ECOWAS

ECOWAS formally adopted three cyber CBMs in 2024. Their development was supported through the Joint Platform for the Advancement of Cybersecurity in West Africa and involved close cooperation between ECOWAS member states, the ECOWAS Commission, the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE), and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

The process combined regional consultations, expert workshops, tabletop exercises, and cross-regional exchanges, including engagement with the OSCE's cyber CBM framework. While numerous potential measures were discussed, member states ultimately agreed on three cyber CBMs that reflected regional priorities and needs.

Alongside the adoption of the measures, member states also agreed to establish an informal regional working group of cybersecurity experts supported by the ECOWAS Commission, creating an important mechanism for future implementation and coordination.

Implementation remains at an early stage but has progressed rapidly since the first discussions about adopting such measures.

One of the first achievements was the swift nomination of national Points of Contact (PoCs), demonstrating strong political commitment among member states. The regional expert working group has also begun its activities, providing a platform for information exchange, cooperation, and future implementation efforts.

Additional initiatives are currently being developed, including digital tools and communication mechanisms designed to support information-sharing and coordination among member states.

A distinctive feature of the ECOWAS approach is the strong role played by international cooperation during the development phase. Regional actors benefited from exchanges with other organisations that have longer experience with cyber CBMs, illustrating the value of cross-regional learning and knowledge-sharing.

As the newest cyber CBM framework covered by this directory, ECOWAS is still in the early stages of implementation. Nevertheless, the region has established important foundations for future progress.

The ECOWAS experience demonstrates that cyber CBMs can be developed and implemented relatively quickly when political support, regional ownership, and external expertise are combined effectively. It also highlights the close relationship between cybersecurity, economic resilience, and development.

Unlike many other cyber CBM frameworks, the ECOWAS measures were adopted through a regional directive. In other words, the goal is legally defined. However, it is up to the member states to decide how to achieve it, so the implementation details are not specified.

Importantly, the current framework is designed as a starting point rather than a final destination. Member states have already expressed interest in expanding and further developing the regional cyber CBM framework over time.

• The cyber CBMs are the first formalised CBMs within ECOWAS.

• ECOWAS is the first regional organisation in Africa to adopt a dedicated set of cyber CBMs. 

• The framework was developed through a collaborative process involving regional stakeholders and international partners. Thus, cross-regional learning and knowledge exchange played an important role in the development of the measures.

• Implementation is still at an early stage but has already produced tangible results, including the establishment of national Points of Contact directory and a regional expert working group.

• The ECOWAS approach highlights the links between cybersecurity, economic resilience, and regional development.