The Maldives Library Association was represented as a Civil Service Organization (CSO) to give input to the Voluntary National Review (VNR) 2023 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

MLA representative shared information about the importance of libraries as a crosscutting agent across a number of SDGs such as support education (SDG4), promote access to information (SDG16), enhance health and well-being (SDG3) through access to health information and resources, and contribute towards sustainable communities (SDG11) by providing gathering space, hosting events and programming.

After a central thematic discussion on the status of SDGs attainment in the Maldives, the participants were grouped into 3 breakout rooms (Social wellbeing, Economic Resilience, and Environment & Climate adaptation) for detailed discussions and share experiences, challenges, and possible best practices in achieving the SDGs.

MLA was grouped into the Economic resilience breakout room.

The discussions within the breakout group on Economic Resilience focused to a large extent on the importance of reaching the vulnerable groups in ensuring their economic resilience. Economic literacy, economic independence of women, focusing on unemployed youth and empowering them to navigate through the higher education system, especially the importance of guidance for those who leave school after O’level were some of the central discussions from a few other participants.

MLA representative highlighted how public libraries can play a key role within the community, not only for social wellbeing, but also for economic resiliency by situating as a gathering place, a safe public space, a space that promotes digital inclusion as well as digital literacy. If there is one thing COVID-19 pandemic has taught, it is the importance of being digitally savvy to shelter from sudden disruptions to physical connectivity.

Similar sentiments were also raised by a few other CSO participants who highlighted the importance of meeting spaces (especially in the islands) where different people can come together to create a dialogue or exchange ideas. Community libraries were highlighted as a key place that can pave way to upskilling, and provide digital connectivity, digital literacy, and equal and equitable digital access to everyone.

IFLA’s manual on libraries & sustainable development goals quite succinctly summarized how libraries can contributed to achieving SDGs. This document was shared with the participants.

In concluding the discussions, one key area that was highlighted was the importance of the role the libraries in providing a safe, accessible and inclusive community space to contribute to economic resilience. It was also highlighted that even though establishment of public libraries is mandated through the Local Government Authority Act, the implementation or establishment of public libraries has been slow even though incremental positive changes are being seen such as the Fuvahmulah public library. It was also highlighted how public libraries can play a vital role in providing access to virtual higher education especially to the communities in the islands.