The CyberSafe Foundation in partnership with Google.org, has officially launched Resilio Africa, a three-year cybersecurity resilience initiative designed to protect over two million people and secure more than 15 million public records, reports ITREALMS.
By offering an unprecedented 10,000 hours of pro bono cybersecurity consulting, the foundation aims to empower essential organisations such as clinics, schools, and local government agencies that often operate on outdated systems with negligible security budgets.
The urgency of this intervention,
ITREALMS gathered, is underscored by alarming data from INTERPOL and the International Telecommunication Union highlighting a 23 per cent rise in ransomware attacks across the continent and a staggering 201 per cent surge in cyber incidents in regions like Kenya within the first quarter of 2025.
Resilio Africa, ITREALMS also gathered, is structured to provide these high-risk institutions with free technical tools, comprehensive risk assessments, and real-time threat intelligence to mitigate the impact of phishing, data breaches, and service disruptions.
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Beyond technical support, the initiative focuses heavily on human capital, delivering tiered training for over 4,500 employees, including executives and IT specialists, to ensure that cybersecurity becomes a fundamental pillar of their institutional operations.
Confidence Staveley, the Founder and Executive Director of CyberSafe Foundation, emphasized that Africa’s ongoing digital transformation cannot be sustained if its foundational community institutions remain vulnerable to exploitation.
With the support of Google.org, the project scales a proven capacity-building model intended to safeguard the people served by these institutions and preserve public trust in digital public systems.
Haviva Kohl, Senior Program Manager at Google.org, reiterated this sentiment, noting that secure digital systems are a cornerstone of inclusive growth and that protecting community-facing organisations is vital for ensuring they can operate safely and confidently in an increasingly connected world.
The Programs Lead, Cybersafe Foundation, Success Tawo, said that eligible Critical Community Institutions are encouraged to apply for the programme via the official Resilio Africa portal, where they can access the necessary frameworks and expert guidance to strengthen their digital defences.
Stressing that as the continent continues to grapple with sophisticated cyber threats, this multi-year effort represents one of the most significant community-focused cybersecurity investments in Africa, promising to build a safer and more resilient digital ecosystem for millions of citizens who rely on these essential services every day.
The unveiling was followed by a high-level panel discussion titled "Shared Responsibility, Shared Resilience: How Governments, Private Sector, and Civil Society Protect Communities." The session featured prominent experts including Gbolabo Awelewa, Chief Business Officer at Essentry; Joylynn Kirui, Head of Information Security at Prime Bank Africa; Dr. Bright Mawudor, Founder of CyberGuard Africa; Confidence Osein, Founder of Internet Safe Kids Africa (iSKA); and Juliet Ohahuru-Obiora, Executive Director of Action Against Child Sexual Abuse Initiative (ACSAI).
The insightful dialogue was moderated by cyber sentinel, Alero Mogbeyiteren.
Remmy Nweke/DoP
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