Cybercrime has become a significant and expanding global issue, producing substantial economic, social, and psychological consequences. Much of the current research and policy focus has centred on measuring its negative impacts, particularly financial losses and systemic risks. Although such efforts help clarify the scale of harm, they offer limited insight into how effective prevention or harm-reduction strategies can be. As a result, there is a notable gap in the evidence needed to support investment in capacity-building for combating cybercrime. While difficult to quantify, these investments can yield not only reduced financial losses but also wider gains such as improved operational efficiency, greater trust, and stronger cybersecurity overall.
This work focuses specifically on capacity-building in cybercrime prevention, particularly in enhancing the ability of States worldwide to implement cybercrime legislation, handle electronic evidence, and engage in effective international cooperation. It presents a qualitative meta-synthesis, integrating and interpreting findings from primary qualitative studies on this topic. By systematically gathering and analysing existing research, the study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of cybercrime capacity-building. Its goal is to synthesise key insights to inform policymakers and stakeholders, while also identifying directions for future research.
