The expert recruited by Expertise France will support the EUD Nigeria and the ECOWAS in the preparation and formulation of the concept and approach of the SDBA for the ECOWAS region.

Overall Objective

Support the EUD in Nigeria and the ECOWAS to define their implementation strategy in view of the formulation of the regional programme Safe Digital Boost for Africa in ECOWAS region. 

The analysis expected from the expert will aim at identifying needs and gaps and facilitating the prioritisation of activities to be covered by the regional envelope of the SDBA on eGovernance and cybersecurity in alignment with the ECOWAS Digital Transformation Strategy.

Specific Objectives

-    Review, analyse and support the validation of the current state-of-affairs, needs and priorities, of beneficiary region and entities with respect to the SDBA focus area of eGovernance and cybersecurity and digital transformation in general, incl. policies, strategies legislations, standards, technical solutions, capacities and initiatives.
-    Capture and map ongoing activities and initiatives on eGovernance and cybersecurity by regional entities and donors to identify gaps and optimize synergies and complementarity of the SDBA and avoid overlaps with other ongoing and planned digital transformation activities.
-    Review the draft matrix of activities shared by ECOWAS and provide additional input to the list.
-    Provide a comprehensive mapping of potential implementing partners.

Activities and Reporting

• Desk research on:
  o    Ongoing and planned digital projects on eGovernance and cybersecurity in the region
  o    Overview of the readiness of the ECOWAS and its member states on concerned topics
  o    Disparities between member states on level of digitalization in eGovernance and cybersecurity fields
  o    Opportunities of harmonization at regional level
• Set of stakeholder meetings with participation of relevant EUD officials with a focus on the following stakeholders across the region: 
  o    Mandated entities for cybersecurity and digital governance with a keen focus on cross-border compatibilities
  o    Private sector eGovernance and cybersecurity solutions, if relevant
  o    EU Member States present in the region 
  o    Relevant regional donors supporting digital governance and cybersecurity
  o    Relevant non-governmental stakeholders (e.g. research and academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, cybersecurity awareness groups).
• Drafting and finalising the region profile, stakeholder mapping and summary report based on meetings
• Drafting and finalising mission report
• Present the findings during the SDBA preparation/restitution workshop, in close collaboration with other components of SDBA on ePayment and eCommerce.

The expert needs to ensure alignment of the cybersecurity strategy with the one of the Continental Pillar of the SDBA being drafted by the African Union and its partners. 

The research and consultative work will be done in coordination with the expert conducting assessment on the other two SDBA components (ePayment, eCommerce) in order to identify cross-thematic linkages and find synergies among efforts.

Deliverables

A draft report containing an assessment of the ECOWAS region’s current situation and an overview of the whole regional assignment and activities that could be carried out at the regional level is expected. 

The results will be shared during a 2-day workshop gathering representatives from ECOWAS and from the EUDs of the region.

Draft country profiles assessing state-of-affairs and readiness on the different topics might be realised in a further study after the workshop.