As cyber threats escalate and digital interconnections reshape global geopolitics, West Africa is steadily building the diplomatic capacity needed to safeguard its digital future. To contribute to the sustainability of developing capacities of diplomats in the region, Diplo has delivered a Training of Trainers Programme on Cybersecurity and Cyber Diplomacy, in partnership with GIZ and the ECOWAS Commission. The three-day intensive training of trainers event, held in Praia, Cabo Verde, on 10-12 November 2025, and hosted by the Cabo Verde Diplomatic Institute, gathered 25 diplomats and trainers from the national diplomatic institutes of the 12 ECOWAS member states.
The in-situ training was a conclusion of the comprehensive programme of 2025. It started with the high-level awareness-raising session for the Ambassadors of ECOWAS member states in Abuja and ECOWAS leaders on 25 May 2025 in Abuja, ensuring awareness and commitment of the MFAs to developing further cyber diplomacy capacities in the region.
Following a detailed survey of the current state of affairs and the needs related to capacities in cyber diplomacy among ECOWAS member states, the online learning phase of the programme commenced in September 2025. Drawing on Diplo’s renowned interactive learning methodology, the 4-week-long intensive course created a dynamic peer exchange within an online classroom, under the guidance of experts and facilitators. Out of 27 participants from 12 ECOWAS countries, an impressive 25 completed the online course and joined the face-to-face session held in Cabo Verde, finally receiving a certificate of completion.
Since 2023, Diplo—supported by the GIZ and working in partnership with the ECOWAS Commission—has led a groundbreaking Cyber Diplomacy Capacity Building Programme, which is already transforming the region’s approach to cybersecurity, digital governance, and international cooperation.
The journey began in 2023, when the programme introduced cyber and digital issues as strategic elements of foreign policy across ECOWAS member states, under the ‘Joint Platform for Advancing Cyber Security’, an initiative by ECOWAS, Germany, and the European Union to strengthen West Africa’s cyber resilience. With GIZ’s financial support, the initiative helped ECOWAS sensitise national delegates to fast-evolving digital challenges and opportunities, generating strong political momentum for integrating cyber diplomacy into the regional diplomatic agenda.
In 2024, the programme moved from awareness to capacity building. ECOWAS ‘cyber diplomats’ engaged in structured knowledge exchange, strengthened their participation in major international cyber diplomacy processes—especially the UN Open-Ended Working Group—and gained an in-depth understanding of how cyber issues intersect with international peace and security. Participants also developed toolkits to raise awareness among colleagues, creating a multiplier effect within their Ministries of Foreign Affairs.
The 2025 training of trainers programme was established to ensure long-term sustainability in regional capacity building. Representatives from diplomatic training institutions across the region were prepared to gain a deeper understanding of cyber diplomacy, digital governance, cybersecurity in global security contexts, international cooperation against cybercrime, and the governance of data and AI. Importantly, they were also introduced to various training methodologies and pedagogies they can implement in future to make their own training programmes engaging and inclusive. Finally, the participants initiated work on building a blueprint for the cyber diplomacy curriculum, which may be developed and introduced into the official programmes of their national training institutions, as well as at the regional level. regional level.
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