Deadline: 27-Aug-2025
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a new opportunity for a locally registered Civil Society Organization in the Maldives to support the development and implementation of a joint initiative between media practitioners and civil society actors focused on anti-corruption.
This effort is part of UNDP’s broader commitment to advancing transparency, accountability, and civic engagement across the country by strengthening partnerships and collaborative action.
The selected organization will be responsible for facilitating collaboration efforts by supporting a series of roundtable discussions between media and civil society representatives. While the logistical arrangements for these discussions will be handled by UNDP, the CSO’s role will be to assist in facilitation. At least three discussions will be held, each contributing to a shared action plan developed by participants.
In addition to these facilitation tasks, the organization will be expected to develop a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track the progress of the action plan. This framework will be created in partnership with media practitioners, ensuring that it aligns with journalistic standards and anti-corruption goals. The CSO will also design an engagement strategy and a sustainability plan to support the long-term success of the initiative.
Once the planning phase is complete, the CSO will begin implementing the action plan in collaboration with selected media partners. Throughout this process, the organization will be required to monitor progress closely and submit quarterly reports, highlighting the achievements and any challenges faced during implementation.
The total funding available for this opportunity is capped at MVR 300,000, which should support either direct interventions in one community or multiple activities across different communities within the country. The size of the budget requested in proposals must reflect the organization’s administrative and financial management capacity. Projects should be completed within an eight-month timeframe, depending on when they begin.
The ultimate beneficiaries of this initiative include media professionals involved in investigative journalism, civil society organizations working on transparency and civic engagement, and the wider public, especially youth and women. These groups will benefit from increased awareness, stronger anti-corruption advocacy, and improved access to information related to governance and public accountability.
Eligible organizations must demonstrate a strong track record in governance-related projects, particularly those focusing on transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption. Experience working with media actors and familiarity with the Maldivian legal framework around media rights, civic space, and freedom of expression are essential. The applying team should also possess a wide range of competencies, from project management and media engagement to facilitation and inclusion, with an emphasis on gender and disability-sensitive approaches.
This call for proposals represents a timely opportunity for local CSOs to make a meaningful impact on anti-corruption efforts in the Maldives by working with UNDP to foster collaboration between media and civil society, and by promoting a culture of transparency, integrity, and accountability.
For more information, visit UNDP.
