Chemical, Biological & Nuclear Security

Sharing Chemical Security Best Practices

In February 2023, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), with UAE’s Executive Office for Control & Non-Proliferation (EOCN) organized the Advanced Seminar on the Chemical Weapons Convention and Chemical Safety and Security Management for Member States of the OPCW in the Asia Region. With the goal of enhancing the capacities of National Authorities and chemical industry associations in Member States of the OPCW in the Asia region, CRDF Global gave a presentation on monitoring and evaluation best practices in chemical security projects and how knowledge gains and outcomes are most effectively measured.

Cybersecurity & Digital Resilience

Enhancing Indo-Pacific Cyber Resilience

Recognizing the significant rise in regional cyber threats and the need to develop robust cybersecurity measures, CRDF Global in collaboration with Mandiant Inc brought together 33 cybersecurity practitioners for a comprehensive hands-on cybersecurity workshop in Manila, Philippines. The initiative aimed to equip participants with critical knowledge and skills to combat evolving cyber threats that could potentially disrupt trade. The workshop, entitled “ThreatSpace Workshop: Cyber Capacity Building for Highly Trafficked Ports,” included programming to address enhancing cyber defense capabilities, promoting secure ports and resilient supply chains, and building cyber resilience across organizations.

Chemical, Biological & Nuclear Security

Curbing North Korean WMD Proliferation

In support of the strategy outlined and funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) to implement United Nations Security Council sanctions, CRDF Global helped build the capacity of key sanctions enforcement stakeholders and IT staff to counter the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) proliferation activities. CRDF Global Counterproliferation projects under this agreement included a series of workshop trainings, remote trainings, e-learning courses, and a study tour for compliance professionals, as well as the sharing of best practices on sanctions compliance and risk management. 

Border Security & Strategic Trade Controls

Building DPRK Sanctions Online Resource

In support of the U.S. Department of State Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program, CRDF Global has developed many educational resources designed to build capacity on individual and institution levels to counter techniques leveraged by malign actors to evade UN sanctions.  In 2023, EXBS and CRDF Global launched the North Korea Sanctions website, the premier source for information on complex non-proliferation sanctions concerning the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The website provides an inclusive, free, and searchable synthesis of open-source information on UN sanctions, serving as a valuable resource for both government officials and private sector professionals.  

Health Security and Research

Promoting Radiation in Cancer Care

As part of the Sustained Dialogue on Peaceful Uses (SDPU) initiative to promote the applications of nuclear science and technology in the fight against cancer,  CRDF Global hosted a side event at the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) Conference in Dakar, Senegal. Participants of the side event discussed the use of radiation medicine to improve cancer care and treatment in developing states. Their discussions identified equipment maintenance and workflow, patient experience, and public education and outreach as key areas with potential for meaningful improvement to expand access to radiology and radiotherapy.

Border Security & Strategic Trade Controls

Building Counterproliferation Champions

As part of its mission to build counterproliferation finance regional champions in Latin America and the Caribbean, CRDF Global welcomed nine finance professionals to Washington, D.C. for a one-week study tour to learn about Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) proliferation finance activities and risks in financial institutions of Latin America and the Caribbean.  Participants attended trainings on DPRK proliferation and sanctions evasion activities, counterproliferation finance, anti-money laundering, counterproliferation finance in the maritime sector, cryptocurrency fundamentals, and cybersecurity best practices. These trainings served as a basis for roundtable discussions and participants’ final research project and webinar. 

Health Security and Research

Leading Grant-Writing Workshops

In tandem with the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Office of Global Research (OGR) hosted a successful grant writing workshop in Brazil that provided Brazilian principal investigators with the opportunity to improve their grant writing skills, so they are better able to receive funding for future projects. The initiative included three different virtual presentations hosted by expert grant writing mentors and in-person expert guidance to improve participants’ own grant proposals. The OGR saw significant improvement in later submitted proposals.

Security Cooperation & Exchanges

Hosting Global Leaders

In 2023, CRDF Global welcomed over 200 leaders from 83 countries on 22 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) projects on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. IVLP projects addressed a wide range of topics including women in STEAM entrepreneurship, rule of law and the U.S. judicial system, U.S. agricultural trade and food safety, climate change and biodiversity conservation in the U.S., and the fight for marriage equality. During participants’ visit to the U.S., CRDF Global engaged 40 local communities across the country to share best practices, leading expertise, and build lasting people-to-people ties between the U.S. and participating countries.  

Health Security and Research

FAST TB

sanIn partnership with the US National Institute of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH/NIAID), CRDF Global launched the FAST TB initiative, designed to accelerate the development and implementation of innovative tuberculosis treatments by fostering effective communication, coordination, and collaboration among stakeholders and researchers. In 2023, CRDF Global’s FAST TB Coordinating Center hosted the FAST-TB Stakeholder Meeting at the Union Conference and the Inaugural Scientific Advisory Board Meeting, inviting global TB experts to collaborate to accelerate the development of new TB treatments. FAST TB also launched a website to provide information about its initiatives and make its mission accessible worldwide.