The UMDF hosts workshop on Moroni’s digital future

The Urban and Municipal Development Fund hosted a high-impact Smart City capacity-building workshop in Moroni, Comoros, on 14 May 2025. The three-hour workshop brought together more than 30 key stakeholders from the country's public and private sectors, creating a unique opportunity for participants to discuss the ways that cutting-edge urban technologies could revolutionize the capital's infrastructure and governance systems. In addition to funding the workshop, the Urban and Municipal Fund (UMDF) provided technical assistance during the workshop.

A common understanding of Smart Cities

The first half of the workshop focused on establishing a common understanding of smart cities—their definition, the value they bring, and the challenges that can hinder their success. One key discussion point was the decreasing cost of essential technologies, which has led many cities in low- to middle-income economies to embrace Smart City initiatives. With urban technologies increasingly deployed in countries such as India, Malaysia, Kenya, and Peru, Moroni stands poised to benefit from similar advancements. The potential impact of smart city technologies in Moroni could be substantial, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs in critical urban systems as they are developed. Innovations such as smart waste management, real-time energy grid monitoring, smart airports, and automated transportation systems could address pressing challenges in the capital.

Participants included representatives from critical institutions such as the Ministry of Urban Planning, Comores Cables, the National Agency for Waste Management, Comores Telecom, and the National Agency for Digital Development. The diverse participants, which included five women professionals, ensured that there was a comprehensive perspective on Moroni's specific challenges and opportunities.

Identifying opportunities and challenges

During the second half of the workshop, participants were encouraged to share their perspectives on the greatest opportunities and challenges for smart city development in Moroni. Many agreed that urban technologies could be transformative in areas such as energy, transportation, and climate change management.

While enthusiasm for these opportunities ran high, participants also highlighted important challenges such as a lack of government coordination and insufficient digital capabilities. These challenges, the participants noted, could pose a barrier to Moroni's smart city ambitions. Despite these challenges, there was broad consensus that the opportunities are vast, and with well-designed projects, smart city initiatives could play a pivotal role in shaping Moroni’s future.

The workshop was funded through the UMDF's Small Grants Initiative (SGI). Several workshops will continue to be organized to engage stakeholders and enhance institutional capacities.