Namibia has been ranked in Tier 4 of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) for 2024, scoring 37.93 out of 100.
The classification, labeled as “Evolving,” indicates that the country has established basic cybersecurity measures but still requires significant improvements.
Countries in Tier 4 score between 20 and 55 points, demonstrating a commitment to cybersecurity but with substantial areas needing development.
Namibia’s ranking was determined based on five key pillars: legal measures (5.66), technical measures (3.54), organisational measures (16.35), capacity development (4.57), and cooperation measures (6.81).
The country performed best in organisational measures, reflecting government-driven initiatives and the establishment of cybersecurity policies.
However, shortcomings were noted in legal and technical measures.
Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, noted that Namibia has made progress in areas such as cybersecurity legislation, incident response frameworks, and national and international cooperation.
“The GCI results show progress in countries like Namibia, which have taken steps such as developing cybersecurity laws, establishing incident response frameworks, and enhancing national and international cooperation,” Zavazava said.
He further highlighted that global cybersecurity efforts are increasingly targeting vulnerable and underrepresented populations.
Namibia’s Tier 4 classification places it alongside other African nations such as Angola, Gabon, and Zimbabwe.
While the country has made foundational progress, the ranking underscores the need for improvements in legal, technical, and cooperative measures.
Zavazava stressed the importance of continuous evaluation and adaptation to address emerging global cybersecurity challenges.
“The ITU’s GCI emphasises the importance of continuous evaluation and adaptation of cybersecurity measures to effectively address emerging global challenges,” he said.
