79. Some of the challenges by institutions in implementing social protection schemes
targeted for vulnerable groups include lack of institutional mechanisms, human
resource constraints and multi‐sectoral coordination between relevant stakeholders.
Moreover institutions are yet to undertake an assessment on the impact such programs
had on targeted populations, considering the limited options available for economic
empowerment of women.
80. The table below shows information about women’s status as beneficiaries of pension.
Bulk of the contributions of pension scheme adds to the basic pension, and almost half
of the beneficiaries of basic pension are female. A small fraction of the contributions of
pension scheme goes to retirement pension and percentage of females from private
sector who contribute to retirement pension scheme remains at a minimal level. Even
though home based female workers have the option to participate in the Retirement
Pension Scheme as self‐employed persons, so far no one is registered as self‐employed.
Figure 18: number of beneficiaries by pension scheme
Scheme
Basic Pension
Maldives Retirement Pension Scheme
Other Pension
Senior Citizen Allowance
percentage share of female beneficiaries
2011
2012
2013
2014
48
48
48.17
48.51
19
26
14.46
15.13
26
25
27.73
27.86
47.92
Source: Department of planning (2013).Source: Department of Planning (2013). Statistical Year Book of Maldives
2013. Retrieved on December 10th 2014 from http://planning.gov.mv/yearbook2013/yearbook.html & information
received from Maldives Pension Administration Office (2014 and 2013)
81. An Assessment on Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Loan Scheme undertaken by
Ministry of Economic Development (MoED) in 2013 highlighted that SME loan scheme
aimed to facilitate broader SME participation in the economy. This assessment
evaluated the 2009‐2010 Scheme that totalled a sum of over MVR 18.8 million (USD
1.22 million) provided loans from varying sizes from MVR 50,000 (USD 3,242.54) to
200,000 (USD 12970.17) to 266 beneficiaries plus the 2011‐ Line of Credit Facility (LCF)
Scheme that totalled a sum of MVR 46.3 million provided loans between MVR 100,000
(6,485.08) to MVR 1,000,000 (USD 64850.84) to a total 89 beneficiaries. This assessment
highlighted that SME loan schemes had a pre‐set target of awarding 40 percent of all
loans to women entrepreneurs, however, women were represented as 30 percent loan
beneficiaries of schemes while men represented 56 percent and companies represented
remaining 6 percent (distinction on companies with women’s ownership was
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