The World Bank Mission team met with the Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Mr. Ali Ihusaan, on 18th September as part of its support and implementation mission from September 15th to 23rd, 2024. Mr. Jerome Bezzina (Task Team Leader, Sr. Digital Development Specialist) led the meeting, which included Ms. Anna Metz (co-Task Team Leader, Sr. Digital Development Specialist).

The Minister of State for Homeland Security and Technology, Dr. Mohamed Kinaanath, who heads the technology sector, also participated in the meeting with Dr. Ibrahim Waheed (Project Manager), Mr. Ahmed Haleem (Communications Specialist), and Ms. Fathmath Shafa Hussain (Project Officer) from the D’MADD PMU.

This was the first meeting with the Minister of Homeland Security and Technology by the World Bank mission on the D’MADD project. The co-task team leaders briefed the minister on the project's history. They also reported on the project's current progress and areas where policy intervention is required for its success.

Among these was expediting the work of the Data Protection Bill, which is critical legislation to meet the project's disbursement criteria. The minister assured that full support would be provided to expedite the legislative agenda. He also reiterated that the new government’s policy aligns with the D’MADD project activities.

The meeting was concluded with a small presentation by the minister on the government's vision of the proposed “Hope Island,” designed to rehabilitate and reintegrate children and youth in conflict with the law into society, and how technology can support the vision.