GCSCC and Partners Support the Implementation of the Commonwealth Cyber Declaration

In the Commonwealth Cyber Declaration as an outcome of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2018 in London members committed to support each other in undertaking national cybersecurity capacity reviews. These became one of the cornerstone commitments of the Declaration’s Implementation Plan.

The Commonwealth Chair-in-Office report published on 9 September 2020 covers the progress towards achieving the commitments made at the CHOGM. Since 2018, 13 reviews based on the GCSCC's Cybersecurity Capacity Maturity Model for Nations (CMM) have been completed around the world, seven of which were funded by the UK. A total of 38 out of 54 Commonwealth countries have now completed reviews since 2015.

The World Bank, one of key strategic and implementation partner of the GCSCC, conducted seven CMM reviews in Commonwealth member states in Africa and South Asia under the UK Cyber Capacity Porgramme. The World Bank provided each government with a CMM report outlining existing capacities and providing recommendations for future capacity building and investment. The GCSCC supported the World Bank and its partners with training and expert advice by its Technical Board.

According to the Commonwealth Chair-in-Office report the UK contributed up to £15 million to support implementation of the Commonwealth Cyber Declaration. This included the Commonwealth Cyber Programme, which invested £5.5 million specifically to help build capacity in low- and middle-income countries. Against a tight timeframe the programme delivered cybersecurity capacity building support that benefited every Commonwealth country in less than two years, holding nearly 100 events in over 30 countries, training well over a thousand people.

The next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is planned to take place in Rwanda 2021.