USAID Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure in Ukraine Activity Quarterly Report

The report highlights progress achieved against milestones established in the FY21 Annual Implementation Plan, contractual deliverables, and ad hoc assistance efforts. The Activity carried out foundational assessments across technical components and began to roll out technical assistance to Government of Ukraine stakeholders. During the first quarter of FY21, the Activity provided ad hoc assistance to key stakeholders, including professional testing of the DIIA mobile application, provision of branding and communications support for the relaunch of the State Cybersecurity Protection Center, hiring of a dedicated Communications Manager, and identification of an expert to carry out a functional audit of the CERT-UA. The Activity also made significant progress in developing a detailed technical assistance plan in support of greater threat intelligence sharing among Government of Ukraine and other stakeholders. The Activity submitted several foundational assessments and plans and other contractual deliverables, which are currently being revised to address USAID comments. The Activity continued to work closely with other programs and donors, including regular coordination meetings with USAID-funded activities, United States Government-funded implementors, and other stakeholders. Briefings were held with EUCOM and the European Union Delegation to Ukraine to increase awareness of the Activity's strategic objectives and work plan. The Activity became fully operational in country, establishing a local bank account and transferring staff to long-term agreements. Additional staff were hired, including an Enabling Environment Coordinator, a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist, a Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting Specialist, a Procurement and Grants Officer, and an Administrative Coordinator. The team will move into a permanent office space beginning mid-January. Several encouraging steps forward regarding cybersecurity in Ukraine were observed during the reporting period, including the formation of an Expert Council on Cyber and Information Security, passage of two resolutions related to Critical Infrastructure and critical information infrastructure, and increased focus on security as a key pillar of digital transformation in Ukraine.