An organization that connects African leaders to cybersecurity education announced a partnership with the GW School of Business last month, aiming to enhance leaders’ understanding of cybersecurity and cyber diplomacy practices.
Pape Cissé, an adjunct professor of information technology and cofounder of the Center for Cyber Diplomacy and Leadership, said the partnership between the CCDL and GWSB will include conferences and seminars about cybersecurity and policymaking with African leaders and GWSB community members during the academic year. Cissé said as technology rapidly advances, the partnership aims to help African heads of state, ambassadors, ministers and government officials shape policy, prepare and defend against cyberattacks, while also providing GWSB students the opportunity to help solve real-world problems.
Former Ambassador to the U.S. Omar Arouna of Benin and Cissé cofounded the CCDL in November 2023 to ensure African leaders are well-informed and proactive in dealing with cybersecurity challenges to strengthen the security of their nations, according to its vision statement.
“Almost every six months, something new happens, something new is put in place,” Cissé said. “What are those threats? What are the implications? What does it do and why? And then provide the space for collaboration, discussion and making sure that we have an exchange.”
Discussions about the partnership with GWSB began in spring 2024 during the planning of the GW Future of Finance and Trade in Africa conference and involved Cissé, Arouna, Associate Director of Corporate Relations Kafuti Talahumbu, Vice Provost for Budget and Finance Michael Glatzer and GWSB Assistant Dean of Operations Joseph Miranda, according to a University spokesperson.
Africa has “unique” cybersecurity challenges including lack of security measures, outsourced digital infrastructure and lack of cybersecurity professionals, according to Carnegie Mellon University’s CyLab-Africa initiative.
A University spokesperson said faculty and students in the business school will have the opportunity to work closely with business leaders on technological challenges of “global significance” through research and experiential learning opportunities.
“At the same time, CCDL will have access to GWSB expertise in global business and technology in furthering their mission to bring greater awareness on cybersecurity trends and challenges to African heads of state, ambassadors, ministers, and government officials,” the spokesperson said.
Cissé said the partnership’s events and activities are still in the planning stages, but CCDL and GWSB plan to start hosting events this semester.
Cissé, who currently teaches Information Technology Project Management, said the partnership offers an opportunity for students to build upon theories and concepts they have learned in classes and see how it functions in practice through conferences, webinars and learning opportunities.
“But also how the students could benefit from being exposed to some of these conferences, seminars, and then the leadership in Africa could also benefit from having a very serious, rigorous academic partner who’s at the forefront of policy writing, or Washington D.C., discussing those very same issues.” Cissé said.
Cissé said the GW research community will benefit African leaders by helping them understand the implications of technological advances through presentations and discussion forums, resulting in a “symbiotic relationship” between the two groups that moves policy forward.
He said the partnership intends to expand beyond cybersecurity to address other regional business needs and challenges such as leadership and management.
“Right now, we have a lot of work ahead of us that we are doing, and then we want to get off the blocks really solid and have a couple of events, at least this semester and start planning out what the next year looks like in collaboration,” Cissé said.
