Cybersecurity Specialist

UNDP operates in over 170 countries and territories, working to eradicate poverty while protecting the planet. We support countries in developing strong policies, skills, partnerships, and institutions to help sustain their progress.

The UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (RBEC) operates through its Istanbul Regional Hub and works in close collaboration with 18 Country Offices across Europe and Central Asia.

Cybersecurity threats pose a significant challenge to sustainable digital transformation across the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region. Recent cyber incidents have highlighted vulnerabilities across multiple sectors (e.g., banking, energy, water, etc.) necessitating a robust and collaborative approach to cybersecurity. Considering this situation, during past couple of years, UNDP has supported multiple countries in the region on this area and provided targeted support for strengthening support and cooperation among the countries and territories in the region. For EU accession countries, the region's alignment with EU standards, such as the NIS2 Directive (can be found at the following link: https://www.nis-2-directive.com/#:~:text=NIS%202%20(Directive%20(EU),for%20network%20and%20information%20systems.), is crucial for enhancing cybersecurity resilience and facilitating EU integration. However, fragmented approaches, lack of private sector collaboration, and a shortage of skilled professionals are slowing down progress in strengthening cyber-resilience in the region.

In partnership with the Slovak Republic, the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH) is implementing the Cybersecurity for a Resilient Digital Future project, aimed at strengthening cybersecurity capacities, fostering regional cooperation, and mobilizing private sector investments to scale up and sustain innovative cybersecurity approaches and solutions. This UNV assignment will be directly supporting the implementation of this project.

Under the direct supervision of the Policy Specialist on Local/Urban Governance and Integrated Local Development, in the Governance and Peacebuilding Team, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
• Support the coordination, implementation, and reporting of the regional components of the Cybersecurity for a Resilient Digital Future project, ensuring preparation and rollout of regional activities under the project;
• Contribute to establishing a state-of-the-art knowledge base and advocacy materials on cybersecurity in the region including through consolidation of various analytics, reports and consultations towards stronger understanding of risks, threats, needs and opportunities;
• Coordinate implementation and reporting of country-level activities in close consultation with UNDP CO focal points, ensuring alignment with agreed timelines, workplans, and budgets;
• Support the development and rollout of cybersecurity learning and training programs within the project and more broadly at the regional and country levels;
• Support partnerships on cybersecurity with relevant organizations, including UN entities, towards enhancing policy, programmatic, and knowledge initiatives;
• Perform other tasks as may be needed for the effective fulfillment of these functions.