Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Building resilient, inclusive and connected island communities.
The Maldives National University > Sustainability 2025 > SDG 11 > Affordable Housing for Employees

MNU helps staff meet housing costs, especially staff who move to take up a post. Its job advertisements in the Government Gazette offer non-resident staff an accommodation allowance of MVR 1,800 a month where MNU does not provide housing. Expatriate staff are offered MVR 12,000 a month, plus a food allowance. MNU is also building its own staff housing: a seven-room staff block is under construction alongside new student accommodation at the Thinadhoo campus. 

Accommodation allowance for non-resident staff

An MNU announcement published in the Maldives Government Gazette on 8 September 2024 lists the pay and benefits for the posts advertised. Among them is an accommodation allowance of MVR 1,800 a month for staff who are not residents of the island where they will work. The allowance is paid only if MNU does not provide accommodation, which implies that in some cases MNU houses non-resident staff instead. For SDG 11, this is evidence that MNU supports staff with the cost of housing when they move to take up a post, which matters most at the atoll campuses. It is not, however, a scheme that offers staff housing below market rent, and the allowance is small compared with rents in Malé. HR should confirm how many staff received it in 2025. 

 

Accommodation and food allowance for expatriate academic staff

MNU recruitment announcement for expatriate staff with an accommodation allowance of MVR 12,000 a month and a food allowance of MVR 2,400. Housing support for international staff (allowance, not MNU housing).

 

Staff accommodation block at Thinadhoo campus (under construction)

A 7-room staff accommodation block being built alongside the new 31-room student block at the Thinadhoo campus. Direct evidence of MNU building staff housing, but it is reported in 2026 and not yet complete.

 

 

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