Embassy Department Offering Youth Cyber Awareness and Cyber Safety Grant in Argentina

Interested parties can apply to one or both of the following two programs:

1. Comprehensive Youth Cyber Awareness and Safety Messaging Campaign with Influencers: This campaign will be aimed at addressing key cybersecurity risks faced by youth in Argentina. The campaign will cover a range of issues, including youth cyber hygiene, combatting disinformation, promoting an inclusive cybersecurity workforce, and countering underage online gambling. With the increasing use of digital platforms and the growing influence of online influencers, young people are exposed to various digital threats. This campaign will partner with selected influencers to raise awareness and provide practical solutions on safe online behavior, responsible media consumption, and opportunities for young women to enter the cybersecurity field. The campaign shall promote inclusive messages that emphasize cyber hygiene, the fight against disinformation, and career development in cybersecurity. Activities shall include:

– Collaboration with influencers to develop and disseminate content on cyber hygiene, recognizing disinformation, career opportunities in cybersecurity, and the risks associated with underage online gambling. 

– Social media campaign across platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Argentine streaming media. Content shall cover various aspects of online safety, including cyber hygiene practices, disinformation awareness, and opportunities for women in cybersecurity. 

– Creation and distribution of videos, infographics, and articles that provide practical tips on online behavior, identifying disinformation, and understanding cybersecurity as a career option, especially for women. This will include specific content focused on recognizing the risks of online gambling. 

– Partnerships with local universities and binational centers across Argentina to integrate campaign messages into digital literacy and STEM programs, emphasizing the need for inclusive participation in the cybersecurity workforce and fostering resilience against online threats, including disinformation and underage gambling.

2.    Tech Forum on Cybersecurity: The event shall bring together key stakeholders, including media, academia, influencers, and civil society, to raise awareness about cybersecurity and to drive action and national level advocacy efforts toward protecting vulnerable systems, media ecosystems, infrastructure, and other vital networks in the region. The Tech Forum will equip participants with the knowledge and tools needed to advocate for cybersecurity improvements, foster regional cooperation, promote cybersecurity hygiene, address critical vulnerabilities, and engage in practical problem-solving through a hackathon. Activities shall include:

– Discussions led by cybersecurity experts, focusing on the latest threats, best practices, and tools for improving cybersecurity.

– Organization of panels with representatives from government agencies, the private sector, and civil society to discuss regional cybersecurity cooperation.

– Hands-on instruction for participants on cybersecurity hygiene, including techniques to protect against phishing, malware, and other common threats.

– Facilitate a hackathon where teams work together to create and present solutions to specific cybersecurity challenges, with a focus on practical application and regional relevance, culminating with one-time incubation grants for successful solutions. 

Interested parties may apply to either one or the two activities. For each activity, the minimum application shall be in the amount of $20,000 and the maximum shall be $30,000. Organizations willing to apply for the two activities will do so for a minimum budget of $40,000 and a maximum of $60,000.

The applications shall be reviewed by a panel composed by Embassy subject matter experts. The implementation of the sub-awards will be made through the grantee administrator RACI Canada.