical training and broader community-wide awareness.
- Integrate renewable energy solutions into a pilot island community, including cleaner energy systems and supportive technologies such as solar-powered charging stations.
- Promote sustainable livelihoods linked to conservation, ecotourism, and renewable energy, benefitting local communities and vulnerable groups.
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