Financial Crime World

Building Capacity in Justice Sector, Law Enforcement to Combat Cybercrime

The Sierra Leone government has launched a comprehensive plan to boost the country’s cybersecurity infrastructure and capacity, aimed at effectively enforcing the Cybersecurity and Crime Act.

Capacity Building Measures

  • The government has pledged to develop a national cybersecurity culture by investing in education and training programs for law enforcement agencies, judiciary officials, and other stakeholders.
  • The plan aims to support the development of local cybersecurity industries and research institutions.
  • A Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) will be established to respond to cyber-attacks and breaches.

Organizational Measures

  • The policy establishes a national cybersecurity institutional framework that integrates governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, ensuring accountability and coordination among agencies.
  • A National Cybersecurity Centre will be set up to oversee the implementation of cybersecurity initiatives and coordinate with international partners.

Technical Measures

  • The government has committed to implementing technical measures to ensure the security of Sierra Leone’s digital ecosystem, including:
    • Establishment of a Cybersecurity Certification and Accreditation mechanism
    • Child Online Protection (COP) framework
    • Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) standards

International Cooperation

  • Sierra Leone will prioritize international cooperation efforts to address cybercrime and cybersecurity challenges through partnerships with regional and global organizations.

Funding

  • The government has allocated a budget for implementing the policy’s initiatives.
  • Grants from donor agencies and international partners are being sought to support special actions and initiatives.

Conclusion

As Sierra Leone moves forward in its efforts to strengthen cybersecurity, it is clear that building capacity in the justice sector, law enforcement, and other relevant national institutions will be crucial in effectively enforcing the Cybersecurity and Crime Act.