Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE)

The GFCE asked community leaders for their Top 3 developments in cyber capacity building in 2024 #CCBin2024. Olaf Kolkman volunteers as treasurer of the GFCE Foundation Board. He works for the Internet Society as principal Internet Technology, Policy, and Advocacy. He is interested in how digital technologies can be used as enablers for social good and how the global networks of networks that form an Internet is governed. With a background in Internet standardization and governance he considers himself a member of the technical community:   As tensions between countries and regions seem to rise and globalism is in retreat we see more and more focus on digital sovereignty. While it is important for states and other stakeholders to think about their own resilience in the face of social, economic, and military pressures, we should not forget that the Internet - the network of networks that provides global connectivity - is a global resource maintained by many stakeholders.    1. In 2024 the Global Digital Compact was agreed upon. It sets out a vision and principles for the governance of our digital world. The document reaffirms the importance of the multi-stakeholder approach in Internet Governance.  The 20 year review of the WSIS Process (WSIS+20) takes place in 2025. The work of the GFCE in building well informed capacity within governments around the world, is significant for these processes to succeed.   2. The Internet is at the basis of securely integrating digital technologies into our society. Scaling and securing it is a responsibility of us all. Most of the work needs to be done not by the technical community but other stakeholders, such as governments. They need to be aware of the priorities and actions that improve the situation. The GFCE Triple-I workshops inform the GFCE community on how to drive deployment of important technologies to scale and secure the Internet. During those workshops the internet.nl platform is often referred to. The highlight:  In 2024 the internet.nl platform turned 10 years old - a successful public private partnership.   3. The GFCE and members of its community are active participants in the UN Open Ended Working Group (OEWG). One of the important components of the negotiations within the OEWG and its predecessor, the UN Group of Governments. I am proud to have contributed an article titled “Technical precision and diplomatic ambiguity' to an academic workshop organized by the Netherlands and South Korea (both active GFCE members) about the public core. Find the free book at Protecting the Public Core of the Internet, Perspectives from the Netherlands.

On November 23rd, Moctar Yedaly (GFCE Africa Hub Director) and Marion Marwood (GFCE Advisor) joined a workshop hosted by the African Development Bank Group to address cyber threat intelligence in Africa’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. Representing the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE) Africa Hub, Moctar Yedaly highlighted critical challenges and opportunities in the region. Key insights emphasized the importance of clear definitions, strong leadership prioritizing cybersecurity, a culture of continuous training and innovation in threat intelligence, and recognizing cybersecurity as vital to Africa’s socio-economic development. We thank the African Development Bank for hosting this vital conversation and for creating a space to discuss the creation of a secure digital future for the continent. Read more about the workshop: https://lnkd.in/dYefwYiX

🌐 Last week, our team had the privilege of being on the ground at the United Nations headquarters, actively observing and engaging in key discussions at the #UNCyberOEWG*. It was an incredible opportunity to share expertise and contribute to crucial discussions shaping the future of cyberspace. 💡 Christopher Painter (Foundation Board) participated in several events, including "𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗘𝗪𝗚: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲“, hosted by Microsoft, where he emphasized what the priority issues would be for any successor to the OEWG, challenges and alternative venues. He also discussed the often unrecognized and underfunded role of non-profits in supporting the Internet ecosystem and the need for sustainable funding at “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗼𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆”, hosted by Common Good Cyber. 💡 Chris Buckridge (Senior Strategy Advisor & WG E facilitator) noted how #artificialintelligence (AI) is an increasing area of interest at the OEWG, with two of the side events focused on the 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆. He also highlighted the importance of #cyber #capacitybuilding for all stakeholders, as AI contributes to the efficacy of both offensive and defensive cyber capabilities. 💡 Klara Marland (Advisor), who facilitates the Women in International Security and Cyberspace (WiC) Fellowship, was one of the panelists at “𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗘𝗪𝗚 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱”, hosted by the Auswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office) Germany & the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. At the panel discussion, moderated by German Cyber Ambassador Maria Adebahr, Klara stressed the transformative impact of the #GFCEWiC Fellowship in empowering women from underrepresented regions to contribute meaningfully to UN cyber negotiations. By providing tailored training, mentorship and collaboration opportunities, the program fosters diversity and inclusivity in global decision-making. Klara also emphasized the 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱, 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, the power of 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, and the importance of 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 like WiC to 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲.    This past week reaffirmed that 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 – it is essential for enhancing the resilience of international cybersecurity governance for everyone. The GFCE remains committed to advocating for the meaningful participation of the multi-stakeholder community in this and other key forums.

🌍 The GFCE asked community leaders for their Top 3 developments in cyber capacity building in 2024 #CCBin2024. Dr. Reem Faraj AlShammari is the chair of the Women in Cyber Security Middle East (WiCSME): 1. Expanding Visibility Through Global Partnerships Under Dr. Reem AlShammari's leadership, WiCSME (with over 2,500 members in 21+ countries) has launched impactful programs to empower women in cybersecurity, including strengthening women’s representation in cybersecurity by forming long-term partnerships with global and regional conferences, including BlackHat MEA, GISEC GLOBAL, and GITEX GLOBAL Largest Tech & Startup Show in the World. - BlackHat MEA: Increased female speakers from 18 (10 countries) in 2023 to 28 (15 countries) in 2024, breaking global records. - GISEC & GITEX: Featured 26 female speakers discussing cutting-edge topics. - Organized Women in Cyber networking events attended by key leaders, reinforcing support for WiCSME’s mission. - Signed new partnerships with conferences in seven countries, leading to over 200 female speakers at global forums in 2024. 2. Building Capacity and Talent Development - WiCSME continues to foster growth through key initiatives: IBM SkillsBuild: Focused on AI and cybersecurity fundamentals, with 101 participants led by Irene Corpuz. - Academia Partnerships: Collaborated with Kenya’s Ummah University to develop tech and cybersecurity talent, governed by an MOU led by Priyanka Chatterjee and Dr. Reem AlShammari. - Global Advocacy: Contributed to ITU Girls in Tech Day 2024 through a motivational speech by Dr. Reem AlShammari. - CyberX Campaign: Launched an Arabic awareness campaign and webinar on cyber-safe families led by Basma Ahmadoush and Heidi Young. 3. Celebrating Talent and Expertise - WiCSME members received numerous accolades in 2024: Top 20 Women in Cyber: Eight leaders from six Middle Eastern countries recognized globally forming a strong presence of the Middle East (40% of the Top 20 Winners) from around the Globe. - GISEC Cyber Excellence Awards: Honors include CyberSecurity Woman of the Arab World (Dr. Reem AlShammari), Educator of the Year (Dr. Eman ElSheikh), and Judges Choice’s Award (Abeer Khedr). - ISC Global Achievement Award: Recognized Dr. Bushra AlBlooshi for global cybersecurity leadership. - International Security Journal Influencer: Ms. Arwa Alhamad named a 2024 influencer. WiCSME’s initiatives inspire women to lead and contribute to a more inclusive cybersecurity industry while showcasing Middle Eastern talent on the global stage.

GFCE proudly supports INTERPOL's #ThinkTwice campaign. #Phishing attacks are evolving and becoming harder to detect. It is important, more than ever, to be cautious with unsolicited messages. Remember: a moment of vigilance can protect you from falling victim to sophisticated scams. #ThinkTwice and carefully evaluate any emails from unfamiliar addresses or containing links.

The #UNCyberOEWG* just ended, with remarkable contributions from the #GFCEWiC fellows! 👏 This week, the Women in International Security & Cyberspace (WiC) Fellowship empowered 47 female diplomats to meaningfully represent the following countries at the United Nations negotiations on ICTs: 🌐 Albania 🇦🇱 | Antigua & Barbuda 🇦🇬| Argentina 🇦🇷| Armenia 🇦🇲| Bosnia & Herzegovina 🇧🇦 | Chile 🇨🇱 | Colombia 🇨🇴 | Cote d'Ivoire 🇨🇮 | Fiji 🇫🇯 | Ghana 🇬🇭 | Indonesia 🇮🇩 | Jordan 🇯🇴 | Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 | Kuwait 🇰🇼 | N. Macedonia 🇲🇰 | Malawi 🇲🇼 | Malaysia 🇲🇾 | Moldova 🇲🇩 | Mongolia 🇲🇳 | Montenegro 🇲🇪 | Morocco 🇲🇦 | Mozambique 🇲🇿 | Namibia 🇳🇦 | Nauru 🇳🇷 | Nigeria 🇳🇬 | Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬 | Paraguay 🇵🇾 | Philippines 🇵🇭 | Rwanda 🇷🇼 | Samoa 🇼🇸 | Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 | South Africa 🇿🇦 | South Sudan 🇸🇸 | Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 | Tanzania 🇹🇿 | Thailand 🇹🇭 | Tonga 🇹🇴 | Uganda 🇺🇬 | Vanuatu 🇻🇺 | Vietnam 🇻🇳 As Kirsten Olden (Assistant Director, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) reported at the end of the 9th substantive meeting, 52% of interventions were delivered by women, a remarkable achievement compared to the 37% of interventions at the start of discussions in 2021. This has truly made the process more inclusive and has ensured more equal and effective representation at these UN cyber discussions. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our multi-donor compendium for making this possible, and in particular Klara Marland (GFCE Advisor) for her drive in facilitating the Fellowship. The session ended with a group photo with the Chair of the negotiations H.E. Mr. Burhan Gafoor, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Singapore, and we thank him for his continuous support of the WiC Fellowship. We look forward to the WiC in-person training next week, and to continuing this inspiring momentum in the last phase of negotiations! 💡 💬 Learn more about the #WomenInCyber here: https://lnkd.in/ekwVdfPp * Open-ended working group on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies 2021–2025

🌐 Over the past 8 months #GFCE has welcomed 8 new members and 13 new partners into its community. Our expanding network includes key stakeholders from governments, organizations, and companies, all united in strengthening global cyber capacity. Thank you to our new members and partners for committing to this crucial effort.

This November, Luanda Domi, GFCE's Gender Mainstreaming and Cyber Skills Development Manager, represented the organization at Black Hat MEA 2024—a cybersecurity event in Riyadh that brought together over 45,000 experts, 450 exhibitors, and 300 speakers. During the event, Luanda shared valuable insights on the intersection of technology, governance, and diplomacy in building resilient cyber ecosystems. Her contributions highlighted how frameworks such as the EU AI Act and NIS2 Directive are setting global standards while addressing pressing challenges like workforce shortages and resource gaps—issues particularly significant in regions like the Western Balkans. Luanda emphasized the GFCE’s pivotal role in bridging these divides through targeted capacity-building initiatives and fostering impactful public-private partnerships. She also spotlighted the Women in Cyber Capacity Building Network (WiCCB), a global “network of networks” dedicated to enhancing collaboration and inclusivity in cybersecurity. By connecting leaders, fostering mentorship, and advancing diverse perspectives, WiCCB drives innovative and equitable solutions to contemporary challenges. Luanda underscored how initiatives like WiCCB align with global frameworks to mitigate bias and promote fairness in emerging technologies. We extend our sincere appreciation to Women in Cyber Security Middle East (WiCSME), our valued partner, for hosting this impactful session, and to Black Hat MEA for organizing such a groundbreaking event.

📢 Call for Submissions: 13th Edition of the Global Cyber Expertise Magazine   The Global Cyber Expertise Magazine is now open for submissions!   Jointly produced by the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE), African Union, European Union, and Organization of American States (Organización de los Estados Americanos), the magazine highlights global cyber policy developments and showcases impactful cyber capacity-building initiatives worldwide.   We welcome submissions that:   🔹 Highlight innovative capacity-building projects 🔹 Explore significant cyber policy developments 🔹 Share lessons learned and best practices   Take this opportunity to share your work on a global stage and inspire key stakeholders in the cyber expertise community.   Submit your article or idea by January 18th, 2025: https://lnkd.in/dSmYfHSN   📖 Explore past editions: https://lnkd.in/d2NQddjY

We are proud to be facilitating the 8th cohort of the Women in International Security and Cyberspace (WiC) Fellowship to the 9th #UNCyberOEWG, on security of and in the use of ICTs. 47 fellows from across the globe join key UN cyber negotiations to share their perspectives, deliver national statements and collaborate to create a safer, more inclusive cyberspace for all.💻 The #GFCEWiC Fellowship is jointly organized and sponsored by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada, the Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken Netherlands, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom, the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy of the United States and Auswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office) Germany. 💬 Stay tuned to follow the journey of our WiC fellows this week at the #UNCyberOEWG and join the conversation with #WomenInCyber #GFCEWiC! #CyberSecurity #WomenInSecurity #CyberDiplomacy #GlobalLeadership