ECOWAS collaborates with OSCE on advancing cyber diplomacy through inter-regional study visit

The ECOWAS Commission, in partnership with the German Federal Foreign Office, the European Union, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and in close collaboration with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Secretariat in Vienna, Austria, has organized an inter-regional study visit aimed at enhancing cyber diplomacy.

The head of the delegation is Mr. Sédiko Douka, the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitisation. The study visit, scheduled to take place from September 9 – 13, 2024, will bring together diplomats from ECOWAS Member States and other regions, including the Americas and Asia. This visit aims to facilitate the exchange of information with international cyber diplomats, particularly from other Regional Economic Communities such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Organisation of American States (OAS), and the African Union. Participants will learn about best practices in Confidence Building Measures (CBM) governance and implementation, gaining practical insights applicable to the ECOWAS region and sharing their own experiences.

Additionally, participants will observe the meeting of the Informal Working Group Established by PC Decision 1039. The purpose is to gain insights from the OSCE and its Member States on the CBM process as ECOWAS prepares to establish its own mechanism for cyber confidence building and adopt a first set of CBMs.

This collaborative effort underscores both organizations' commitment to addressing growing challenges in the digital domain and fostering stronger international cooperation.

The inter-regional study visit is part of the Joint Platform for Advancing Cyber Security in West Africa, supported by the German Federal Foreign Office within the framework of the ECOWAS-German and EU partnership established under Germany's chairmanship of G7 in 2022.

The Joint Platform for Advancing Cyber Security in West Africa will focus on building regional cyber diplomacy, combating cybercrime, ensuring data sovereignty, and protecting critical infrastructure.