The vibrant Maldivian tech community has come together with some of the experts tirelessly safeguarding the fragile Maldivian ecosystem for future generations. Paving the way for the Maldives Ocean Hackathon, dedicated to tackling the pressing environmental challenges of climate change, an interactive session unfolded before the Maldivian tech community today, 13th September 2023. This "Ask Me Anything" session was aimed to elucidate the challenges outlined in the 2023 hackathon, to be held from October 15th to 17th.

The session commenced with an icebreaker activity spearheaded by the Hackathon's co-facilitator, Aishath Adnan, COO of Spark Hub, fostering a friendly and relaxed atmosphere for participants and potential teams to seek clarity on any uncertainties. A distinguished panel of experts: Ajwadh Musthafa, Permanent Secretary of the MoECCT; Dr Ibrahim Waheed, Project Manager, Digital Maldives Project; Zammath Khaleel, Grants Manager, Tetra Tech; Muhusina Abdhuh Rahman, Senior Conservation Officer; Enas Mohamed, Senior Environment Analyst; Akram Waheed, Director, Utility Regulatory Authority took part in the session. These experts from diverse backgrounds: marine protection and conservation, climate change, sustainable energy, and technology stood ready to field queries and offer clarifications.

At the heart of the hackathon lies the ambition to nurture collaboration, innovation, and problem-solving. By fostering an environment that encourages policymakers, civil society representatives, private sector players, and multidisciplinary experts to unite and share their insights and expertise, this event aspires to catalyse groundbreaking solutions for the unique climate challenges confronting the Maldives.

The Maldives Ocean Hackathon is organised by the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Digital Maldives for Adaptation, Decentralization and Diversification (DMADD) project at the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Technology and funded by the World Bank. Dhivehi Raajjeyge Gulhun plc (DHIRAAGU), Crossroads Maldives, Villa College, Nooraajje program, and Public Service Media (PSM) have joined with the ministry to ensure the triumph of this event. Furthermore, international partners Microsoft and X PRIZE support the hackathon's endeavours.