Soneva Namoona, local island councils celebrate 6 years of transformative environmental impact in Maldives

Soneva Namoona, a local NGO pioneering innovative waste management solutions, and representatives from eleven councils from Baa and Noonu atolls gathered at Soneva Fushi to celebrate 6 years of delivering positive environmental outcomes in the Maldives.

The collaborative efforts between Soneva Namoona and the councils have created pathbreaking solutions for sustainable waste management on the island level and reduced harmful activities such as the open burning of garbage.

Over the past 6 years, Soneva Namoona has developed flagship programs to encourage the use of alternatives to single-use plastics, a 5-step sustainable waste management model and programs which inspire the love for the ocean.

With the councils and partners, Soneva Namoona has:

• Eliminated 1 million Single Use Plastic bottles from entering the ocean or being burnt, by producing and distributing 500,000 litres of Soneva Water, which comes in reusable glass bottles or large, reusable plastic containers.
• Diverted over eight hundred tons of waste from entering the ocean or being burnt by providing infrastructure, logistics and consultancy in Baa and Noonu Atoll.
• Five hundred tons of materials were sent for recycling, showcasing communities’ dedication and willingness to adopt sustainable waste practices
• Engaged more than 6,000 people to promote sustainable behaviour change and environmental stewardship through various training and engagements.

Gordon Jackson, a Namoona Champion who has been working on innovative waste management solutions in the Maldives for over 12 years, remarked:

“Our partnerships with island councils have resulted in many innovative practices which work well in our small island context. The formalisation of these practices through a model or framework for sustainable waste management is a great collective achievement.”

Ibrahim Abdul Rahman, Vice President of the Baa Atoll Council and President of the Kendhoo Island Council, reflected on the transformation: “Waste management was once a low priority. But over the past six years, with Soneva Namoona’s incredible support, we’ve achieved progress far beyond what we imagined. Together, we’ve demonstrated a blueprint for sustainable waste management practices across the Maldives.”

Dhimsha Abdul Majeed, an island council member from N. Kudafari, emphasised the need for a national rollout: “To maximize the impact of government investments in waste management and elevate the nation’s practices to a truly sustainable standard, I strongly call upon the current administration to adopt and implement the Namoona Sustainable Waste Management Model across all Maldivian islands. This model offers a practical and proven pathway to achieving long-term environmental resilience.”

Azhoora Ahmed, who has been part of Soneva Namoona since its inception and is its current President reflected on the organisation’s journey and aspirations: “In 2025, Soneva Namoona is committed to embarking on an ambitious journey to scale its impact across Maldives. We invite the government, private sector and like-minded organisations to join us in creating a future where sustainable waste management becomes a nationwide reality.”