The World Bank’s implementation and support mission for the D’MADD Project, which was a resounding success, was concluded in October 2023. The findings were then briefed to the officials of the Ministry of Finance, marking a significant milestone in our project journey.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Jerome Bezzina, the Task Team Leader, Ms. Anna Zita Metz, the Program Officer from the World Bank and Mr. Ibrahim Rishad, the Operations Officer from the World Bank Maldives Office. Ms. Aminath Nashia, the Resource Mobilization Executive, Ms. Aishath Hamdha (Assistant Resource Mobilization Executive) and Mohamed Jilau Moosa (Finance & Resource Mobilization Specialist) from the Ministry of Finance. Mr. Ajwad Musthafa (Permanent Secretary), Dr. Ibrahim Waheed (Project Manager), Mr. Ahmed Haleem (Communications Specialist) and Ms. Fathmath Shafa Hussain (Project Officer) represented the D’MADD Project.

The mission team highlighted the successful implementation of the Maldives Ocean Hackathon 2023. The possibility of sourcing young talent locally for related projects was mentioned in the discussion, along with the potential of using the World Bank's Trust Fund for data platforms related to climate change and data gathering. The World Bank representatives expressed the need for future collaborations with the contestants.

The PMU was invited to the COP 28 summit in December, noting that the government might be required to present the project at the event.

As a new government will take the helm, Mr. Ajwad Musthafa highlighted the need for a smooth transition during the change of administration without drastic changes to the project's scope and objectives.

Overall, the mission expressed satisfactory performance of the PMU within the short duration of its establishment