Project

The Digital Maldives for Adaptation, Decentralization and Diversification (DMADD) Project

27 Apr 2023

Background

The Government Strategic Action Plan 2019-2023 outlines an ambitious agenda for digital development as a key step towards economic diversification. The Digital Maldives for Adaptation, Decentralization and Diversification (DMADD) Project (P177040), aims to support the Maldives in its digital transformation.

The DMADD project is funded by a grant from the World Bank and will be led by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology (MoECCT) and implemented by the National Centre for Information Technology (NCIT). Key beneficiaries include the National Centre for Information Technology (NCIT), Communications Authority of Maldives (CAM) and the Department of National Registration (DNR).

 

AIM

The proposed Project aims to support the use of digital technologies to decentralize, diversify and to adapt to climate change. The project objective is to enhance the enabling environment for the digital economy in Maldives, to improve identification for in-person and remote service delivery, and to leverage data and analytics for a green, resilient, and inclusive development. It is designed around four components and the proposed activities are conceived following the country’s priorities and funding needs in the medium term.

 

Key Project Components

  1. Enabling environment for improved digital connectivity and competitiveness.
  2. Digital identification for improved online and in-person service delivery.
  3. Digital technologies and data platform for climate resilience; and
  4. Project management and implementation support.

 

Project objectives

The project will assist the government in laying the legal and regulatory foundations for the digital economy and the provision of digital services, fostering the growth of high-quality and reasonably priced Internet services, and fostering trust in digital transactions and service delivery. Hence, The project will fund technical assistance to strengthen legal and regulatory frameworks in such areas as data protection, cybersecurity and cybercrime, electronic transactions, identification, and provide support for their operationalization through enhancing institutional capacity and developing pertinent roadmaps, strategies, and other tools and guidance.

 

Project Stakeholders

  1. Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology
  2. Department of National Registrations
  3. The National Centre for Information Technology
  4. Communications Authority of Maldives

Project Timeline

07 Mar 2023

The World Bank Team meets the Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture

Mr. Jérôme Bezzina, Senior Digital Development Specialist and task team leader for the DMADD project met with key officials representing the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Marine Resources Sectors of the Maldives. The objectives of the DMADD project were communicated to the team representing members from the Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources, and Agriculture and the Maldives Marine Research Institute. The technical experts acknowledged the importance of sharing data among government organizations and how the Climate Data Platform proposed in the DMADD can aid the functions of Government organizations and NGOs in the agriculture and fisheries sector.

The Sector was represented by:

Mr. Adam Ziyad - Director General, Fisheries Department (MoFMRA)
Ms. Maleeha Haleem - Director, Fisheries Department (MoFMRA)
Ms. Shafiya Naeem -Director General (MMRI),
Ms. Kadheeja Ali -Senior Research Officer (MMRI)

07 Mar 2023

High Level meeting with key Policy makers from the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology

Mr. Jérôme Bezzina, Senior Digital Development Specialist and task team leader for the DMADD project met with Senior officials of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology to brief them on the Mission findings. The meeting was attended by Honorable Minister Ms. Aminath Shauna, Minister of State Dr. Abdulla Naseer, Minister of State Ms. Khadeeja Naseem, and the Permanent Secretary Mr. Ajwad Musthafa.

During the meeting, Mr. Bezzina presented the mission findings, highlighting key observations, achievements, challenges, and recommendations. The briefing covered various aspects related to the DMADD project. The meeting provided a platform for open dialogue and constructive discussions, allowing the ministry officials and the DMADD project team to align strategies, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities for collaboration. The presence of high-level representatives from both sides demonstrated the commitment and shared responsibility in advancing the DMADD project's goals.

Project Manager Dr. Ibrahim Waheed and Communications Specialist Mr. Ahmed Haleem represented the DMADD PMU Team.

06 Mar 2023

The World Bank Team Briefs Ministry of Finance on Mission Findings

Mr. Jérôme Bezzina, the Senior Digital Development Specialist and task team leader for the DMADD project, recently held a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Finance to provide a comprehensive briefing on the findings of the mission. The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Mr. Ajwad Musthafa, Dr. Ibrahim Waheed, the Project Manager, and Mr. Ilyas Ahmed, the Chief Executive of the Communications Authority of Maldives.

Representing the Ministry of Finance were Deputy Minister Ms. Mariyam Manarath Muneer, Chief Resource Mobilization Executive Mr. Mohamed Yammai, and Resource Mobilization Executive Ms. Aishath Nashath. The meeting aimed to present and discuss the mission findings and their implications for the DMADD project.

During the briefing, Mr. Bezzina shared key insights and recommendations based on the mission's assessment, highlighting the progress, challenges, and opportunities identified thus far. The meeting provided a platform for constructive discussions on financial considerations, resource mobilization, and potential collaborations between the Ministry of Finance and the DMADD project.

The presence of high-level representatives from both the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology and the Ministry of Finance demonstrated the commitment and shared responsibility in advancing the DMADD project. The meeting served as an important step towards aligning strategies, streamlining financial processes, and ensuring effective coordination between key stakeholders.

As the DMADD project moves forward, the insights gained from this meeting will contribute to strengthening partnerships and creating a solid foundation for successful project implementation. The collaboration between the Ministry of Finance and the DMADD project team is expected to unlock further opportunities for sustainable financing and accelerate progress towards climate resilience in the Maldives.

06 Mar 2023

The World bank mission and the DMADD team, met with Communications Authority of Maldives (CAM)

The World Bank mission and the DMADD team, met with the Communications Authority of Maldives (CAM) to discuss the actions to provide support as per component 1.1, “Enabling environment for improved digital connectivity and competitiveness”. The DMADD project will support CAM by providing Technical Assistance, capacity building, and provision of equipment that will support regulatory enforcement.

Mr. Jérôme Bezzina, Senior Digital Development Specialist and task team leader for the DMADD project, Dr. Ibrahim Waheed, the Project Manager, Mr. Ahmed Haleem, Communications Specialist and Mohamed Sharif Ahmed, Project Coordinator from the National Centre for Information Technology (NCIT) represented the Ministry while, The Communications Authority of Maldives was represented by Chief Executive, Mr. Ilyas Ahmed, Deputy Director General, Mr. Mohamed Siraj and Deputy Director Mohamed Siraj.

05 Mar 2023

The World bank mission and the DMADD team meets with Department of National Registration (DNR).

The World Bank Task Team Participants, represented by Jérôme Bezzina, Task Team Leader and Senior Digital Development Specialist, and Anna Zita Metz, Program Officer, recently held a meeting with the Department of National Registration (DNR) as part of the DMADD project.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Ibrahim Waheed, Project Manager, Ahmed Haleem, Communications Specialist from DMADD, and Mohamed Sharif Ahmed, Project Coordinator from the National Center for Information Technology (NCIT), as well as Aishath Rasheeda, Deputy Minister, and Mohamed Umair, Director from DNR.

During the meeting, the participants discussed the current state of the DNR and how the DMADD project could provide support. The meeting was an important step in the collaboration between the World Bank, DMADD, and the DNR to ensure the success of the project.

The World bank mission and the DMADD team, met with Department of National Registration (DNR). The primary objective of the meeting was to identify the potential areas where the project can provide technical assistance, capacity building and modernization of the civil registry system with provision of hardware and software, under the DMADD project

02 Mar 2023

The World bank mission and the DMADD team, met with the Maldives Meteorological Service (MMS) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

The World bank mission and the DMADD team, met with the Maldives Meteorological Service (MMS) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The officials discussed areas of collaboration that can support the implementation of the data platform which can be a key asset to the disaster management efforts of the Maldives and how data resources of MMS can contribute to NDMA via the platform.

02 Mar 2023

Meeting held with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding Digital technologies and data platform for climate resilience.

The World Bank mission and the DMADD team, met with the Environment Protection Agency (EPA). The senior officials from EPA met the DMADD PMU and the World Bank Team and discussed areas of collaboration that can support the implementation of the data platform and the Pilot Projects. EPA expressed its interest to use the technologies demonstrated in the December 2022 workshop, to remotely monitor a current project to revive a near by reef which was damaged due to a ship grounding.

02 Mar 2023

World Bank Mission Team Collaborates with Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology to Advance DMADD Project

The World Bank mission team recently conducts another highly productive meeting with officials from the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology as part of their ongoing implementation support mission for the Digital Maldives for Adaptation, Decentralization, and Diversification (DMADD) project. The meeting aimed to foster collaboration and discuss strategies for leveraging digital data and technologies for climate resilience.

Led by Mr. Jérôme Bezzina, Senior Digital Development Specialist and task team leader for the DMADD project, along with Ms. Anna Zita Metz, Program Officer, the World Bank mission team engaged with a team of officials from the Ministry. This team consisted of Ms. Miruza Mohamed, Director of Environment Management, Senior Conservation Officers Ms. Muhsina Abdul Rahman and Ms. Lisama Sabry, and Environmental Analyst Ms. Rayya Hussain.

During the meeting, participants reflected on the success of the "Unlocking the power of digital data & technologies for climate resilience" workshop held in December 2022. They explored the formulation of pilot projects that could harness the technologies demonstrated during the workshop, aiming to enhance climate resilience in the Maldives.

Representatives from the DMADD Project Management Unit (PMU), including Dr. Ibrahim Waheed, the Project Manager, and Mr. Ahmed Haleem, the Communications Specialist, were also present at the meeting. Additionally, Fathimath Zameela, a Senior Software Engineer from the National Centre for Information Technology (NCIT), participated in the meeting, providing valuable insights and technical expertise.

As the implementation of the DMADD project continues, it is expected to bring about transformative changes and establish a solid foundation for utilizing digital innovations to combat climate change and ensure a sustainable future for the Maldives.

01 Mar 2023

Meeting held with the National Centre for Information Technology (NCIT) regarding Digital technologies and data platform for climate resilience

The World Bank mission team concluded a productive meeting with officials from The National Centre for Information Technology (NCIT) as part of their ongoing support for the implementation of the Digital Maldives for Adaptation, Decentralization, and Diversification (DMADD) project. The mission team, led by Mr. Jérôme Bezzina, Senior Digital Development Specialist and task team leader for the DMADD project, along with Ms. Anna Zita Metz, Program Officer, engaged in discussions with Minister of State for Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Mr. Mohamed Shareef.

During the meeting, Minister of State, Mr. Shareef, provided valuable insights into the broader vision of the DMADD project's components related to climate resilience and expressed ideas on how digital technologies can be harnessed for the cause. His expertise and insights further enriched the discussions, focusing on the technical aspects of the project and its successful implementation. Additionally, he also shared updates on the progress of data protection legislation and other legal and policy enablers and safeguards for data sharing.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the DMADD Project Management Unit (PMU), including Dr. Ibrahim Waheed, the Project Manager, and Mr. Ahmed Haleem, the Communications Specialist.

Among the NCIT participants were Fathimath Zameela, a Senior Software Engineer, and Mohamed Sharif Ahmed, the Project Coordinator.

The World Bank mission team expressed their appreciation for the collaboration and the progress made thus far. The meeting served as a platform to strengthen partnerships and accelerate the DMADD project's implementation, which aims to leverage digital technologies and data platforms to enhance climate resilience in the region.

This meeting is part of the implementation support mission for the DMADD project, which took place from February 27 to March 8, 2022. As the DMADD project continues to gain momentum, it is expected to make significant contributions to the field of climate resilience and establish a robust framework for leveraging digital technologies in addressing environmental challenges.

01 May 2023

Meeting held with the Maldives Land Survey Authority (MLSA) regarding Digital technologies and data platform for climate resilience

As part of a World Bank mission, a significant meeting took place between the World Bank representatives and the Maldives Land Survey Authority (MLSA) to discuss MLSA's role in utilizing and providing climate-relevant data. The participants included Ahmed Shainu, Director of the land section, and Mohamed Hafiz, Assistant Director of the Mapping Unit, representing MLSA.

Other notable participants in the meeting were Fathimath Zameela, Senior Software Engineer from NCIT; Anna Zita Metz, Program Officer from the World Bank Task Team; Dr. Ibrahim Waheed, Project Manager; and Mr. Ahmed Haleem, Communications Specialist, both from DMADD PMU.

The meeting primarily focused on two key topics: MLSA's involvement in offering and utilizing climate-related data, with a follow-up from a workshop held in December, and the identification of opportunities and challenges for collaboration and data sharing among different agencies.

This meeting is part of the implementation support mission for the DMADD project, which is scheduled to take place from February 27 to March 8, 2022. The collaboration between MLSA and the World Bank aims to strengthen the utilization of climate data for effective decision-making and sustainable development initiatives.

02 Feb 2023

Meeting held with Maldives Bureau of Statistics (MBS) regarding digital technologies and data platform for climate resilience

During the meeting, the following topics were discussed:

The role of the Maldives Bureau of Statistics in providing and utilizing climate-related data, building on discussions from a previous workshop held in December.
Identifying opportunities and addressing challenges for collaboration and data sharing among different agencies.

Key participants included Aishath Hassan, Chief Statistician, Aishath Shahuda, Deputy Chief Statistician, Aishath Shazna, Statistician from the Maldives Bureau of Statistics.

Anna Zita Metz, Program Officer from the World Bank Task Team attended the meeting with Dr. Ibrahim Waheed, Project Manager, and Mr. Ahmed Haleem, Communications Specialist from DMADD PMU along with Ms. Fathimath Zameela, Senior Software Engineer from NCIT

The meeting was part of the implementation support mission for the DMADD project and took place from February 27 to March 8, 2022.

28 Feb 2023

World Bank and DMADD PMU teams hold introductory meeting and mission briefing

The World Bank Task Team Participants, represented by Anna Zita Metz, Program Officer, recently held an introductory meeting with the DMADD PMU participants. The PMU team, consisting of Project Manager (PM) Dr. Ibrahim Waheed, Finance Management Specialist Ms. Ahlam Abdul Sattar, Procurement Specialist Shama Ahmed Rasheed, and Communications Specialist Mr. Ahmed Haleem, was briefed on the current progress of the DMADD project.

During the meeting, Anna explained the result matrices from the Project Appraisal Document, and subsequent meetings for the mission were planned to be carried out between February 27 and March 8, 2022. The meeting was an important step in the collaboration between the World Bank and the DMADD PMU team and laid the groundwork for successful implementation of the project.

27 Feb 2023

World Bank team arrives in Maldives to support implementation of DMADD project

A team from the World Bank, consisting of Jérôme Bezzina (Task Team Leader, Senior Digital Development Specialist) and Anna Zita Metz (Program Officer), has arrived in the Maldives to conduct an implementation support mission for the DMADD project. The mission is scheduled to take place from February 27 to March 8, 2022.

During their visit, the team will hold technical discussions with implementing agencies and stakeholders to assess progress and identify support needs related to the project components. The DMADD project aims to support stakeholder organizations in the Maldives through digital innovation, and the World Bank team's mission is an important step towards achieving this objective.

16 Feb 2023

Establishment of the Project Management Team

The work of the Project Management Unit established for the DMADD project commenced officially with the joining of the Project Manager. The recruitment process of the remaining members of the team was done shortly and the team will commence work on full capacity by 19th of March 2023.

Minister of State for Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Mr. Mohamed Shareef met with the DMADD PMU team to share the vision of Digital Maldives and how the project will support the government Digital Agenda.

The PMU Team for the DMADD Project consists of the Project Manager, Dr. Ibrahim Waheed, Finance Management Specialist, Ms. Ahlam Abdul Sattar, Ms. Procurement Specialist, Shama Ahmed Rasheed, and Communications Specialist, Mr. Ahmed Haleem.

08 Feb 2023

Maldives is turning to digital innovations to tackle climate change.

In her co-authored blog post, the Maldives' Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, H.E Ms. Aminath Shauna, sheds light on the transformative measures being taken by the nation to address climate change through digital innovations. As a low-lying island nation heavily impacted by rising sea levels, the Maldives is proactively adopting sustainable solutions to protect its environment and ensure socio-economic stability. Minister Shauna emphasizes the Maldives' commitment to leveraging digital technologies for climate resilience, including climate-smart infrastructure and the utilization of big data and predictive analytics. By harnessing these innovations, the Maldives is not only safeguarding its future but also inspiring other nations to embrace technology as a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.

04 Dec 2022

Unlocking the Power of Digital Data & Technologies for Climate Resilience

A two-day strategy and learning workshop to support the deployment of digital data technologies and tools for climate action, jointly convened by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Technology and the World Bank has begun at Kurumba Maldives.

04 Jul 2022

The Government of the Republic of Maldives and the World Bank have signed a financing agreement for the Digital Maldives for Adaptation, Decentralization, and Diversification Project.

Today, the Government of the Republic of Maldives and the World Bank have signed a financing agreement for the Digital Maldives for Adaptation, Decentralization, and Diversification Project. The agreement, worth SDR 7,300,000 (equivalent to US$10,000,000 or MVR 154,200,000), aims to improve the competitiveness of the broadband market, enhance identification for in-person and online service delivery, and leverage digital technologies, data, and analytics for climate resilience.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Ibrahim Ameer, signed the agreement on behalf of the Maldives government, while Mr. Faris H. Hadad-Zervos, the World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, signed on behalf of the Bank. Senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Technology also attended the ceremony.

The Digital Maldives for Adaptation, Decentralization, and Diversification Project will strengthen the legal, regulatory, and institutional frameworks for broadband internet connectivity and infrastructure, data governance, and the digital economy. This includes boosting the capacity of the Communication Authority of Maldives and the National Centre for Information Technology to improve Internet connectivity for people, businesses, and government across islands.

The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Technology will implement the project. This agreement is a significant step towards enhancing the digital infrastructure of the Maldives and achieving its long-term sustainable development goals.

Project Team