the cyber defence capabilities of the country, an active partner country in NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue forum for cooperation. Launched in 2014, the SPS project – led by experts from Germany and Jordan and further supported by France and the United States – responds to a key national priority and forms part of the Defence and Related Security Capacity Building (DCB) package for Jordan. The DCB Initiative reinforces NATO’s commitment to partners and helps to project stability beyond NATO’s borders by providing support to nations requesting defence capacity assistance from NATO. “This project signi0es a milestone for cooperation in the area of cyber defence with a partner nation, and is the 0rst of its kind to have been approved by NATO Allies,” says Christian Li7änder, Head of NATO’s Cyber Defence Section. “It supported Jordan in developing capabilities to defend its infrastructure, mitigate the impact of cyber attacks, and enhance the overall security situation in the county,” he explains. The SPS project established a Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) within the Jordanian Armed Forces, which represents a major milestone in Jordan’s national cyber defence programme and enhanced the country’s cyber defence posture. Through training and professional development, it contributed to the creation of a qualiZed and well-trained workforce. The success of the project was underscored by a decree of the Jordanian government, declaring the project to be a recognised national priority. Building on the project’s accomplishments, a follow-on multi-year SPS project is currently under development. It will deliver additional capabilities that will complement, consolidate and strengthen those built during the Zrst project. NATO support for Jordan is not limited to the area of cyber defence. Under the umbrella of the SPS Programme, numerous practical activities to strengthen Jordan’s capabilities in the security sector have been launched. Two examples which also form part of the DCB package for Jordan, are a border security symposium for the Jordanian Armed Forces in March 2017 and a multi-year project in the domain of counter improvised explosive devices (C-IED) which was recently approved by NATO Allies. It will contribute to strengthening the C-IED capabilities of the Jordanian Armed Forces, including through the development of an o]cial C-IED policy and doctrine.