Cyber-security is a large-scale problem in the Ukraine, and it doesn’t stop at their borders. It spills over to the United States and eventually becomes a global problem. Cyber threats are sufficient to stall development progress, so USAID/Ukraine brought eight subject matter experts together through a BAA co-creation process to develop a powerful concept to address this national security issue of critical infrastructure. CollaborateUp designed and facilitated the 5-day co-creation workshop in less than two weeks to enable participants to work together to analyze their EOI proposals, develop a concept note vision, and refine their ideas for the Ukrainian Cyber challenge.
CollaborateUp worked to accelerate the collaboration of the group, help them better understand co-creation with USAID, and contribute to their final vision. During the workshop, participants made connections in their cybersecurity field, rapidly developed a minimum viable collaboration, and practiced agile, adaptive leadership to co-create innovative solutions to the Ukraine cyber-security problem. At its conclusion, all participants came together to speak in one voice, articulating a vision that would guide the completion of one concept note to support USAID/Ukraine and strengthen Ukraine’s critical infrastructure with an innovative cyber-security program.