The coordination meeting between the Environmental Regulatory Authority (ERA), the World Bank, and the D'MADD Project team commenced with introductions. Mr. Hassaan Mohamed welcomed participants and clarified that ERA, formerly the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), functions as both a regulatory body and a scientific research organization.

Representatives from ERA provided updates on their recent activities, including the successful completion of the passive acoustic monitoring pilot at Rasfari Reef and the submission of its final report. Training sessions involving ERA staff, MNU students, and NGOs were highlighted, along with the purchase of new devices for terrestrial sound monitoring focused on seabirds in protected areas. ERA also noted ongoing experiments with broadcasting healthy reef sounds to attract coral larvae and preparations for a GEF funding proposal to expand these efforts. The organization outlined its need for a digitized Environmental Data Management System to improve legal accessibility, transparency, and integration with ministry systems. ERA reiterated its commitment to digital transformation and the benefits of a new database for reporting and automation.

The World Bank and D’MADD Project team supported integrating ERA’s data as a distinct module within the planned National Climate Data Sharing Platform to avoid fragmentation. Hosting options for the new system were discussed, weighing on-premises versus cloud solutions, with emphasis on confidentiality and disaster recovery. It was confirmed that ERA’s module could be included in the main procurement package, and that needs assessments and concept notes would be shared among stakeholders.

The meeting concluded with recognition of ERA’s progress and readiness for digital transformation since the 2022 workshops.