Maldives is a relatively better-off country, and few people there live in absolute poverty. Fishing provides a reasonable basic income, and the informal social support system is strong. Yet, malnutrition is a serious problem in Maldives, particularly in the form of protein-energy malnutrition, anaemia and vitamin A deficiencies, which affect children and pregnant women in particular.

About half of children under five are stunted or underweight for their age, and 30% of children and adults may suffer from iron-deficiency anaemia.

Contributing factors include insufficient food intake during pregnancy, faulty weaning and child-feeding practices and repeated episodes of diarrhoea, worm infestation and other infections. The population’s diet is restricted to tuna, rice and coconut; nutritious vegetables make up a very small proportion of the diet. Nutrition education is needed; most people could easily produce the necessary vegetables and fruits in home gardens.

Since 1992, IFAD has been supporting a project in Maldives to establish a viable banking network in the Northern Atolls and to promote credit and savings, in particular for fishing. But a 1994 IFAD evaluation of the project came to the conclusion that more attention should be paid to the underlying problem of malnutrition by emphasizing farming and horticulture in combination with integrated nutritional education. As a result, a new IFAD project for the Southern Atolls integrates island-level nutrition programmes much more effectively into its main credit and community infrastructure activities. In collaboration with UNICEF, community-training programmes would emphasize improved breast-feeding practices, complementary feeding, prevention of illnesses and psycho-social child-care activities. Home gardens, agriculture and a diversified diet would be promoted among women.

The project would also assist communities in establishing a participatory planning process to identify infrastructure requirements and assign priorities to project activities. UNFPA has expressed interest in the project and might be willing to support it through the training and organization of women’s groups on those islands that wish to establish a women’s health and maternity post. UNFPA might also provide training for potential women credit recipients.