MNU NGO Collaboration for SDGs

Student Volunteering

The Maldives National University (MNU) actively collaborates with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a range of student volunteering programs and community engagement initiatives. MNU students and staff regularly participate in environmental cleanup campaigns, coastal and beach restoration projects, and waste management awareness drives organized in partnership with national and local NGOs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, MNU volunteers played a significant role in supporting national response efforts, including assisting health authorities, raising community awareness, and contributing to data collection and contact tracing activities. In addition, MNU students engage in various social development programs, including health promotion, youth empowerment, and education outreach initiatives that address community needs and promote sustainable lifestyles. Through these collaborations, MNU fosters civic responsibility and experiential learning among students while contributing meaningfully to national and global SDG targets.

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Research Programmes

The Maldives National University (MNU) actively engages in collaborative research and community-based initiatives with national and international NGOs to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through these partnerships, MNU combines academic expertise with practical, community-oriented approaches to promote sustainability, environmental protection, and social well-being. One key initiative is the PROMISE Project, implemented with international partners, which focuses on promoting sustainable waste management, reducing marine pollution, and strengthening local capacity to protect natural ecosystems. Similarly, MNU collaborates with Parley for the Oceans on programs aimed at the prevention of marine litter and public education on plastic reduction, aligning with national efforts to safeguard the Maldives’ fragile marine environment. 

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Development of Educational Resources

The Maldives National University (MNU) contributes to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the development of educational resources and applied research that promote sustainability, innovation, and community well-being. As part of its commitment to integrating sustainability across disciplines, MNU has collaborated with the Small Island Geographic Society to develop climate-resilient green building concepts for its architectural programs. This initiative equips future architects and engineers with the knowledge and skills to design environmentally sustainable structures adapted to the unique vulnerabilities of small island environments.

In addition, MNU has introduced Occupational Health Programs that focus on promoting sustainable and safe workplace practices across industries. These programs strengthen national capacity in occupational health and safety management, ensuring that workers are protected from hazards while supporting economic productivity and well-being. Through these educational innovations and partnerships, MNU continues to align its academic programs with national and global sustainability priorities-bridging research, education, and practice to prepare a workforce capable of leading the Maldives toward a more resilient and sustainable future.

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Collaborations with embassies, UN agencies, ministries, and other international or national bodies

Assistance form UNICEF to Translate 100 children story books to Dhivehi

The Let’s Read program, developed by The Asia Foundation, is an innovative digital library initiative designed to tackle the challenge of limited access to quality children’s books in local languages across Asia. Launched with the goal of promoting early childhood literacy, the program provides free, high-quality, culturally relevant, and linguistically diverse storybooks through an accessible online platform.

The Maldives National University Library, in partnership with The Asia Foundation, has successfully translated several children’s storybooks into Dhivehi and uploaded original Dhivehi titles to the Let’s Read platform. These contributions have enriched the digital library with culturally relevant and imaginative content, offering Maldivian children the opportunity to engage with diverse and creative stories in their native language. This initiative has played a vital role in fostering language development, creativity, and a love for reading among young learners.

Let’s Read empowers communities by:

  • Creating books in local languages through translation and community-based storytelling.
  • Distributing free digital books via a mobile-friendly platform and offline reading options.
  • Collaborating with local educators, authors, and illustrators to ensure culturally sensitive and engaging content.
  • Supporting inclusive education with books that reflect diverse cultures, experiences, and abilities.

By leveraging technology and community participation, Let’s Read helps bridge educational gaps, promotes equity in literacy, and inspires lifelong learning across generations.

The MNU Library has received grant assistance from UNICEF to translate an additional 100 storybooks into the Dhivehi language. Technical support is provided by The Asia Foundation, which includes conducting the workshop to train translators, assistance in the technical publication process and assist in the social marketing of the work. This project includes publishing of written text as well as audio recordings of the stories.

This initiative aims to enhance the availability of Dhivehi-language storybooks for school libraries, public libraries, and parents. At present, Dhivehi-language story collections remain limited in scope and do not adequately address a variety of social issues, environmental themes, or cultural aspects.

As this project is implemented through an online platform, sustainability has been carefully considered. Costs remain minimal, as the platform enables us to source storybooks from various countries and translate them efficiently into Dhivehi.

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