In the sun-drenched Maldives, a nation of over 1000 islands, technology is a lifeline that brings communities together. Three years ago, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Technology wanted to ensure that each island was seamlessly connected to the government and its array of services. Collaborating with a long-time ally Microsoft, the Ministry unified all government entities onto one digital platform. This brought enhanced security, cost savings, and real-time collaboration among 20,000 public servants. Digitization has also strengthened the government’s ties to the public, building trust.
Scattered across the Indian Ocean, the Maldives brings together over 1000 unique islands. Yet, as picturesque as it sounds, the geographical layout has its challenges. "We believe that technology is the primary means to interconnect an island nation like ours," explains H.E Aminath Shauna, the Maldives’ Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology. “We strive to establish a digital economy across hundreds of islands where services reach the people, and they don't have to travel for basic services.”
The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, which is responsible for implementing government policies and programs in the fight against climate change, started its search for a solution that would help bring the islands together. Possible goals included a unified email system, and cloud-based productivity platforms that fit with the ministry’s new work-from-home policies. “We also needed a versatile tool that could facilitate the transformation of our unstructured governmental work,” shares Mohamed Shareef, the Minister of State, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Maldives.
“We believe that technology is the primary means to interconnect an island nation like ours. We strive to establish as digital economy across hundreds of islands where services reach the people, and they don't have to travel for basic services.”
H.E Aminath Shauna, the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Maldives
The goal: comprehensive integration
Picking the right digital partner was paramount. “Microsoft has been a valued ally to the government of Maldives for many years,” recalls Shareef. “We were particularly drawn to Microsoft because of its ability to unify several tools into one platform. While there are platforms offering unique project management capabilities, none provided the comprehensive integration that Microsoft did.”
The first step was to bring all government entities onto a single network, safeguarded by Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. “With this single platform, we've enabled these local governments to establish an official government “gov.mv” identity,” explains Shareef. “They now have official shared mailboxes, ensuring council representatives can receive public communications formally and quickly.” Microsoft Exchange Server acts as a centralized platform for storing sensitive files. “Gone are the days when we'd create a folder for each year, then sub-folders for departments, and so forth. File management has become more intuitive and secure,” adds Shareef. Each entity also has access to tools like Microsoft Teams for virtual meetings, Power Apps for digitizing processes, and Microsoft 365 for collaboration.
“Microsoft has been our valued ally for many years. We were particularly drawn to Microsoft because of its ability to unify several tools into one platform.”
Mohamed Shareef, the Minister of State, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Maldives
Seamless collaboration brings sustainability
With 20,000 public servants collaborating on the same platform, efficiency and productivity are on the rise. “Thanks to the cloud and collaborative tools, our Energy Department can efficiently manage projects aimed at increasing solar energy production across the islands. Microsoft allows centralized management even if the projects are dispersed. This project helps us reach our national carbon reduction and sustainability goals by reducing the need for work-related travel.” Moreover, with enhanced security, the IT department dedicates less time to investigating incidents.
Enabling remote work has also promoted both efficiency and sustainability. “Remote access ensures that work continues seamlessly, even outside the office, promoting real-time collaboration,” shares Shareef. “We have also reduced transportation needs and fuel consumption because people don’t need to keep traveling between islands as much as they used in the past for work. With digital documents, we also reduced paper usage and electricity consumption for printing.”
Connecting with the citizens
Digitalization has also strengthened citizen ties to their government, building public trust. “Having a direct, digital channel facilitates improved communication between citizens and the government, making services more accessible and reliable,” notes Shauna. “Our digital identity platform enables members of our communities to access the different public services with ease. Private sectors like banks and telcos are integrating into this system as well, simplifying processes like opening bank accounts or applying for loans.”
Inspired by a successful digital transformation, other departments in the Maldives government have followed suit. A separate initiative brings police officers together onto a secure platform, bolstering cybersecurity and real-world safety. “The Maldives parliament was also conducting all its sittings on Microsoft Teams during the COVID-19 pandemic,” notes Shareef. “And the judiciary has adopted the Microsoft platform through our initiative. I experienced this convenience, having recently attended a court hearing on a family matter through Microsoft Teams.”
Perpetual innovation
Looking ahead, the Ministry is considering developing a core team dedicated to capacity building and fostering innovation. “We plan to collaborate with Microsoft to shape the subsequent three years of our journey,” concludes Shauna. “For instance, we foresee integrating artificial intelligence to streamline our public service further. We find it promising that there's widespread acceptance and eagerness for this transformation among both the government and the public. We've established a strong foundation over these past three years, and our future will revolve around maximizing the technologies we've introduced.”
“Microsoft allows centralized management even if projects are dispersed. It helps us reach our carbon reduction and sustainability goals by reducing work-related travel.”
Mohamed Shareef, the Minister of State, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Maldives
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