A digital stewardship journey for the Asia Pacific beginning from Maldives

February 26, 2024

Under UNDP in Asia and the Pacific's partnership with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Digital Stewardship Community Regional Gathering in the Maldives on 26-27 February, co-facilitated by UNDP and hosted by UNDP Maldives, served as a platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and co-designing initiatives to advance digital inclusion across the Asia Pacific region.

The Gathering invited policymakers and stakeholders from the 8 IsDB member countries across the Asia-Pacific region from Maldives, Afghanistaand Pakistan to share experiences, explore opportunities and chart next steps to leverage digital in public service delivery, with support of UNDP, IsDB and our external expertise network.

IsDB's support created a dynamic space for policymakers, experts, and stakeholders from 7 IsDB countries in the Asia-Pacific region, to exchange ideas, explore challenges, and foster an appetite for digital-era governance. Together, we aim to strengthen engagement, foster inclusive processes, and catalyze digital foundations for future-ready public institutions and services.

IsDB's engagement enriched discussions, including a presentation on the IsDB Digital Inclusion Operational Strategy 2024-2027 by Shaharyar Jawaid, Senior ICT Specialist (HQ) at IsDB. IsDB's live and direct feedback played a crucial role in shaping discourse and positioning digital projects for investment opportunities, fostering innovation and progress.

The Gathering was held under the UNDP Asia Pacific, and the IsDB regional partnership aligning UNDP’s Regional Digital Transformation Service offer and IsDB’s Digital Inclusion Strategy launching this year to support governments and other digital ecosystem stakeholders with a digital stewardship journey that focuses on building capabilities across stakeholders to co-design scalable projects using digital and data-driven approaches for enabling efficient public service delivery. As Muhammad Nassis Sulaiman IsDB Regional Hub Manager of Dhaka (Covering Bangladesh and Maldives) highlighted, "digital has become the priority in IsDB Operations globally to service its 57 Member Countries with the launch of its new realigned strategy and Digital Inclusion Strategy."

The event also showcased practical adoption and role of digital in UNDP Maldives led-collaboration with the Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works, inviting policymakers from key sectors of the Government of Maldives.

In his welcome address on behalf of both Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development and Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works, Minister Honourable Ali Haidar Ahmed commended efforts of UNDP and IsDB and stakeholders in advancing the Regional Digital Transformation Service Offer and thanked all policymakers and practitioners, local and international who will learn and adopt the tools, knowledge, and networks needed to drive sustainable development within their countries.

UNDP Resident Representative in the Maldives Enrico Gaveglia stated, "Proud to kickstart in the Maldives, a journey of a community of Digital Stewards coming together to set the foundations for much-needed public and private sector reforms that address development challenges and build human capital and knowledge-driven leadership and management."

Setting the tone and regional framing for the Digital Stewardship Community Gathering in Maldives supported by UNDP and IsDB was Alex Oprunenco from UNDP Asia Pacific and Anir Chowdhury from a2i

The UNDP-IsDB partnership underscores a commitment to promoting digital inclusion and enhancing public service delivery through data-driven approaches, empowering governments and stakeholders to co-design scalable projects for societal benefit.