Building on the results of previous programs in Maldives, in August 2020 ABA ROLI began the Strong and Inclusive Maldivian Democracy (SIMD) Program. In partnership with the USAID Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (USAID/CEPPS), ABA ROLI’s component of the SIMD Program works to increase the efficiency and responsiveness of the Maldivian justice sector. ABA ROLI implements SIMD in partnership with local organizations including the Bar Council of the Maldives, Public Interest Law Center, and governmental and independent institutions.
On November 19, 2022, a key milestone was reached in the Maldives as the first Maldives' Bar Exam was successfully administered by ABA ROLI and Bar Council of Maldives (BCM), as mandated under the Legal Profession Act (LPA). The bar exam is one of the two essential requirements outlined in the LPA for individuals seeking to become licensed lawyers and is considered a crucial step towards standardizing the legal profession in the Maldives. The data collected from the exam’s psychometric analysis, demonstrated that the first Maldives bar exam met international best practice standards, as evidenced by key statistical quality indicators for a new licensing exam.