A fresh opportunity is now available for economists, academics, and independent researchers to explore key economic challenges and opportunities in the Maldives. The Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) has announced the opening of its 2025 call for research proposals under the MMA Research Fund. This initiative, backed by a total allocation of MVR 1 million, is designed to promote high-quality, policy-relevant research that supports the nation’s economic resilience and evidence-based policy development.
The research fund supports independent research grants, collaborative projects, and book-writing initiatives. Its overarching goal is to deepen the national understanding of critical macroeconomic, financial, and developmental issues. The MMA also aims to foster partnerships between policymakers and the academic community to generate actionable insights that can directly inform economic strategy and planning in the country.
Eligibility for the fund includes independent researchers with a minimum of a Master’s degree, with PhD-level candidates strongly encouraged to apply. Academic institutions, think tanks, and MMA staff working in collaboration with recognized research organizations are also invited to submit proposals. Collaborative project proposals must include MMA staff as partners and clearly demonstrate how the project aligns with the strategic priorities of the Authority.
The program’s scope is broad, reflecting the complex economic landscape of the Maldives. Research topics may address areas such as monetary policy, macroeconomic stability, financial sector resilience, economic diversification, Islamic finance, digital financial inclusion, climate-related financial risks, labour market trends, and education policy. In addition to traditional research papers, the MMA is also offering Book Grants to individuals or teams with prior publishing experience. Books can be written in either Dhivehi or English, with preference given to works that enhance public financial literacy or contribute to policy discussions.
Selected proposals will receive funding to cover research-related expenses, including fieldwork, data collection, research assistance, and publication. Successful collaborative projects will also benefit from peer-review support, co-publication opportunities with MMA staff, and the chance to present findings at the MMA Research Conference, a key platform for policy dialogue and knowledge dissemination in the Maldives.
Applications must be submitted by email to [email protected] no later than 30 October 2025. The MMA’s Academic and Technical Review Committee will evaluate all submissions based on criteria such as relevance to national economic priorities, originality, methodological rigor, feasibility, and potential policy impact. Notification of successful proposals is expected by 9 November 2025.
Further details, including application templates, evaluation criteria, and proposal guidelines, are available on the MMA’s official website. This initiative not only strengthens the research ecosystem in the Maldives but also reflects the Authority’s commitment to informed economic policymaking and sustainable development. The MMA continues to serve as the central pillar of the country’s monetary and financial system, and this research initiative plays a vital role in advancing that mission.
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