Format: Live instructor-led online training via Zoom / Microsoft Teams

Cybersecurity for Humanitarian Organizations Training Course

Course Overview

The Cybersecurity for Humanitarian Organizations Training Course is a comprehensive professional development program designed to strengthen the capacity of humanitarian organizations, government institutions, United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), development partners, research institutions, emergency response agencies, and private sector organizations in protecting digital assets, humanitarian information systems, and sensitive beneficiary data from evolving cyber threats. The course equips participants with advanced knowledge and practical skills in cybersecurity governance, information security management, cyber risk assessment, network security, cloud security, endpoint protection, identity and access management, incident response, digital forensics, data privacy, cyber resilience, business continuity, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), humanitarian information management, and international cybersecurity standards. Participants develop practical competencies to identify, prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents while strengthening organizational resilience, compliance, operational continuity, and evidence-based decision-making.

Humanitarian organizations increasingly rely on digital technologies, cloud computing, mobile data collection, artificial intelligence, digital cash transfers, online collaboration platforms, and humanitarian information management systems to deliver critical services. These technologies also expose organizations to cyber threats such as ransomware, phishing attacks, malware, insider threats, identity theft, data breaches, denial-of-service attacks, and unauthorized access to sensitive beneficiary information. This course introduces internationally recognized cybersecurity frameworks and best practices, including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management Systems, Zero Trust Architecture, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) principles, cloud security standards, cybersecurity governance, cyber risk management, ethical hacking concepts, Security Operations Centers (SOC), disaster recovery, and business continuity planning. Participants learn practical approaches for securing humanitarian digital ecosystems while maintaining operational efficiency, accountability, and regulatory compliance.

Throughout the course, participants gain practical experience in cyber risk assessments, security policy development, identity and access management, endpoint protection, cloud security implementation, secure network architecture, email security, encryption, vulnerability management, penetration testing concepts, incident response planning, digital forensics, cybersecurity awareness programs, and security monitoring. Practical laboratories, simulations, group exercises, and real-world humanitarian cybersecurity case studies strengthen participants' technical, analytical, leadership, and problem-solving skills while promoting organizational resilience, ethical digital governance, privacy protection, operational continuity, innovation, and continuous learning. The course also emphasizes artificial intelligence in cybersecurity, threat intelligence, secure digital transformation, and future cyber defense strategies.

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will possess the strategic, technical, and managerial competencies required to design, implement, monitor, and continuously improve cybersecurity programs that safeguard humanitarian information systems, strengthen digital resilience, protect beneficiary data, reduce cyber risks, ensure regulatory compliance, and support secure humanitarian operations. Organizations will benefit from improved cyber resilience, stronger governance, enhanced operational continuity, increased donor confidence, better protection of critical digital assets, improved compliance, and sustainable digital transformation.

Course Objectives

1.     Understand cybersecurity principles, threats, and risk management in humanitarian organizations.

2.     Identify cyber vulnerabilities affecting humanitarian information systems and digital operations.

3.     Develop cybersecurity governance frameworks, policies, and security controls.

4.     Strengthen identity and access management, authentication, and authorization mechanisms.

5.     Implement secure network architecture, endpoint security, and cloud security solutions.

6.     Develop cyber incident response, disaster recovery, and business continuity plans.

7.     Apply cybersecurity monitoring, threat intelligence, and vulnerability management techniques.

8.     Protect humanitarian beneficiary information through encryption, privacy, and regulatory compliance.

9.     Integrate cybersecurity into Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) and digital transformation initiatives.

10.  Build organizational resilience through cybersecurity awareness, leadership, and continuous improvement.

Organizational Benefits

1.     Enhanced protection of humanitarian information systems and digital infrastructure.

2.     Improved cybersecurity governance and organizational risk management.

3.     Reduced exposure to cyberattacks, ransomware, phishing, and data breaches.

4.     Strengthened protection of sensitive beneficiary information and donor data.

5.     Improved regulatory compliance with international cybersecurity and privacy standards.

6.     Enhanced operational continuity through effective disaster recovery and business continuity planning.

7.     Increased staff awareness of cybersecurity threats and safe digital practices.

8.     Improved donor confidence through secure and transparent information management.

9.     Strengthened digital transformation and cloud security capabilities.

10.  Sustainable organizational resilience against evolving cyber threats.

Target Participants

This course is designed for ICT Managers, Information Security Officers, Humanitarian Coordinators, Government Officials, United Nations Agency Personnel, NGO Directors, Program Managers, Project Managers, Information Management Officers, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialists, MEAL Officers, Systems Administrators, Network Administrators, Database Administrators, Cloud Administrators, Cybersecurity Professionals, Digital Transformation Officers, Data Protection Officers, GIS Specialists, Researchers, Public Health Professionals, Disaster Risk Management Specialists, Consultants, Development Practitioners, Policy Analysts, Innovation Officers, and professionals responsible for humanitarian information systems, cybersecurity, digital governance, and organizational resilience.

Course Outline

Module 1: Foundations of Cybersecurity for Humanitarian Organizations

·       Cybersecurity concepts

·       Humanitarian cyber threats

·       Information security principles

·       Cybersecurity governance

·       Digital risk landscape

·       Security frameworks

General Case Study: Assessing cybersecurity challenges facing humanitarian organizations during emergency operations.

Module 2: Cyber Risk Assessment and Security Governance

·       Cyber risk identification

·       Risk analysis

·       Security policies

·       Governance frameworks

·       Compliance management

·       Risk mitigation

General Case Study: Developing a cybersecurity governance framework for a humanitarian organization.

Module 3: Identity and Access Management

·       Authentication methods

·       Multi-factor authentication

·       Role-based access control

·       User lifecycle management

·       Privileged access management

·       Identity governance

General Case Study: Strengthening access controls for humanitarian beneficiary databases.

Module 4: Network and Endpoint Security

·       Secure network architecture

·       Firewalls

·       Endpoint protection

·       Antivirus solutions

·       Intrusion detection

·       Secure remote access

General Case Study: Protecting field offices from malware and unauthorized network access.

Module 5: Cloud Security and Digital Collaboration

·       Cloud security principles

·       Microsoft 365 security

·       Google Workspace security

·       Cloud identity management

·       Secure collaboration

·       Data protection

General Case Study: Securing cloud-based humanitarian collaboration platforms.

Module 6: Data Privacy, Encryption and Compliance

·       Data classification

·       Encryption technologies

·       Privacy principles

·       Secure data storage

·       GDPR concepts

·       Regulatory compliance

General Case Study: Protecting sensitive beneficiary information through encryption and secure data management.

Module 7: Cyber Incident Response and Digital Forensics

·       Incident response planning

·       Threat detection

·       Incident containment

·       Digital evidence

·       Recovery procedures

·       Post-incident review

General Case Study: Responding to a ransomware attack affecting humanitarian operations.

Module 8: Cybersecurity Monitoring and Threat Intelligence

·       Security monitoring

·       Threat intelligence

·       Vulnerability assessment

·       Security Operations Center (SOC)

·       Continuous monitoring

·       Threat reporting

General Case Study: Detecting and responding to phishing attacks targeting humanitarian staff.

Module 9: Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

·       Business continuity planning

·       Disaster recovery strategies

·       Backup systems

·       High availability

·       Operational resilience

·       Recovery testing

General Case Study: Developing a disaster recovery plan to ensure uninterrupted humanitarian service delivery.

Module 10: Cybersecurity Awareness and Organizational Culture

·       Security awareness programs

·       Employee training

·       Social engineering prevention

·       Insider threat management

·       Security leadership

·       Continuous improvement

General Case Study: Building a cybersecurity awareness culture across humanitarian field offices.

Module 11: Emerging Technologies and Future Cybersecurity Trends

·       Artificial intelligence in cybersecurity

·       Zero Trust Architecture

·       Internet of Things (IoT) security

·       Blockchain security

·       Cloud-native security

·       Future cyber threats

General Case Study: Evaluating emerging cybersecurity technologies for humanitarian digital transformation.

Module 12: Strategic Cybersecurity Leadership and Organizational Resilience

·       Cybersecurity strategy

·       Digital resilience

·       Innovation management

·       Executive leadership

·       Cyber governance maturity

·       Organizational action planning

General Case Study: Developing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy to strengthen humanitarian information systems, protect digital assets, improve operational resilience, and support secure digital transformation.

General Information

1.     Customized Training: All our courses can be tailored to meet the specific needs of participants.

2.     Language Proficiency: Participants should have a good command of the English language.

3.     Comprehensive Learning: Our training includes well-structured presentations, practical exercises, web-based tutorials, and collaborative group work. Our facilitators are seasoned experts with over a decade of experience.

4.     Certification: Upon successful completion of training, participants will receive a certificate from Foscore Development Center (FDC-K).

5.     Training Locations: Training sessions are conducted at Foscore Development Center (FDC-K) centers. We also offer options for in-house and online training, customized to the client's schedule.

6.     Flexible Duration: Course durations are adaptable, and content can be adjusted to fit the required number of days.

7.     Onsite Training Inclusions: The course fee for onsite training covers facilitation, training materials, two coffee breaks, a buffet lunch, and a Certificate of Successful Completion. Participants are responsible for their travel expenses, airport transfers, visa applications, dinners, health/accident insurance, and personal expenses.

8.     Additional Services: Accommodation, pickup services, flight booking, and visa processing arrangements are available upon request at discounted rates.

9.     Equipment: Tablets and laptops can be provided to participants at an additional cost.

10.  Post-Training Support: We offer one year of free consultation and coaching after the course.

11.  Group Discounts: Register as a group of more than two and enjoy a discount ranging from 10% to 50%.

12.  Payment Terms: Payment should be made before the commencement of the training or as mutually agreed upon, to the Foscore Development Center account. This ensures better preparation for your training.

13.  Contact Us: For any inquiries, please reach out to us at training@fdc-k.org or call us at +254712260031.

14.  Website: Visit our website at www.fdc-k.org for more information.