Cyber security capacity-building in the Commonwealth 2018 to 2021
This page brings together guidance to help countries implement the Commonwealth Cyber Declaration, signed when the UK was Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth.
At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London in 2018, member countries agreed a vision for strengthening national and collective cyber security. At that meeting they signed the Commonwealth Cyber Declaration. It is an important expression of the Commonwealth’s desire to maintain a free, open, inclusive and secure cyber space. The 3 pillars of the Cyber Declaration are:
- a cyberspace that supports economic and social development and rights online
- build the foundations of an effective national cyber security response
- promote stability in cyberspace through international co-operation
As Chair of the Commonwealth from 2018 to 2021, the UK has focused on supporting Commonwealth countries to implement the Declaration through our Commonwealth Cyber Programme. This page brings together documents that report the significant achievements from our various projects.
Looking ahead to the next CHOGM in Kigali, the UK government will build on the progress made to implement the Cyber Declaration by supporting Rwanda’s ICT and Innovation agenda for the Commonwealth when they take over as Chair in Office.
Introduction to progress on cyber security incident response in the Commonwealth
Progress on cyber security incident response in the Commonwealth
Commonwealth Policy Network Chatham House research papers
Chatham House organised 4 workshops, based around the 3 pillars of the Cyber Declaration, and published recommendations after each workshop. The fourth and final workshop provided an overview on the progress made in the Commonwealth since the Declaration in 2018 and looks ahead to CHOGM:
- Cybersecurity in the Commonwealth: supporting economic and social development and rights online
- Cybersecurity in the Commonwealth: building the foundation of effective national responses in the Caribbean
- Cybersecurity in the Commonwealth: towards stability and responsible state behaviour in cyberspace
- The Commonwealth Cyber Declaration: achievements and way forward
Cyber security awareness across the Commonwealth
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Cybersecurity awareness in the Commonwealth of Nations. This paper, by Microsoft and the Tech Accord Group, provides a snapshot of all the cyber security awareness initiatives across the Commonwealth
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Human rights in the digital age: state of play across Commonwealth Pacific countries. This report by Global Partners Digital covers in 9 Commonwealth Pacific Island countries, and seeks to provide recommendations for future capacity building efforts in the region
National cyber security strategy
- National cyber security strategy: Belize. This strategy shows a commitment to strengthen Belize’s capabilities to deal with cyber threats
Guidance
Toolkit for cyber security policymaking
- Toolkit for inclusive and value-based cybersecurity policymaking. This guide aims to help policymakers engage with stakeholders when developing national cyber security strategies. It also provides a repository of good practice for inclusive policymaking, and an interactive map tracking the adoption of core cybersecurity capacity building instruments in the 54 countries of the Commonwealth
Cyber security and democratic processes
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Cybersecurity for elections: a Commonwealth guide on best practice. The Commonwealth Secretariat, working with expert consultants, produced this guide following extensive research of the current state of affairs across the Commonwealth
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Cybersecurity considerations of the democratic process for Latin America and the Caribbean. This paper looks at the cybersecurity implications that may affect processes that support democracy and, in particular, electoral processes
Commonwealth parliamentarians cybersecurity workshop
- UK Parliament and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association cybersecurity workshop report. In partnership with the Ministry of Justice, the University of Oxford and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, aimed to enable Parliamentarians from across the Commonwealth to build their capacity to legislate and scrutinise on cybersecurity issues
Case studies
Africa project documents
Last updated 12 May 2021 + show all updates
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Added a link to the report 'Human rights in the digital age: state of play across Commonwealth Pacific countries'
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First published.