CyberSafe Foundation, with support from Google.org, is set to launch Resilio Africa, a major three-year project designed to reduce the growing risk of cyberattacks across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The project aims to make communities and important local institutions stronger and safer in the digital space.

Resilio Africa will help 200 Critical Community Institutions (CCIs) by giving them free technical tools, cybersecurity assessments, threat intelligence, and incident-response support. Through this effort, the programme is expected to protect over two million people and secure more than 15 million public records in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa. It is one of the biggest community-focused cybersecurity projects on the continent.

“At Google.org, we believe that access to secure digital systems is a cornerstone of inclusive growth,” said Haviva Kohl, Senior Program Manager at Google.org. He said Google’s support for CyberSafe Foundation shows their shared commitment to empowering communities and protecting the institutions that serve them.

“Resilio Africa will help ensure that essential community organizations can operate safely and confidently in an increasingly digital world,” he added.

A brief from CyberSafe Foundation shows that cyber threats in Sub-Saharan Africa are rising quickly. Many community institutions now collect and store large amounts of personal data, but most do not have the technology or skills to protect themselves.

“Many institutions operate outdated systems, have low awareness of cyber risks, and no budget for security,” the brief said. According to INTERPOL, Africa recorded a 23% increase in ransomware attacks in 2023, with public and non-profit institutions among the most affected.

The Foundation also highlighted the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)’s Global Cybersecurity Index, which shows that more than 60 per cent of African countries have low commitment to cybersecurity readiness. This weak capacity has created a dangerous gap that cybercriminals are exploiting through ransomware, phishing, data breaches, and DDoS attacks.

THREATS ALREADY VISIBLE ACROSS THE REGION

Multiple regional cybersecurity reports, including those by AfricaCERT and national CERT authorities, indicate a rising trend in cyberattacks against public institutions in African countries. These reports also show that many government and healthcare organisations struggle with basic cybersecurity practices, such as encrypted communications.

Available data reveals by the Kenyan National Security indicates that over 114 cyberattacks targeting community institutions were recorded in the first eight months of 2024, followed by a 201 per cent increase in attacks in the first quarter of 2025.

In Nigeria, several government and healthcare systems still use unencrypted communication channels. Institutions in Ghana and South Africa face similar risks and often lack the capacity to respond.

CyberSafe Foundation warns that without urgent support, cyber incidents could disrupt essential public services, expose sensitive data, and create both digital and physical harm for millions of people.

Resilio Africa will address these challenges by providing CCIs with technical tools and cybersecurity assessments, customised playbooks and incident response frameworks.

Over 10,000 hours of free cybersecurity consulting, tiered cybersecurity training for executives, IT teams and general staff and training for more than 4,500 employees across the four countries would also be conducted.

The Foundation says this will help strengthen systems, empower workers, and build long-term digital safety.

“Africa’s digital transformation cannot succeed if our communities remain vulnerable,” said Confidence Staveley, Founder and Executive Director of CyberSafe Foundation.

“With Google.org’s support, we are scaling a proven model that will help critical institutions become resilient, safeguard the people they serve, and preserve trust in digital public systems.”

Application to join the Resilio Africa project is now open. Eligible institutions can fill out the online interest form at www.resilio.cybersafefoundation.org

. Google.org is Google’s philanthropic arm, providing funding, innovation, and technical support to underserved communities since 2005. It partners with organisations through grants and access to Google tools to drive social impact.

CyberSafe Foundation works to make cybersecurity and AI education accessible to underserved groups. Since 2019, it has reached over 30 million people, trained more than 70,000 individuals, and helped over 4,000 small businesses strengthen their cybersecurity.