The World Bank's support and implementation mission began today. The Co Task Team Leaders, Mr. Jerome Bezzina (Task Team Leader, Sr. Digital Development Specialist), and included Ms. Anna Metz (co-Task Team Leader, Sr. Digital Development Specialist) will lead the mission.

The kick-off meeting was held at the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, with Mr Mohamed Yammai (Chief Resource Mobilization Executive), Ms Mariyam Hamdha (Assistant Resource Mobilization Executive), Shia Abdulla (Resource Mobilization Specialist) and Khadeeja Milha (Resource Mobilization Specialist) representing the Ministry.

The D'MADD project PMU was represented by Dr. Ibrahim Waheed (Project Manager), Mr. Ahmed Haleem (Communications Specialist), and Ms Fathmath Shafa Hussain (Project Officer).

Ms. Anna Metz briefed on the agenda for this regular implementation and supervisory mission. Key discussion points included the pending tasks of transferring the project from the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Technology. The D'MADD project was initially set up as part of the former administration's Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology. With the change in the administration, in November 2023, the technology mandate was transferred to the new Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology. Ms Anna Metz highlighted that the project transfer and restructuring had been completed on the World Bank side, and the project's result framework has also been updated. She noted that the last remaining work is closing the designated account and reopening it under the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology. The Ministry of Finance team said they were also finalizing tasks related to the project transfer and requested to elaborate on any additional requirements.

Project Manager Dr Ibrahim Waheed briefed the teams about the critical points of concern, especially about the payments and remuneration from the project during the closure. He iterated the importance of timing to minimize the risk of delays in timely payments such as pensions, among others.

Moving forward, the mission team emphasized the importance of submitting the Data Privacy and Protection Act, which is acceptable to the World Bank, to the parliament to meet the project's disbursement condition.

The Task Team Leader noted good progress on the procurement over the last six months with the support of the D'MADD PMU and the stakeholders, especially the pilots planned to be implemented under the project. Ms Anna Metz highlighted the Climate Data Workshop to be held during the mission with the assistance of the consultancy firm D4D Insights.

She added that the mission will visit Addu City to meet the city council and local NGOs to prepare for the aerial digital mapping of Addu City's reef using fluid lensing technology, one of the pilot projects envisaged under the D'MADD project.

Dr Mohamed Kinaanath, Minister of State for Homeland Security and Technology and Head of NCIT, welcomed the team. This was the first meeting after the project was officially transferred to the Ministry.

Mr Ilyas Ahmed (Chief Executive) of the Communications Authority of Maldives (CAM) stated that the organization has also been restructured under the Homeland Security and Technology. The change is expected to improve collaboration with the D'MADD team further.

Mr Ajwad Musthafa (Permanent Secretary) of the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, also the project's former director, expressed his excitement about the ministry-related components proceeding according to plan.