Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap MPTF 

ObjectivesFund scope and theory of change

The Western Balkans region has made significant progress in recent years to address the illicit possession, misuse and trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW). However, the scale of accumulation of SALW and ammunition, inadequate storage conditions, widespread illicit possession, and gaps in implementation continue to limit the effectiveness of firearms and SALW control efforts in parts of this region.

To address these challenges, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Serbia jointly developed the most comprehensive arms control mechanism in the region: the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition in the Western Balkans by 2024. This was done under the auspices of Germany and France, in coordination with the European Union, and with support from the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC)..

The Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap Trust Fund was established in March 2019 to ensure a donor-coordinated approach to the implementation of the Roadmap. The Trust Fund:

• Provides a platform to strengthen coordination, planning and communication among donors, implementing partners and national authorities;
• Helps to develop synergies among the different players involved in this programmatic area; and
• Reduces risks to governments and financial contributors through a comprehensive risk and results-based management system;
• Supports concrete projects and activities in the area of SALW control that contribute to the achievement of the Roadmap goals and are in line with the priorities of the targeted jurisdictions.

Theory of Change

The Trust Fund’s objective is to contribute to the implementation of the Roadmap to make the
Western Balkans a safer region and an exporter of security. This is being achieved through the seven Roadmap goals:

• Goal 1: By 2023, ensure that arms control legislation is in place, fully harmonized with the EU regulatory framework and other related international obligations and standardized across the region.
• Goal 2: By 2024, ensure that arms control policies and practices in the Western Balkans are evidence-based and intelligence led.
• Goal 3: By 2024, significantly reduce illicit flows of firearms, ammunition and explosives (FAE) into, within and beyond the Western Balkans.
• Goal 4: By 2024, significantly reduce the supply, demand and misuse of firearms through increased awareness, education, outreach and advocacy.
• Goal 5: By 2024, substantially decrease the estimated number of firearms in illicit possession in the Western Balkans.
• Goal 6: Systematically decrease the surplus and destroy seized small arms and light weapons and ammunition.
• Goal 7: Significantly decrease the risk of proliferation and diversion of firearms, ammunition and explosives.

Through its support of the Roadmap, the Trust Fund contributes to the achievement of SDG 16 to promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies as illicit arms flows are amongst the factors that give rise to violence, insecurity and injustice, and SDG 5 to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

GovernanceGovernance arrangements

Steering Committee
The Steering Committee is chaired by UNDP and is made up by the Representatives of the Participating Organizations, Germany, France and the EU (as ex-officio members)) and other top 3 donors to the Trust Fund.  All other donors are granted the observer status (with no voting right), for increased transparency, access to information and provision of inputs.
The Steering Committee provides general oversight and exercises overall accountability of the Trust Fund, approves the strategic direction of the Trust Fund and its overall results framework, decides on the allocation of funds, and oversees the implementation of the funded projects and overall progress towards the planned results.

Secretariat
The South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC), a joint initiative of the Regional Cooperation Council andUNDP, functions as the Secretariat of the Trust Fund. The Secretariat is responsible for the programmatic coordination and monitoring of the Trust Fund, and provides technical and management support to the Steering Committee.  The Secretariat is not part of the Steering Committee and has no voting rights.

Participating Organizations
The Participating Organizations are UNDP and UNODC. Programme implementation is the responsibility of Participating Organizations. Each organization is programmatically and financially responsible for the resources received.

Administrative Agent
Participating Organizations receive funds through the Administrative Agent, Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) Office. The Administrative Agent is responsible for the receipt, administration and management of contributions from donors, disbursement of funds to Participating Organizations, and consolidation and dissemination of progress reports to donors.

Projects

Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap MPTF

Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap MPTF is currently supporting count_projects ongoing projectscount_globalInterregional and count_countries country-specific. This table shows the most recently approved ongoing projects.

All project financial information can be found in the Financials section, including delivery analysis by organization, theme and project; project financial status by country and by theme.

Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap MPTF

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