The Maldives Security and Justice Project was established in response to the Maldivian government’s commitment to modernise and strengthen its security and justice institutions, while embedding democratic reform and public trust.
Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through the Integrated Security Fund and delivered by Tetra Tech, this three-year programme supports transformational reform throughout the Maldivian justice and security system. From policing to prisons to prosecution, the project works across the entire criminal justice chain to strengthen institutions, foster collaboration and embed long-term change.
Joined-up support across the justice system
The project works across three core components: the police, the prison service and the criminal justice system (including the judiciary and prosecution). Each component supports specific institutional reform priorities while also helping institutions collaborate on shared challenges.
The programme is helping the Maldives Police Service modernise how it recruits, promotes, trains and supports officers. With technical assistance from senior UK police advisers, the project has supported implementation of the Police Professional Framework, strengthened neighbourhood policing, improved emergency preparedness and major incident response, and introduced a new investigations model.
A key focus has been increasing inclusion and professional standards. We have supported the Women in Policing Committee, organised exchanges with UK counterparts, and delivered training on gender-sensitive investigation methods. These efforts help strengthen public trust and improve the experience of victims and witnesses.
Working with the Maldives Correctional Service and the Ministry of Home Affairs, the programme is strengthening prison leadership, rehabilitation systems, and operational standards.
We delivered leadership training and introduced seven new training modules for correctional officers. The project is also helping improve the management of women prisoners, operationalise a non-custodial sentencing framework, and enhance prison intelligence and dynamic security systems for high-risk detainees.
Through mentoring, advocacy training, and systemic reform, the project is enhancing the judiciary and prosecution system. We have introduced a judicial mentoring programme with senior UK judges, provided advanced advocacy training to prosecutors, and supported the rollout of improved case management tools.
A key milestone was the “Unlocking Justice” process, which brought together seniormost leadership across the entire justice pathway to diagnose systemic issues. This led to the development of a Criminal Justice Board, a proposed permanent coordination platform designed to address caseflow bottlenecks, set common standards, and build accountability across institutions.
A platform for sustainable reform
The programme is grounded in two mutually reinforcing pathways:
- Institutional strengthening: embedding professional standards, sustainable training systems and internal reform processes in each institution.
- Systemic reform: building permanent structures for cross-sector coordination, political ownership and policy alignment.
Everything we do is demand-driven, co-designed with Maldivian partners and rooted in political context. Gender equality and human rights are not add-ons, but embedded throughout: from mentoring female judges, to designing systems that better serve atolls and marginalised groups.
The British High Commission in Malé plays a central role in guiding priorities and aligning with the UK’s Indo-Pacific strategy. Together, we are leaving behind a justice system that is more professional, more inclusive, and more capable of meeting the needs of all Maldivians.
At a glance
Location
Maldives
Implementation period
2023–2026
Client
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, UK