Unpacking Cyber Capacity-Building Needs: From Research to Action

Hybrid
25 July 2023
Past
Unpacking Cyber Capacity-Building Needs: From Research to Action

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the United Nations hosted a side event to the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies (ICTs).

The importance of capacity-building continues to be widely recognized in the ongoing OEWG (2021–2025), and many Member States have emphasized the need to support the implementation of the Framework for responsible State behaviour, including through dedicated guidance, assistance, and dedicated capacity-building efforts. In response to this demand and to increase the cybersecurity and resilience of Member States, UNIDIR conducted a research study with three main objectives, which are to identify foundational cyber capabilities, strengthen States’ ability to effectively prevent or mitigate the impact of selected malicious ICT activities, and design a tool to better identify requirements and prioritize capacity-building interventions.

In this side event, UNIDIR’s Security and Technology Programme presented and discussed the results of this two-part research project titled “Unpacking cyber capacity-building needs” (Part I Mapping the foundational cyber capabilities, and Part II A threat-based approach). Moreover, possible concrete applications of the finding of this research were discussed with representatives from interested Member States.

EVENT RECORDING

A recording of this event can be found on our YouTube Channel, and below.

AGENDA

13:15–13:35 – Welcome and Introduction

  • Matthew Brown, Head, International Cyber Governance, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, United Kingdom
  • Giacomo Persi Paoli, Head of Programme, Security and Technology, UNIDIR

13:35–14:15 – Presentation of the Project and of Its Applications in the Context of Capacity-Building

  • Samuele Dominioni, Researcher, Security and Technology Programme, UNIDIR
  • Daniela Ruiz Domínguez, Director for Cybersecurity and Conventional Weapons, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mexico
  • Gabriela Gonzalez, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Uruguay to the United Nations
  • Eva Nthoki, Counsellor II, Permanent Mission of Kenya to the United Nations
  • Shariffah Rashidah Syed Othman, Acting Chief Executive, National Cyber Security Agency of Malaysia

14:15–14:30 – Question and Answers

WHEN & WHERE

25 July 2023, 13:15-14:30 EST. Hybrid format – Conference Room 8, United Nations Headquarters, New York and online.

PARTICIPANTS

We welcomed OEWG delegations and cyber experts, as well as members of the multi-stakeholder  community including industry, civil society, and intergovernmental organizations (ECOSOC status).

For any questions, please contact the UNIDIR Security and Technology Programme (sectec-unidir@un.org).