exchanged through its virtual network. It may identify a range of different types of assistance needed by the state visited. There is of course close consultation with that state's government, a process which necessarily takes some time. Many aspects of the assistance identified, and agreed with the government, will fall within the mandate and expertise of a CCI partner, and will be undertaken by the partners concerned under their usual procedures in terms of funding and responsibility. Otherwise the CCI and its partners may be able to assist in identifying funding and/or expertise from elsewhere. The CCI will also assist the requesting state in co-ordinating the various pieces of work to ensure an effective outcome. 2.47 This methodology can be seen at work in the first project undertaken by the CCI, in Ghana. In January 2012 the Ghana Ministry of Communications requested assistance from the CCI in developing a cyber security strategy and the establishment of a national CIRT. In the following month the CCI sent out a team from SOCA, ITU and ICSPA to conduct a Needs Assessment. In April 2012, the CCI submitted a Needs Assessment Report to the Minister and in August 2012 the Minister submitted a further and more developed request for assistance in line with the Report’s recommendations. This was shared with the partners with the result that offers of assistance and/or funding were identified against all elements of the request. In January 2013 the CCI sent the proposal to the Minister and in April 2013 a meeting took place in which the proposals were discussed and agreed. These included a University Partnership to promote joint research and training programmes; assistance in establishing a CIRT with ITU; assistance from SOCA and the CPS in conducting a resource and training needs analysis for the criminal justice system; and a scheme in which the IWF will provide a reporting line for child abuse images. More recently Needs Assessment teams have been established to examine requests from Kenya, Trinidad and Tobago, The Gambia and Uganda. 2.48 The Group finds the innovative methodology adopted by the CCI to be one likely to secure co-ordinated and comprehensive assistance to a Commonwealth member state. It should help avoid the duplication of effort sometimes found, with different agencies responding to requests by different departments of the same government. It should ensure the establishment and implementation of a national strategy that addresses all issues in a sustainable fashion. It does of course depend on the continued goodwill of the partner agencies as well as clear and focused management, but the Group has no reason to doubt that both will continue to be found. 2.49 Law Ministers have not previously had an opportunity to consider the work of the CCI. The Group recommends that Law Ministers should follow the lead of CHOGM in endorsing the Initiative and should ensure that their colleagues in government are aware of it and should, as appropriate, facilitate its work. Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation 2.50 Within the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) is an international organisation, established in its present form in 1967, co-operating with but independent of the Commonwealth Secretariat. Its membership includes all member states of the Commonwealth and ICT sector members including government departments or regulators, private sector companies, civil society organisations, and other entities that share the CTO’s objectives. According to its Constitution, the CTO has four main purposes: (a) to support the development and use of ICTs within the Commonwealth and beyond; (b) to promote the provision and use of ICTs to meet the needs of members, to support development in member countries, and to ensure the inclusion of marginalised people; (c) to promote effective co-operation and partnership amongst its members and other organisations; and (d) to develop and implement activities to promote the above three 36