Maldives Takes First Step Towards AI Readiness with UNESCO-Led Steering Committee Meeting

In a significant step towards strengthening the country's AI development, on 25 September 2024, UNESCO New Delhi Regional Office for South Asia, in collaboration with the National Center for Information Technology (NCIT) under the Government of Maldives, organized the inaugural National Steering Committee Meeting for the AI Readiness Assessment Methodology(RAM) in Male. This meeting marks the beginning of a collaborative effort to align the Maldives' AI development with the ethical principles laid out in the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.

The UNESCO Recommendation, adopted in 2021 by 194 Member States, is the first global standard-setting instrument focused on the ethical dimensions of AI. It encourages the development of AI technologies that are transparent, fair, and accountable, ensuring that they contribute to societal well-being while safeguarding human rights, social inclusion, and sustainability.

The meeting was chaired by Dr. Mohamed Kinaanath, Minister of State for Homeland Security & Technology and Head of NCIT, who shared his optimism for the Maldives' future in AI.

The session brought together a National Steering Committee comprised of 15 key stakeholders from the government, industry, academia, civil society, and the United Nations. The committee will steer the AI readiness process, ensuring that it comprehensively addresses legal, social, cultural, scientific, and technical dimensions specific to the Maldives.

Ms. Eunsong Kim, Programme Specialist, UNESCO New Delhi Regional Office for South Asia, and Dr. Soenke Ziesche, lead expert for the Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) in Maldives, provided an overview of the initiative, presenting the RAM approach which would help identify Maldives' strengths and areas for improvement in AI development, ensuring a balanced and ethical approach. RAM offers evidence-based recommendations for enhancing AI policies, strategic investments, and data collection to promote a comprehensive and inclusive AI ecosystem.

Following a lively Q&A session, the committee then discussed the next steps, focusing on strengthening multi-stakeholder cooperation for the successful implementation of RAM. The meeting concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Kinaanath, who reaffirmed the Maldives' commitment to creating an inclusive and ethical AI framework. He emphasized that the ongoing collaboration between UNESCO and NCIT would ensure that the RAM's outcomes align with global standards and pave the way for responsible and sustainable technological progress in the Maldives.

Getting AI governance right is one of the most consequential challenges of our time, calling for mutual learning based on the lessons and good practices emerging from the different jurisdictions around the world. With its unique mandate, UNESCO has led the international effort to ensure that science and technology develop with strong ethical guardrails for decades.

For further information, please contact:

Eunsong Kim: [email protected]