Source of funds: 11th EDF (CRIS ref: 2017/040-386)
Decision date: 11/12/2017 (FA Signature date:27/02/2018)
EU Contribution: 7.5 MEUR
Implementation period: 48 months (21 January 2019 to to 20 January 2023)
Implementation modalities: EU MS Agency (Expertise France)
Geographical region: West Africa
Objectives:
Globally, the OCWAR programme supports regional initiatives to address the main threats to peace, security and
stability by strengthening coordination and cooperation in security; and by implementing programmes to deal
with other specific threats facing the region. OCWAR C concentrates specifically on enhancing cybersecurity and
combat cybercrime in the ECOWAS region.
Expected results (Resilience and robustness of information infrastructure)
· Strategic framework enhancing technical, operational and analytic expertise of national institutions
concerned with cybersecurity is established;
· Cybersecurity awareness and better comprehension of the governance of the internet are improved;
· Capacities to handle computer security incidents for 2 pilot countries are enhanced;
· Compliance with human rights and the rule of law for 2 pilot countries is strengthened;
· Strategic framework to implement Public Key Infrastructure for 2 pilot countries is analysed.
Expected results (Capacities of relevant stakeholders in charge of fight against cybercrime)
· Legal framework enabling citizens to enjoy the digital dividends of an open, free, secure and resilient
cyberspace is improved;
· Capacities to respond to cybercrime cases for 2 pilot countries are enhanced.
Main activities:
· Establishing a strategic framework enhancing technical, operational and analytic expertise of national
institutions concerned with cybersecurity;
· Improving cybersecurity awareness and empowerment of stakeholders to secure the internet at
national and regional levels;
· Enhancing capacities to handle computer security incidents for 2 pilot countries;
· Strengthening compliance with human rights and the rule of law for 2 pilot countries;
· Analyse strategic framework to implement Public Key Infrastructure for 2 pilot countries;
· Improve legal framework enabling citizens to enjoy the digital dividends of an open, free, secure and
resilient cyberspace;
· Enhancing Capacities to respond to cybercrime cases for 2 pilot countries.
Main accomplishments:
· 14 Beneficiary countries have designated their focal points for the implementation of the OCWAR-C’s
activities in national level;
· Organisation of the 1st workshop of the Regional Technical Committee to draft the regional
cybersecurity strategy, on November 2019;
· The cybercrime bills of Sierra Leone and The Gambian have been reviewed and analysed in close
coordination with the EU project Global Action on Cybercrime Extended (GLACY)+;
· 13 law enforcement agents, coming from the 8 beneficiary countries have been trained on: Concepts of
cyberterrorism, cyber-activism, cyber-jihadism and cybercrime (intervention of experts on
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radicalization), Surveillance and infiltration doctrines; Operating methods and monitoring of intelligence
in a digital environment; Software and digital interfaces, on child pornography and its penal repression.