Tuesday 10 March, 2021, 14.00 GMT (16.00 SAST, 09.00 EST)
register: https://cs-ox-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIodO2rqDMjGNddOMFjONFb-Ws-JJPlSGma
Who should attend?
• Countries preparing a National Cybersecurity Strategy (NCS) process, or are in the process of drafting a NCS, or have just completed the NCS process;
• Countries which have conducted or are planning a national cybersecurity assessment; and
• Implementers and funders supporting countries in NCS processes and in conducting assessments.
Background:
To enhance safety and security in cyberspace for social and economic prosperity there is an urgent need to reinforce the importance of inclusive cyber policy making - in a way that stakeholders from all domains (government, private and public sectors, and civil society) can contribute to policymaking. Thus ensuring the views of those that are affected, and those who are responsible for solutions, are not side-lined by securitised and threat-driven narratives or neglected because of a narrow understanding of top-down policymaking.
Recent efforts have been made to increase involvement of stakeholders in cyber policy making processes by Global Partners Digital (GPD), the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Global Cyber Security Capacity Centre (GCSCC) of University of Oxford. One example is GPD’s Guide for Policymakers on Involving Stakeholders in National Cybersecurity Strategies (NCS), designed for policymakers developing, implementing and reviewing a NCS with active and ongoing involvement of relevant stakeholders. Other examples are the national cybersecurity assessments based on GCSCC’s Cybersecurity Capacity Maturity Model for Nations (CMM) which gather data through multi-stakeholder processes and engagement, undertaken by the GCSCC and its regional partners, including the OAS, World Bank, and ITU.
Experience from countries that have developed their NCS in an inclusive way (e.g. Ghana, Sierra Leone, Belize) has shown that stakeholder views are better represented, and their buy-in increased when implementing the strategy to produce a more sustainable, effective and robust response to cyber threats. To bring maximum value, it is important that stakeholder engagement is holistic and systematic.
In addition to existing challenges, the social distancing and travel restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the established processes of engagement. Many activities have either moved online or have been postponed or halted. Consequently, building effective relationships and trust needs continuous reinforcement. Practical obstacles such as connectivity and technical affordability are new risks to the involvement of all stakeholders.
This webinar will bring together actors from government, regional organisations, academia and civil society to share their experience of engaging with stakeholders in cyber policy making and its value. In particular, they will discuss the challenges and provide ideas for alternative solutions for engagement to inform integrative policy making now and in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Confirmed Speakers:
• Kerry-Ann Barrett, Organization of American States (OAS)(CICTE Cybersecurity Program)
• Geraldine Mugumya, National Information & Technology Authority - Uganda (NITA-U)
• Nthabiseng Pule, Cybersecurity Capacity Centre for Southern Africa (C3SA)
• Daniela Schnidrig, Global Partners Digital (GPD)
• Cynthia Wright, MITRE Corporation
