The Digital Maldives for Adaptation, Decentralization, and Diversification (DMADD) project recently met with members of the Maldives Competitiveness and Growth Project (MCGP) being implemented by the Ministry of Finance. Both initiatives, funded by the World Bank, aim to develop robust data sharing platforms. 

From the DMADD project, Dr. Ibrahim Waheed (Project Manager), Mr. Ahmed Haleem (Communications Specialist), Ms. Shama Ahmed Rasheed (Procurement Specialist), Ms. Ahlam Abdul Sattar (Finance Management Specialist), and Ms. Shafa Hussain (Project Officer) were present. 

Representing the MCGP project were Ali Irufan (Project Director, Public Finance Modernization and Reform Section), Shahidha AbdulRahman (Project Coordinator), Hudha Faheem (Communications Specialist), Abdulla Ishan (Financial Management Specialist), Ibrahim Mohamed (Environmental & Social Safeguards Specialist), and Hawwa Maldha (Procurement Specialist). 

During the meeting, it was emphasized that both projects require comprehensive data privacy laws for their platforms. The absence of such laws has hindered the Maldives from achieving significant economic benefits and advancing eGovernance. Strengthening data privacy and cybersecurity is therefore a shared priority. 

The DMADD project highlighted the importance of the Data Privacy and Protection Act, while the MCGP project also recognized the necessity for similar legislation. The World Bank has encouraged this collaboration to ensure efficient use of resources and to eliminate resource duplication. 

This meeting marks the beginning of a dialogue aimed at fostering synergy between the two projects, with a focus on developing and implementing essential data privacy and cybersecurity laws. 

Dr. Ibrahim Waheed, Project Manager of DMADD Project, shared plans for moving forward, and both teams expressed optimism about the collaboration. Additionally, discussions were held on sharing Project Management Unit (PMU) capacity development opportunities to further enhance the projects’ effectiveness. 

This collaboration marks a promising step towards enhancing data privacy and cybersecurity in the Maldives, ensuring that both projects can achieve their goals efficiently and effectively.