The Digital Asia Accelerator (DAA) is part of the Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership (DCCP)’s critical effort to promote an open, interoperable, secure, and reliable internet within the Indo-Pacific. DCCP is a whole-of-government global initiative. The U.S. Government, through DCCP, is working with partner governments and the private sector to promote informed investments in the development of secure communications infrastructure and digital markets. Implemented by DAI’s Digital Frontiers, DAA increasing citizens’ capacities to use digital technology safely and effectively.

As the world’s fastest growing digital economy, the Indo-Pacific region has the potential to be an even more valuable market. To help realize this opportunity, DAA will improve micro, small and medium sized enterprises’ (MSMEs) and the public’s capacity to safely and effectively use digital technology in Southeast Asia and Mongolia by:

  • Improving MSMEs’ digital skills
  • Increasing public awareness of cybersecurity issues
  • Strengthening the private sector and civil society’s ability to engage on digital economy and cybersecurity policy issues

HIGHLIGHTS
In Cambodia, DAA partnered with five local organizations to implement pilot programs training MSMEs, entrepreneurs, and content creators on how to utilize digital technology to achieve their business goals. These programs engaged people from diverse communities, such as women entrepreneurs, people living with disabilities, students, creative entrepreneurs, and artists. With a focus on cybersecurity capacity building, over 95% of MSMEs and aspiring entrepreneurs in Cambodia shared that they were equipped with tools to keep their businesses safe online.

In Indonesia, DAA partnered with Prestasi Junior Indonesia (PJI), a youth-serving NGO, to equip marginalized entrepreneurs in East Java with digital skills through a customized digital literacy training program for young women, persons living with disabilities, and youth. The curriculum leveraged private sector expertise from Microsoft’s cybersecurity resources and the WhatsApp for Business’s online marketing tools and resources. The activity trained over 1,000 people to ensure meaningful and secure participation in the digital economy. 

Increasing public awareness of cybersecurity issues

In Cambodia, DAA conducted an “Online Safety” awareness campaign using videos that featured simple digital security tips and tricks in local language across multiple online platforms. Following the campaign launch, the activity partnered with local private sector and civil society stakeholders to strengthen the local digital ecosystem through customized technology training programs for the campaign target audiences which include entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprise (SME) industry associations, digital content creators, and women living with disabilities. As a result, the campaign reached almost 1.4 million people and prompted more than 36,000 comments online.

In Mongolia, DAA launched the “Only Mine” cybersecurity awareness raising campaign. This activity used creative music campaigns to raise citizens’ awareness of cybersecurity threats and how to stay safe online. Focus areas were online privacy, password security, and online financial security. In partnership with We Think Digital by Meta and Faro Foundation, “Only Mine" co-developed and co-produced content to promote norms of responsible behavior in cyberspace. With support from local government agencies such as the National Policy Agency and the newly founded Ministry of Digital Development & Communications, the campaign spoke directly to the cyber threats that Mongolians face daily and empowered them to be safer and more secure online.

In Thailand, DAA designed a digital citizenship advocacy competition for youth to create and disseminate videos to encourage the public to practice responsible digital citizenship. Using content from Meta’s We Think Digital program (an online education portal working to create a safer and more responsible digital world), the competition built on the successes of Meta’s pilot initiative in 2019. Videos addressed topics such as: safeguarding against hacking; avoiding online scams; spotting fake news; managing your digital identity; preventing identity theft; and practicing responsible digital citizenship