Expression Of Interest For Samoa: Strengthening Cybersecurity Capabilities Phase Ii Samoa, A Lower-Middle-Income Country In The South-Central Pacific, Has Made Significant Progress In Digital Development In Recent Years, Including The Liberalization Of The Telecom Sector, The Deployment Of The Tui Samoa Undersea Cable, And The Establishment Of The Samoa National Broadband Highway. Building On These Achievements, The Government Of Samoa (Gos) Is Strongly Committed To Advancing Its Digital Public Infrastructure (Dpi) Agenda, Including The Planned Introduction Of A National Digital Id To Improve Service Delivery And Promote Financial Inclusion. 2. However, With Increasing Reliance On Digital Technologies, Cybersecurity And Online Safety Have Emerged As Critical Challenges. To Address These Risks, Samoa Adopted Its First National Cybersecurity Strategy In 2016, Inaugurated Its National Computer Emergency Response Team (Samcert) In 2021, And Published Its Information Security Policy In 2024. Despite These Efforts, Institutional Capacity Gaps, Limited Incident Response Capabilities, And The Absence Of Comprehensive Cybersecurity Legislation Continue To Constrain SamoaS Overall Cyber Resilience. 3. As Part Of Its Broader Digital Transformation Agenda, The Gos Has Expressed Strong Interest In World Bank Support To Strengthen Cybersecurity Safeguards Across Sectors. This Collaboration Has Focused On The Revitalization Of The National Cybersecurity Strategy, The Institutional And Operational Strengthening Of Samcert, And The Enhancement Of The Resilience Of Critical Infrastructures And Digital Platforms. 4. These Activities Form The Basis Of A Dedicated Cybersecurity Program Under The Digitally Connected And Resilient Samoa (Dcrs) Project Approved In 2025, Complemented By Technical Assistance (Ta) Activities Supported By The Cybersecurity Trust Fund. Together, These Efforts Aim To Build A Safe, Trusted, And Resilient Digital Environment In Samoa. 5. The Cybersecurity Program Under Dcrs Is Structured Around Four Workstreams: (I) Updating Policy, Legal, And Regulatory Frameworks, (Ii) Enhancing SamcertS Institutional Governance And Operating Model, (Iii) Establishing Critical Infrastructure Protection Capacities, And (Iv) Developing Local Cyber Skills And Awareness. The Technical Assistance (Ta) Is Designed To Inform, Complement, And Streamline The Implementation Of These Activities. 6. As Such, The First Phase Of The Ta Focused On Two Priority Areas. First, It Reviewed The Existing National Cybersecurity Strategy (Ncs), Assessed Its Outcomes, Identified SamoaS Strategic Priorities In Cybersecurity, And Provided Recommendations For Revisions, Culminating In A Draft Strategy That Is Currently Pending Cabinet Approval (As Of September 2025). Second, It Proposed An Expanded Operating Model For Samcert, Defining Its Stakeholders And Constituencies, And Outlining A Service Delivery Portfolio. 7. Building On The Samcert Operating Model Developed Under The First Phase, The Second Phase Of The Ta Will Support The Development Of Standard Operating Procedures (Sops) For The Expanded Cybersecurity And Online Safety Services, Providing Clarity On SamcertS Roles And Responsibilities And Streamlining Service Delivery. In Parallel, It Will Assist Samcert In Preparing For Cross-Government Information Security Policy Audit Plan And Train Relevant Auditors. To Implement These Activities, The World Bank Is Seeking The Services Of A Qualified Consultancy Firm. Tender Link : Https://Wbgeprocure-Rfxnow.Worldbank.Org/Rfxnow/Public/Advertisement/6476/View.Html
