On Thursday, October 19, Ambassador of the United States in Bosnia and Herzegovina Michael Murphy and Charge d’affaires a.i. of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Bosnia and Herzegovina Josef Zrzavecký signed a memorandum of understanding on behalf of their governments to expand assistance cooperation between the United States and the Czech Republic in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As part of this expanded cooperation, the United States and Czech Republic will coordinate and cooperate on a project to train and certify people with disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina for jobs in the cybersecurity field.
As the United States and the Czech Republic work with our partners in Bosnia and Herzegovina to strengthen the cybersecurity environment, there is an immediate need for additional professionals in this growing field. This assistance program will afford individuals with disabilities the opportunity to receive necessary training and certification to secure entry-level cybersecurity jobs and launch a career in a field with vast potential and a demonstrated shortage of skilled personnel. The program is an opportunity to invest in an untapped talent pipeline, develop the country’s workforce, and invest in future successes while helping to shatter the notion that people with disabilities cannot compete in the fast-paced careers of the 21st century.
At the signing ceremony, U.S. Ambassador Murphy noted, “We are excited to broaden the United States’ longstanding partnership with the Czech Republic here in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This program will help strengthen the cybersecurity environment in BiH by tapping into this country’s best resource—its citizens. We look forward to working with the Czech Embassy, our implementing partners, and the trainees themselves to foster a network of cybersecurity professionals across the country and filling jobs that are open, right here in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
Czech Chargé d’affaires Zrzavecký said, “This project is a great example of the synergy of priorities of the Government of the Czech Republic for our development cooperation program in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Working with people with disabilities is something that we have done in this country for more than 10 years, as they are an integral and contributing part of the society. Cybersecurity is a topic of great importance for us as well. On this journey we are proud to have a partner such as the Government of the United States of America.”
Applications by local implementers for this project are currently being accepted by the U.S. Embassy. Interested parties can find more information here.