The World Bank mission commenced with an opening session led by Dr. Ibrahim Waheed, Project Manager of the D’MADD Project. In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Waheed acknowledged the presence of all participants and emphasized the significance of the meeting, noting that it marked the first formal engagement of the mission. He explained that the session was convened as part of the mid-term review process, aimed at assessing the progress of the project, identifying existing gaps, and collecting feedback from stakeholders. Dr. Waheed further highlighted that, given the importance of the discussions, the meeting was held in advance of the main kick-off session to ensure a focused and productive start to the mission.

Ms. Anna Metz from the World Bank outlined the strategic purpose of the mid-term review, emphasizing the need to assess progress and recalibrate efforts to achieve the project’s objectives, particularly in digital development and climate resilience. She requested updates on the Climate Data Platform, pilot initiatives, and Component 3 of the project.

Dr. Waheed and Mr. Ajwad Musthafa highlighted progress on Component 3, including advancements in the Climate Data Platform and pilot projects such as the Fuvahmulah Early Warning System. They noted ongoing procurement and upcoming stakeholder workshops, with a focus on hiring a national data management consultant.

From the Ministry, Ms. Muhusina Abdul Rahman emphasized the importance of institutional reform and standardized protocols for the Climate Data Platform, advocating for better data integration, revival of the State of the Environment Report, and improvements to the research permit system. Ms. Mashiya Ibrahim shared updates on a new Excel-based data system for islands and discussed integration with the Climate Data Platform, receiving clarification that councils would not need to re-enter data as the platform will pull from existing systems.

The session concluded with a call for strong coordination, urging all departments to participate in upcoming workshops and review the Climate Data Platform Roadmap to avoid overlaps and refine technical requirements.