The Palestinian NGOs Network launched a training workshop on developing skills for protection and digital security, as part of strengthening democracy and building NGOs capacity project implemented in partnership with the Norwegian People's Aid (NPA).

The training targeted 30 employees and IT specialists from NGOs and lasted for 10 hours of training for two days. Introduction to digital security and privacy was one of the topics addressed in the training alongside with security and privacy within the social media platforms, protection and security through computers and smartphones, and safe internet browsing.

Amjad Al-Shawa, PNGO director, emphasized in his opening speech that the workshop comes as part of PNGO efforts to develop NGOs digital skills as well as their ability to provide services to achieve a better humanitarian response to our people considering the complicated reality and challenges imposed by the Coronavirus outbreak.

Al-Shawa pointed out the importance of this workshop in line with the Corona repercussions experienced at the Gaza Strip, hindering the work of NGOs and its reflection on the reality of organizations response in terms of transparency and integrity.  This training workshop comes to meet the needs that NGOs face due to the lockdown associated with the Corona pandemic, he explained, especially organizations' digital security.

For his part, Osama Damo, Norwegian People's Aid in Palestine Program Manager, valued the importance of the partnership between the PNGO Network and the Norwegian People's Aid Office, and the importance of the network’s role in building the capacities of member organizations. Also, PNGO keeps track of Palestinian organizations' needs that arose during the Corona pandemic, according to Damo.

Damo pointed out that the impact of the Corona pandemic necessitated flexibility in work and re-planning some activities to suit the challenges that organizations face at work.

In the same context, the training team emphasized that the training aims to develop and build the capabilities in digital security and that all civil organizations employees can work in an environment that is free from the risks of cyber-attacks.

Finally, the participants emphasized that the training workshop came to meet the practical needs of employees at various levels and departments within NGOs. The Participants also learned about the concepts of digital security, privacy, and the difference between them, how to be protect their accounts in social media, in addition to software packages that help protect organizations’ accounts.