In each island there are various CBO's active, whose mandate is generally aimed at island development through various activities. In general each island has a Women's Development Committee (WDC) and an Island Development Committee (IDC).

Women's Development Committees

Introduction

On January 1, 1983 committees working for the development of women were established in the atolls following the decision made in the second meeting of the women of the atolls held in Malé in 1981, to establish Women's Committees that function under the same regulations in all inhabited islands in the country,

Until April 1, 1993 the women's committees were selected by the Department of Women's Affairs. The members were selected from among those identified by the island and ward authorities as individuals noted for their community services in their respective islands. Health Assistants, midwives and teachers were encouraged to be included among these. Although all islands were using the same basic procedure to select members for the committees, in some islands women voted for their members.

The decision to elect members for the committee instead of selecting them was made on April, 1 1993. Following this, the regulations regarding the function of these committees were revised and updated in 1995. Further amendments were made to the regulations in 2000. Under the new regulations each committee was named as the "Committee working for the Development of Women" with the name of the specific island/ward in front.

Objectives

The main objective of these committees are to plan, organize and conduct various programmes/activities to promote the development of the women in their ward/island.

These include:
a. conduct programmes/activities to promote national and social unity among the women
b. work for the protection of women's rights
c. work for the improvement of the general status of women in the ward/island and conduct programmes/activities to increase the participation of women in the economic and political arenas
d. increase the number of women going into tertiary education
e. improve the health standards of women
f. gather important data and information about the women of the ward/island
g. create awareness of the importance of voluntary work for the development of the community
h. participate as best as possible in all programmes/activities organized by the government and other bodies to promote the development of women

Head Office

The Ward/Island Office, in consultation with the Ministry of Women's Affairs and Social Security decides the head office for the committees working for the development of women. There should be system whereby people may be stationed at the head office for work.

Members

Members for the committees are elected by the vote of the women over 18 years of age belonging to the specific ward/island. Anyone with the qualities stated in the regulations is eligible for membership. The minimum number of members for a committee is 10 and maximum is 20.

Responsibilities

a. plan, organize and conduct various programmes/activities to achieve the objectives of the committee
b. monitor finances and assets of the committee

Electing the Committee

a. members are to be elected by a secret vote taken in accordance with the regulations stipulated by the Ministry of Women's Affairs and Social Security
b. women living in the particular ward/island, who are 18 years old by the day of voting are eligible for voting
c. all other information about election is explained in detail in the rules of election

Term of Office

a. a committee's term of office is 3 years
b. a new committee should be elected 30 days before the end of term of office of the one currently functioning
c. Ministry of Women's Affairs and Social Security retains the right to extend the term of office once it has expired. The maximum extension is 6 months

Posts

Once the committee has been elected, members should be assigned for the following posts:
1. president
2. vice president
3. secretary
4. treasurer

The posts are to be assigned as decided by the members through discussion or by taking a vote. If a post is left vacant during the committee's term, a new member should be assigned to the post. The duration of this post would then be until the end of office of the committee. Men may be assigned to all posts except that of the president and vice president of the committee.

Island Development Committees

Introduction

1. The committee is to be called the Island Development Committee (Rah Kuriaruvaa Committee or Raa Kaaf Committee)

In big islands that has wards far from each other, a committee for each ward may be established. Permission should be sought from the Regional Office to which the island belongs to, prior to the establishment of ward development committees. The number of members to be included in the committee is to be decided in accordance with the population of the island/ward as stipulated in the regulations.

Objectives

The objectives of the committee include planning, organizing and conducting various programmes/activities for the development of the ward/island and offer sincere cooperation to the island authorities with regard to the following points:

a. work in association with the Island Office to promote the spirit of religious, national and social unity in the community
b. work with the people in carrying out various programmes/activities necessary for the development of the island/ward
c. provide full cooperation to the Island Office in conducting developmental programmes organized by either the government or government approved authorities
d. work in association with the Island Office in providing all the necessary assistance to the Women's Committees and any other functioning associations for the development of the community
e. make efforts to increase the wealth of the island/ward

Head Office

The head office of this committee is to be established in the Island Office.

People in Charge

a. Mushthashar - supreme authority
The Mushthashar of the committee would be the Island Chief or person assigned the responsibilities of the post, if there is no Island Chief
b. President
The president of the committee would be the person assigned as head of the Island Office during the time. He is in charge of planning, organizing and conducting the various developmental programmes/activities in accordance with the guidance of the Mushthashar.
c. Vice President
The Vice President is to be elected by the members from among themselves.

Members

a. The committee members comprise of the island authorities, people selected by the Atoll Chief, President of the Women's Committee, and personnel elected in accordance with the regulations stated below (b). People selected by the Atoll Chief are to be decided through the convention of the island authorities. Island Authorities as defined here include the Island Chiefs - Bodu Katheeb, Katheeb, Kuda Katheebs and magistrates.
b. Numbers of personnel to be selected into the committee according to the population of the community is as follows: