The Digital Maldives for Adaptation, Decentralization and Diversification (D’MADD) Project convened a two-day stakeholder consultation workshop on April 7–8, 2026, to advance the implementation of the Maldives’ National Data Sharing Program. Led by the Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology (MoHSLT) with support from D4DInsights, the workshop brought together representatives from government agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector to strengthen governance and technical foundations for national data sharing. The workshop was conducted by Mr Shivam Kishore, Digital Transformation Expert at D4D Insights.

The consultations form part of the D’MADD Project’s broader efforts to establish a secure, scalable, and interoperable Climate Data Sharing Platform under Component 3.1 of the project. The initiative supports the Maldives’ digital transformation agenda by improving digital infrastructure, public service delivery, and climate resilience through effective use of data.

Day one of the workshops focused on policy and governance discussions surrounding the National Data Sharing Policy (NDSP) and the proposed National Data Sharing Steering Committee (NDSSC). Participants emphasized the need for stronger and more binding policy language to ensure consistent and effective data sharing across government institutions.

In addition, consensus was reached on the leadership structure of the NDSSC. The committee will serve primarily as an oversight and enablement body, while operational implementation responsibilities will be carried out by Maldives Digital Service – designated chair of the NDSSC.

The second day focused on the Data Management Framework and the identification of priority use cases for the future Data Sharing Platform. Stakeholders supported broadening the framework beyond climate-related data to address wider national data-sharing needs, including health and social sectors.

Stakeholders also emphasized the importance of addressing governance considerations for sensitive health data, including data classification, ownership, custodianship, and access controls. In addition, participants identified three priority use cases that will guide the initial deployment of the national Data Sharing Platform. Working groups further developed detailed inputs on data requirements, governance considerations, and existing data gaps for each use case to support the configuration and deployment of the platform.

The stakeholder consultations mark an important milestone in the Maldives’ journey toward a more connected, data-driven, and resilient digital future, reinforcing collaboration across institutions to unlock the value of national data assets for sustainable development. The workshop saw strong participation across both days, with 42 participants from 15 organizations attending on the first day, and 43 participants from 26 organizations taking part on the second day.