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The CyLab-Africa initiative, a collaboration between Carnegie Mellon University’s CyLab Security and Privacy Institute and CMU-Africa, aims to improve the cybersecurity of digital systems in Africa and other emerging economies. CyLab researchers from CMU-Africa and CMU-Pittsburgh are studying the security, privacy, and equity of digital tools and services in Africa through a combination of research, education, and public outreach.

There is a huge amount of projected growth in the African economy over the next five years. In order to drive digital inclusion alongside that growth, experts say big improvements need to be made to the security and resilience of the continent’s financial technologies and infrastructure.

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Get involved

The CyLab-Africa team is interested in working with other organizations and institutions with the mission of improving digital inclusion in Africa and other developing nations. If you or your institution are interested in getting involved or learning more, please download our CyLab-Africa information packet and contact Michael Lisanti. For other partnership opportunities at CMU-Africa, please contact Faith Rugema.

CyLab-Africa news

CMU faculty selected for UN-led working group on DPI safeguards

Assane Gueye and Giulia Fanti have been selected by the United Nations Office of the Secretary-General Envoy on Technology to be part of a working group for the DPI Safeguards initiative.

Students from across the globe are gearing up for the 11th annual picoCTF capture-the-flag competition Opens in new window

picoCTF’s 11th annual capture-the-flag hacking competition for middle school, high school, and college students will take place from March 12 through March 26. Students interested in participating can register now by signing up for a free account at picoctf.org.

Understanding the security of mobile apps in Africa

Researchers from CyLab-Africa and the Upanzi Network recently partnered with the mobile security provider Approov to explore the security of common financial services apps used across Africa.

Stakeholder collaboration in Rwanda’s digital transformation

CyLab-Africa and the Upanzi Network, AfricaNenda, and Rwanda Information Society Authority jointly hosted a digital public infrastructure and digital public goods stakeholder engagement workshop. This workshop served as a catalyst for collaborative efforts aimed at advancing Rwanda’s digital transformation.

How a CMU-Africa student combines cybersecurity, leadership, and community

With support from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Ines Ituze Agasaro (MSIT ’24) uses leadership skills to impact the cybersecurity field and her community.

Op-Ed: Building digital infrastructure for Africa, by Africa

Co-director of the Upanzi Open Digital Technologies Network and CyLab-Africa shares how universities on the continent are well positioned to solve several key challenges on the path to a digital future.

Five unique cybersecurity challenges in Africa

CMU-Africa’s Assane Gueye has identified five cybersecurity challenges that Africa faces on the path to a digital future.

picoCTF-Africa sees significant growth in competition’s second year

In just its second year, the cybersecurity hacking competition saw over 1250 students, as the number of female participants doubled, and the number of high school participants increased by more than 365 percent. Additionally, four teams finished in the top 50 on picoCTF’s global leaderboard, demonstrating the initiative’s immediate impact.

A secure and resilient digital transformation

Upanzi Network

The network focuses on creating, testing, innovating, and assisting in implementing digital technologies at scale and influencing technology policy recommendations to support low- and middle-income countries.

Learn more about the Upanzi Network