Cynder Project: Addressing the Gender Gap in the Cybersecurity Agenda of the Americas and the Caribbean

Data

Status

Active

Start

2022

Implementation

Social Networks

@OEA_Cyber

OEACICTE

The Cynder Project (“Addressing the Gender Gap in the Cybersecurity Agenda of the Americas and the Caribbean”) is a comprehensive initiative aimed at addressing gender inequality in the cybersecurity sector, with a regional focus on tackling its structural roots.

Launched in 2022 with the financial support of the Government of Canada, the initiative was built upon a diagnostic assessment of the current integration of gender perspectives in cybersecurity across the region, including an evaluation of National Cybersecurity Strategies.

One of Cynder’s core objectives is to provide technical support to Member States to incorporate gender perspectives into public cybersecurity policies, practices and multilateral processes. It also aims to collaborate with national and international efforts to build the capacity needed to identify and respond to the gendered impacts of cybersecurity operations.

In addition to gender-sensitive cybersecurity capacity building, Cynder promotes the increased participation of women in the regional cybersecurity ecosystem. This includes targeted training for girls and young women, mentorship and internship programs, and the coordination of the WiCE Network (Women in Cybersecurity Empowerment Network), which brings together members from across the region.

Another key component is raising awareness about the differentiated risks individuals may face during cyberattacks due to their gender. To this end, Cynder emphasizes the dissemination of tailored information for various groups — including women’s organizations, human rights defenders, journalists, and others — through communication campaigns, knowledge materials, and public events such as the CyberChat4All series. The initiative also seeks to close cybersecurity knowledge gaps and support technology-facilitated gender-based violence prevention through the open virtual course “Our Networks, Our Safety”, hosted on the Educational Portal of the Americas.

Overall, Cynder represents a holistic approach to tackling gender inequality in cybersecurity, combining training, research, and awareness-raising to foster a more inclusive and secure cyberspace for all.

Objectives

Promote a deeper understanding of the intersection between cybersecurity and gender.
Integrate gender and diversity perspectives into cybersecurity policies and multilateral processes and support the identification of gender-differentiated impacts of cybersecurity operations.
Bridge cybersecurity knowledge gaps and support efforts to prevent online violence.
Implement tailored capacity-building initiatives to address gender disparities in the cybersecurity sector.

Foster greater and more meaningful participation of women in the regional cybersecurity sector.

Activities

Support training of public sector officials of the region on the gendered impacts of cybersecurity operations.
Provide technical assistance to integrate gender and diversity components in the development of national and regional cybersecurity strategies.
Support digital literacy and cybersecurity education for girls and young women, including guidance on career paths, technical skills development, scholarships, internships, and initiatives such as the annual #GirlsinCyber mentoring fair and a mentorship program that fosters their professional growth and encourages their active participation in the cybersecurity ecosystem across the region.
Coordinate the WiCE – Women in Cybersecurity Empowerment Network.
Conduct and publish research on gender dimensions of cybersecurity, including women’s participation in technical assistance missions, National Incident Response Teams, and the Confidence Building Measures Working Group on Cyberspace (CBMs).
Develop and distribute context-specific knowledge and tools for both the general public and cybersecurity professionals regarding gender-related cyber threats.
Produce and share theoretical and practical content — such as materials and webinars under the #CyberChat4All series and the virtual course “Our Networks, Our Security”— focused on digital security from a gender perspective, aimed at women with diverse profiles, individuals with non-normative gender identities, and the broader public.
Formulate recommendations for public, private, and civil society actors to promote gender-inclusive work environments in the cybersecurity sector.
Through the Canada-funded Women in International Security and Cyberspace Fellowship (WiC), CICTE has strengthened the participation of women diplomats from the Americas and the Caribbean, particularly in negotiations such as the UN OEWG and the Ad Hoc Committee on Cybercrime. Since 2021, this transformative program has advanced gender inclusivity by equipping participants with the skills to navigate complex negotiations, enhancing both national and regional capacity.

Beneficiary Countries