Inter-project cooperation between the two JICA Technical Cooperation Projects:Cybersecurity Awareness Raising for Local Government Officials (January 15, 2025)

On January 15, 2025, as a part of a Cybersecurity awareness-raising initiative, officials from the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MPTC) provided a lecture for local government officials in Krouch Chhmar District, Tboung Khmum Province.

This awareness-raising activity was implemented through collaboration with the JICA TRUST Project - Project on Capacity Development for Assisting Survivors of Trafficking in Persons - in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY).

Through the project’s activities, the JICA TRUST Project identified vulnerabilities in cybersecurity among local government officials. These officials, who interact directly with Survivors of Trafficking (SoT), often lack awareness to protect personal information. To address this critical issue, we aimed to improve cybersecurity awareness in the daily work of local government officials by integrating a short lecture into the "Case Management Training" provided by the JICA TRUST Project.

During the session, two MPTC officers presented lectures on the basics of cybersecurity. They emphasized the importance of protecting personal information, highlighted key features of popular messaging apps, and shared settings to enhance the security of personal devices. Although it was the first opportunity for most of the participants to learn about these topics in a structured manner, they responded positively with engagement, experimenting with messaging apps, and asking questions to the lecturers. A follow-up questionnaire showed demand for this lecture and an increase in participants’ awareness of cybersecurity in their daily work. However, some gaps in understanding arose, particularly concerning app usage and personal information protection. Based on these findings, we gained valuable insights for future awareness activities, indicating a need to tailor our explanations to the literacy levels of participants.
To further improve cybersecurity awareness in Cambodia, we will continue to provide awareness-raising activities as part of the initiative led by MPTC and JICA Project.