26-27 March 2026, Podgorica

The Regional Training on Cybersecurity Standards in Public Institutions, organised jointly by the DCAF – Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance and ReSPA, brought together public administration representatives from across the Western Balkans on 26–27 March 2026 at the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) to advance regional cooperation and strengthen digital resilience in public institutions.

The two-day programme focused on enhancing cybersecurity capacities within public administration through practical learning, exchange of experiences, and collaborative approaches to cyber hygiene and institutional preparedness. Participants explored key aspects of cybersecurity training design, including the identification of target groups, institutional responsibilities, and implementation of effective awareness and capacity-building measures.

Opening the event, Sokol Haxhiu, Bojana Bajić, and Gilles Schwoerer underlined the growing importance of cybersecurity as a shared responsibility and a fundamental pillar of modern, citizen-oriented public administration.

Experts Mladen Bukilic and Arianit Maraj guided participants through the latest cybersecurity threats, practical tools, and approaches to strengthening cyber hygiene among public servants. Through interactive sessions, regional case studies, and peer-to-peer discussions, participants exchanged good practices and explored solutions to common cybersecurity challenges faced by public institutions across the region.

Bojana Bajić from ReSPA emphasized the importance of practical and targeted learning approaches in building sustainable cybersecurity capacities: “Structured, practical, and targeted learning is the key to building sustainable cybersecurity capacity. Through regional cooperation, public institutions can strengthen resilience and deliver secure, trustworthy digital services to citizens.”

The training forms part of broader regional efforts aimed at supporting resilient, secure, and citizen-focused digital transformation across the Western Balkans, reinforcing the understanding that stronger cybersecurity is essential for stronger public trust in public institutions and digital services.