UNESCO conducted South Asia’s first national AI Readiness Assessment for the Maldives, with the report launched in July 2025. The assessment was led by the National Centre for Information Technology (NCIT) under the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology. The report identifies five strategic focus areas: AI governance, inclusive oversight, talent and knowledge development, accessibility and social equity, and investment ecosystem. High-priority recommendations include finalising an AI Masterplan 2025-2035, creating anti-discrimination policies, building sector-specific AI task forces, and launching national AI education and public awareness campaigns. The assessment found that 70% of schools in outer islands lack adequate technical support.
Who it affects: The assessment directly informs government policy across all sectors. Schools in outer islands face the most acute infrastructure gaps. The Masterplan development process engages government, academia, civil society, and the private sector. Tourism sector workers, who make up a significant share of the workforce, are identified as needing AI literacy, data literacy, and critical thinking skills.
What is notably missing: At the time of filing, no AI Masterplan has been formally adopted. The assessment is a diagnostic and strategic input document rather than binding policy. No AI regulatory authority with enforcement powers exists in the Maldives. No AI literacy curriculum for schools, no mandatory workforce training programme, and no civil servant training standard have yet been adopted. The National Cyber Security Agency and pending Digital Identification and Data Protection bills address adjacent but distinct issues.