Govt announces receipt of USD 10 million from World Bank to enhance digital system

The government of Maldives has announced the receipt of USD 10 million from World Bank, a sum approved in the year 2022 to support Maldives in promoting competition in the broadband market; improving digital identification and security for in-person and online services, and leveraging digital technologies, data, and analytics to adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change.

The project, which commenced last year under the name Digital Maldives for Adaptation, Decentralisation and Diversification Project, includes the establishment of a digital ID system to improve the quality of government services using modern digital technology. The project also includes the establishment of a system to store climate and environmental change data using technology to make climate data a policy-making tool.

The Homeland Security and Technology Ministry said that the project has been under its mandate since August 20th last year.

State Minister Dr. Mohamed Kinanath said regarding the five year project, that the project also includes improvement of technology and technical personnel required to raise the operational level of the Communications Authority of Maldives, to ensure the quality of internet provision as the regulator.

He also stressed the importance of identifying those who seek the online services provided by the government, which is why the National Center for Information Technology (NCIT) developed eFaas, and has been using it as a digital ID since 2022.

He further said that laws on data privacy, digital identity and cyber security needs to be in place to ensure the digital ID system is well received and trusted by the public. He also said that the maintenance of the foundational identity system on which the digital identity is based should be strengthened.

He went onto add that the adverse changes in the environment caused by climate change are resulting in natural disasters, and hindering data collection and surveying efforts to bring about required changes. However, small pilot projects will be conducted under the project to find a solution and the project will be expanded to different parts of the country based on the results, he said.