For the first time in the Maldives, a formal policy has been introduced to provide financial assistance to registered private media outlets by the State. Published in the Government Gazette today, the Media Grant Policy was developed as part of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s commitment to honour his pledge to allocate a share of the State budget towards empowering media and journalism.
Following his election victory, during the transition period, President Dr Muizzu convened a consultative meeting titled Media Gunzaru with media organisations across the country. At the meeting, he invited input on the challenges faced by the sector and assured participants that his administration would work to develop sustainable solutions. That same evening, the President announced that the Government would introduce a transparent and accountable policy to earmark a percentage of the state budget as financial assistance for private media.
The policy, gazetted, today sets out the principles and criteria governing the allocation of such assistance. In line with the President’s pledge, registered private media outlets in the Maldives will now be eligible to receive funding from the state budget. Beginning this year, 0.1 per cent of the annually approved State budget revenue will be set aside for this purpose. This allocation will exclude grants, projected revenue from new initiatives during the year, and funds specifically designated for other purposes.
With the introduction of this policy, private media outlets in the Maldives will, for the first time, be able to apply for State-funded financial assistance through a transparent and accountable process.