July 28, 2025 (ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has launched a five-day ISO/IEC 27001 Training and ICT Coordination Retreat, bringing together ICT professionals and institutional leaders from across the region to sharpen information security practices and strengthen digital governance.
Held under the theme “Securing Our Digital Future Together,” the retreat is part of IGAD’s broader digital transformation agenda aimed at improving service delivery, safeguarding digital assets, and aligning operations with global cybersecurity standards.
“This retreat is not just about training — it’s about building a collective vision for secure, standardised, and smart digital infrastructure across the IGAD family,” said Josephat Onyari, Director of Administration and Finance.
The event convenes ICT experts from IGAD Headquarters, specialised institutions, ISO 27001 focal points, and technical consultants to explore key areas such as procurement standardisation, IT service management, endpoint and application security, and risk-based implementation of Information Security Management Systems (ISMS).
Participants are also engaging in internal assessments and roadmapping exercises to establish a foundation for ISO/IEC 27001 certification across all IGAD entities.
By the close of the retreat, participants are expected to walk away with a shared understanding of ISO 27001 principles, stronger capacity in ICT coordination and tools, and the groundwork needed for ISMS implementation.
With this retreat, IGAD reaffirms its commitment to secure, resilient digital systems that promote trust, transparency, and innovation across the region — reinforcing its role as a leader in ICT governance and regional integration.
