ANALYSE DES VULNERABILITES SPECIFIQUES AUXQUELLES LES CHAINES D'APPROVISIONNEMENT DES ONG SONT CONFRONTEES EN MATIERE DE CYBERSECURITE DANS LES ÉTATS DE L'ALLIANCE DU SAHEL (AES)
Creators: name: BONKOUNGOU ILIASSE
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025

description: The humanitarian sector is increasingly facing cybersecurity challenges, particularly in unstable regions such as the Sahel Alliance states (MALI, BURKINA FASO and NIGER). NGOs operating in these countries are vulnerable to various cyber threats due to their involvement in sensitive humanitarian operations and their interactions with often hostile local actors.

NGO supply chains are particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks because of the complexity of their operations and the diversity of the actors involved. Cyber criminals often target these chains to gain access to sensitive information or disrupt humanitarian activities.

In addition, NGOs operating in the Sahel Alliance countries face specific challenges such as political instability, corruption and armed conflict, which further increase their vulnerability in terms of cybersecurity. Hostile actors can exploit these fragile contexts to carry out targeted attacks and compromise the security of data and humanitarian operations.

Our study on Analysis of specific cybersecurity vulnerabilities faced by NGO supply chains in Sahel Alliance States (SAS) aims to Identify specific cybersecurity vulnerabilities faced by NGO supply chains in SAS states, assess the potential impacts of these vulnerabilities on NGO operations and aid beneficiaries, and make recommendations for strengthening the cybersecurity of these organisations.

The methodology used for this study includes a mixed approach, combining qualitative and quantitative analyses. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with NGO leaders, cybersecurity experts and local stakeholders to obtain a range of perspectives on the challenges faced. In parallel, a documentary review was carried out to examine past cybersecurity incidents and security best practice in the humanitarian sector.

This approach has enabled us to reveal several major vulnerabilities : the fragility of technology infrastructures, the lack of awareness and training, the complexity of supply chains that often depend on a variety of partners and suppliers, which complicates the management of cybersecurity risks along the supply chain, and the risks associated with the handling of sensitive data, particularly the personal information of beneficiaries, which poses risks in the event of a data breach.

The results of this study have significant practical and theoretical implications. On a practical level, the recommendations provided can help NGOs to develop cybersecurity strategies adapted to their operational context. Academically, this research contributes to the literature on cybersecurity in the humanitarian sector, providing an analytical framework for assessing the risks specific to NGO supply chains in fragile environments.

Studying the cyber security vulnerabilities of NGO supply chains in the Sahel Alliance states is essential to ensure the continuity and effectiveness of humanitarian interventions. By identifying these vulnerabilities and proposing practical solutions, this research aims to strengthen the resilience of NGOs to cyber threats, thereby ensuring the protection of sensitive data and the security of beneficiaries in a region where humanitarian aid is vital.