National Cybersecurity Strategies & Preparedness in the Pacific Region
How Cadmus facilitates national cybersecurity strategies and regional cooperation in preparedness and response for seven Pacific Island countries
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) leads the U.S. government’s international development and disaster assistance through partnerships and investments that save lives, reduce poverty, and strengthen democratic governance. Through USAID/Philippines, Mongolia, and the Pacific Islands, USAID conducts various activities and programming supporting economic growth and digital strengthening for the Philippines, Mongolia, and various Pacific Island Countries.
Challenge
The United States, Taiwan, and the Pacific Island Countries have recognized the strategic importance of good digital governance and cybersecurity. In 2021, a workshop on cybersecurity and e-governance was organized by USAID/Philippines, Mongolia, and Pacific Islands, and Taiwan International Cooperation Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), with a strong desire for additional capacity building and cybersecurity support expressed by the participating countries. Nathan, a Cadmus Company, conducted a quick analysis and identified the need for capacity building in the development of each country’s national cybersecurity strategy, as well as an opportunity to foster regional collaboration in the digital sphere.
Solution
To fill this knowledge gap and to increase regional collaboration in the Pacific Region, the Nathan team gathered policymakers, government employees, and representatives of national telecommunication providers from Fiji, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu in a three-day workshop to emphasize peer learning and knowledge exchange.
The workshop was a pioneering event in the region, dedicated exclusively to the development, enhancement, and execution of National Cybersecurity Strategies. The opportunity also aimed to emphasize regional, foster community building, and information sharing. The workshop played a vital role in promoting essential U.S. government initiatives, including the recently updated U.S. National Cybersecurity Strategy, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, and the whole-of-government Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership. Furthermore, the workshop also supported the significant priorities of Pacific Islands nations, as enshrined in the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s Boe Declaration and 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
The workshop adopted a range of diverse session formats, including presentations, fireside chats, panel discussions, group discussions, “write-shops”, lighting talks, and a tabletop exercise that simulated a cyber incident. It provided a platform for participants to exchange their perspectives, insights and experiences, with representatives from various regional organizations, including the Oceania Cyber Security Centre (OCSC), the Forum of Incident Response Teams (FIRST), the Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise—Pacific Hub, PaCSON, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Taiwan’s National Center for High Performance Computing, and the National Institute for Standards and Technology.
Results
The workshop brought together 17 different participants who worked collaboratively to devise actionable steps towards advancing their respective national cybersecurity strategy. The participants also gained awareness of the different tools and resources available to them, and through the various exercises, developed the necessary skills to prepare for potential future cyber incidents. All participants left the workshop expressing their confidence in applying the newly acquired knowledge and skills to their workplace. Many participants expressed their interest in continued collaboration with both each other and USAID.
To learn more about Cadmus’ experience in working with international stakeholders, please visit our International Development services page.