Implementing period: February 2020 - June 2023

Budget: US$2,200,000

Through this project, UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and UNODC’s Global Firearms Programme (GFP) contributed to the security and safety in BiH in the context of the implementation of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to illicit firearms trafficking in the Western Balkans by 2024. The project activities supported the Indirect Taxation Authority (ITA)/BiH Customs to better detect and respond to the illicit trafficking of SALW. Apart from ITA, several other BIH institutions benefited from the project implementation including BIH Border Police, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations (MOFTER), the Agency for Postal Traffic and the three designated postal operators. The HALT Project was the first project under the MPTF to include the private sector in the implementation of the Roadmap with the participation of Express Courier and freight forward companies.

The intervention was tailor-made and sought to address the needs of BIH outlined in several strategies, including but not limited to BiH SALW Strategy 2016-2020 and the respective action plan, the Strategy for the fight against organized crime, and the Strategy for Preventing and Combating Terrorism (2015 – 2020). It was also fully compliant with the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) in BiH, more precisely with Outcome 2: By 2019, BiH consolidates and strengthens mechanisms for peaceful resolution of conflicts, reconciliation, respect for diversity, and community security.

Overall achievements:

• Enhanced Integrated Border management capacity of BIH to better fight illicit SALW trafficking through targeted assistance to Customs/ITA, Border Police and three postal agencies. This entailed the following specific results:
  • Development of Needs Assessments as a baseline that guided further action. The project developed i) Needs assessment of BiH Customs/ITA (UNDP), and ii) Gap and Needs assessment for preventing trafficking of firearms, their parts, components and ammunition through postal shipments (UNODC).
  • Development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) in line with Gap and Needs Assessment. Nine (9) SOPs were developed and officially adopted by ITA. 14 ITA staff passed train-the-trainer sessions, ensuring continuous in-house resource. (UNDP)
  • Provision of specialized equipment for better performance of BiH Customs/ITA and Border Police. The project provided comprehensive SALW detection equipment and improved BIH Customs' and BIH Border Police infrastructure at border crossings to better detect smuggling of arms' and other goods. (UNDP)
    • ITA + train-the-trainer: 4 mobile detectors for explosives and narcotics; 22 videoscopes (endoscopes); 13 contraband detectors (instead of 4 as originally planned); 50 explosives and narcotics detection kits; 50 universal multitool kits (instead of 20 as originally planned); 24 vehicle inspection kits (instead of 20 as originally planned).
    • Border Police: 7 contraband detectors; 13 digital cameras; 25 metal carts; 8 evidence packaging kits; 11 sets of number evidence markers; 33 multitool kits.
  • Training of 770 customs officers/officials on the use of SOPs and provided specialized equipment. 738 customs officers (191 women and 547 men) trained on SOPs and the proper use of donated equipment, and this was accredited by the BiH Civil Service Agency^[1]. This encompassed 37 one-day iterations in 14 different cities throughout BiH covering all 4 ITA regional centres. In addition, one-day workshop for 32 ITA middle managers (4 women and 28 men) was organized to stress the importance of application of developed SOPs and their final endorsement, bringing the total number of trained customs officers/officials to 770 (195 women and 575 men). (UNDP)
  • Affirmation of women’s role in BiH Customs. A brief analysis of the affirmation and career options for women in the BiH ITA was conducted as part of the needs assessment analysis of BiH ITA, and a series of workshops aimed at the affirmation of women's role in BIH Customs were rolled out: 8 workshops with the engagement of 202 ITA employees (124 women and 78 men), of which 121 managers (59 women and 62 men) including active participation of lecturers from ITA (ITA focal point for gender issues) as well as from the two Associations of Women Police Officials operating in BiH, BiH Agency for Gender Equality and the BiH Ministry of Security. (UNDP)
  • Detection of firearms in fast and postal parcels was enhanced. Four SOPs were developed in collaboration with designated postal operators (DPOs) and BiH Customs/ITA on the detection of firearms in fast and postal parcels, for BiH Customs, BH Pošta, Pošte Srpske, Hrvatska pošta Mostar. In addition, SOPs were developed for four Express Courier (private) companies (noting that DHL already has procedures in place that are congruent to the ones adopted by the other four express courier companies). (UNODC)
  • Developed and delivered a set of capacity development activities for postal operators on detection of firearms in postal parcels and provided three X-ray scanners for detection of firearms in postal parcels (UNODC):
    • Foundation level training course; Advanced level training course; Computer-based training course, with 3 levels.
    • Developed a training manual: Analysis of Firearms X-ray images, to ensure a continuous resource.
    • Conducted 12 monitoring/mentoring visits to regional post distribution centers and Express Courier companies in BiH.
    • Installed X-ray scanners and provided related training on its use to Customs staff, and delivered 90 explosive and narcotics detection kits.
    • 100 practitioners (24 women and 76 men) in total increased their capacity for detection of firearms, their parts and ammunition in postal parcels from BiH Customs, BH Pošta, Pošte Srpske, Hrvatska pošta Mostar, out of whom 20 BiH Customs officials (4 women and 16 men) were trained as trainers, to serve as a continuous resource in-house.
       
• Strengthened cooperation and information exchange between BIH Customs and other institutions at national level and with three neighboring states. This entailed the following specific results:
  • Implemented joint inter-institutional exercises with active part of BiH Customs, law enforcement agencies, and BiH Prosecutor: 307 police and customs officers trained through 11 joint exercises (UNDP)
  • Organized four peer exchange meetings for BiH Customs, with peers from Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro – exchange of best practices and experiences [three bilateral peer exchanges and one joint (minus Croatia)] (UNDP)
  • Facilitated strategic-level meetings among relevant SALW stakeholders in BiH, including BIH SALW Coordination Board, as well as one meeting with all police commissioners chaired by Director of Federation Police Directorate (UNDP)
  • Supported four bi-lateral cross-border operations between the customs officers of BiH and those from Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia: Drina 2021, Tara 2021, Tara 2022, Rijeka 2022. During these, exchange of information was intensified as well as controls and searches conducted, resulting in a number of seizures of illicit goods, drugs and some FAE. This also brought formalization of information exchange between customs administrations. In total, 81 experts from BiH and neighbouring countries participated in the bi-lateral operations (18 women and 63 men). Lessons learnt and key findings were exchanged and will guide further operations. (UNODC)
    • MoU between the BiH and Croatian Customs was signed, defining protocols for information exchange, significantly streamlining the cooperation process.
  • Strengthened public-private cooperation at the national level on countering firearms in fast and postal parcels (UNODC):
    • Developed a gap analysis on the cooperation framework between the BiH Customs and commercial sector entities on the detection of firearms in Express Courier parcels.
    • Identified opportunities for increased consultations between the courier companies and the Customs in the process of developing new sector’s regulations.
    • Identified solutions for providing preferential treatment by the Customs for companies that comply with specific conditions within the existent legislative framework.
    • Identified need for signing a MoU between private courier companies and Customs for exchange of information, based on risk indicators.
    • In collaboration with public institutions, enhanced risk assessment on firearms trafficking of 21 private companies: four express courier companies (four workshops in collaboration with BiH Customs) and 17 freight forwarding companies (two workshops in collaboration with MOFTER and the Ministry of Transport and Communication). 47 express courier staff (11 women and 36 men) and 50 representatives of freight forwarding companies (15 women and 35 men) have better understanding about the risks and regulations to counter firearms trafficking.
       
• Overall, the project improved BiH capacities to combat illicit SALW trafficking in an effective manner:
  • There is a continuous use of SOPs and donated equipment: ITA reported three confiscations of weapons and weapons’ spare parts, in 2022 in Tuzla, and one in 2023 in Sarajevo.
  • By the end of the project (June 2023), noted was an increase in the detection of firearms in postal parcels, including aspects of international cooperation: there were 30 detected firearms parts in postal parcels by December 2022 (as compared to 3 detected firearms in postal parcels prior to the start of the project), with ongoing investigations and a detained suspect with hundreds of firearms parts ready to send via postal parcels.
  • The ensured continuous communication and cooperation both at strategic and operational levels among relevant agencies and institutions in BiH and between BiH and neighbouring countries strengthened the basis for more effective detection of illegal SALW trade.  
  • This also paved the way to the establishment of good practice and models of cooperation, which will further be multiplied and expanded upon through subsequent projects on SALW Control within the MPTF.
     

The project contributed to Roadmap Goals 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and key performance indicators 4, 6, 9, 10, 14 of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons and their ammunition in the Western Balkans.

[1] Training concept developed under HALT project was formally recognized by the Agency for Civil Service of BiH. As a result, each customs officer that had completed the training was granted 5 credits by the Agency.

Implementing period: October 2022 - December 2023

Budget: US$583,546

The project under implementation by UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina assisted the Ministry of Defence (MoD)/Armed Forces (AF) to reduce ammunition stockpiles to a manageable level in order to create preconditions for the establishment of a sustainable ammunition stockpile management system owned by the MoD/AF. The project also supported the MoD and AF to increase their overall efficiency in addressing the issue of excess, obsolete, faulty ammunition and military equipment.

The project was part of the broader Urgent Action on Ammunition Destruction EXPLODE+ project platform, implemented by UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina, which enabled a multilateral approach to interventions in the field of ammunition reduction and life-cycle management. The activities, including unsafe/surplus ammunition disposal, capacity development, and infrastructure upgrades of ammunition and weapon storage sites were closely coordinated with the MoD/AF. The project was directed by the Ammunition Weapons and Explosive Master plan as the main strategic framework of the MoD that guides large-scale national efforts and comprehensive international community involvement in this domain in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Specifically through the Western Balkans SALW Control MPTF, the project phase supported the disposal of 2,667 pcs of the rocket propelled grenade M80-64mm “Zolja,” 833 pcs of white phosphorus, and 1,000 pcs of RPG ammunition - through a controlled and environmentally safe action.

The project contributed to Roadmap Goals 6, 7 and key performance indicators 10, 12, 14 of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons and their ammunition in the Western Balkans.

Implementing period: January 2021 – April 2024

Budget: US$769,406

Project PILLAR sought to implement a comprehensive response to raise awareness amongst the population regarding the dangers of illegal possession of firearms and to educate how to recognize individual and collective threats to security. Furthermore, the project aimed to contribute to behavioural change and comprehensive understanding of the threats posed by SALW within families, community and society in general. These were to be achieved by building capacities within the formal associations of women police officers in BiH as “agents of change” to achieve better understanding within the general population of the SALW threats, and by raising public awareness through structured countrywide campaigns, outreach activities and advocacy addressing the devastating impact and threats posed by illicit SALW to general public, especially groups at risk (women, children, young men).

The PILLAR Project and proposed project activities had been fully aligned and contributed to the achievement of goals of the SALW Control Strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina and of the Regional Roadmap for SALW Control in the Western Balkans. The project built on the complementary interventions within the UNDP’s SALW Control Roadmap projects, and it was closely coordinated with relevant law enforcement agencies and the SALW Coordination Board of BiH (SALW CB BiH). 

Overall achievements:

• Strengthened understanding of the BiH law enforcement agencies’ capacities and needs to address SALW-related threats and risks among the general population.
  • In 2021, the project commissioned an analysis of available resources and needs assessment among the institutions to engage in gender and age-sensitive awareness raising activities, and existing data relevant for effective outreach and awareness-raising. In addition to being based on the relevant policy and institutional framework, the analysis was based on interviews with key stakeholders, including the Chair of the SALW CB BiH and designated focal points from the law enforcement agencies involved in the project. The interview findings were analyzed, leading to the identification of key messages, target groups, and conceptualization of awareness-raising materials that represented the basis for the next stage of community outreach within the project.
     
• Enhanced capacities of two associations of women police officers in BiH, aimed at their more active engagement in the SALW control matters in the jurisdiction. 
  • In 2021, the project conducted a needs assessment of the two formal associations of women police officers in BiH. Based on this, it conceptualized capacity development sessions as a prerequisite for their more active engagement, and developed training materials for the specialized training sessions on strategic planning and project writing for the members of the two associations. The roll out plan was agreed with the associations whereby the training was structured into two modules. The first module was followed by an online mentoring phase, during which the engaged consultant worked with 4-5 participant groups on project planning and development. The second module was a classroom training session for the final review of the participants’ work on developing project proposals. The participants were divided into three groups as follows: i) two groups consisting of 30 participants (women) from the Association of Women Police Officers of BiH, including representatives from 10 Cantonal Ministries of Interior (MoI), Police of Brčko District BiH, Federal Police Directorate, State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), Border Police BiH, and the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as 3 participants from the Ministry of Security (2 women and 1 man); ii) one group consisting of 23 participants (women) from the Association of Women Police Officers of the Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska. The six-session training program was conducted in the period October – December 2021.
  • Overall, 53 members (women) from the two associations of women police officers and three from the Ministry of Security (1 man and 2 women) enhanced capacities in project writing and strategic planning and in taking a more active engagement in the security and SALW-control related field in BiH. 10 mini-project proposals were developed by the two associations as a result, to be pursued separately. Two of these projects were subsequently approved for funding within the complementary MPTF-funded project implemented in BiH^[1], one per each of the associations, thus ensuring application of the acquired knowledge in the SALW-control context in BiH.
  • In general, while primarily benefitting the two associations, the developed capacities serve respective law enforcement agencies as well. In addition, activity contributed to raising awareness within law enforcement agencies themselves about the threats posed by irresponsible ownership and illegal SALW to women, young men, and families in general.
     
• Raised awareness on the threats and risks posed by illicit SALW among citizens, specialized law enforcement agencies, communities and groups at risk (women, children, young men). 
  • Based on the completed in-depth analysis and needs assessment in 2021, the project rolled out the awareness raising activities in close co-ordination and in partnership with the SALW CB BiH and 12 law enforcement agencies in BiH. The efforts were structured in a twofold direction: i) focused awareness raising and ii) general awareness-raising campaign. Mindful of the political climate and sensitivities within the jurisdiction, the priority was given to the focused campaigns, while the general campaign followed subsequently.
  • Two focused awareness raising campaigns were conducted:
    • “Celebrate responsibly, celebrate without firearms”, addressing celebratory shootings around New Year holiday season, implemented in December 2021 and December 2022.
      • In the two years of implementation, the campaign encompassed 176 outreach events (34 in 2021 and 142 in 2022) across the country. The campaign was carried out by approx. 150 police officers throughout the jurisdictions, with a significant number of women police officers (estimated at 30%) taking part in outreach events. The campaign reached approx. 650,000 people and it was promoted over 80 times in different media outlets (both local and country-wide), online, at the radio, and on TV.
    • “Firearms do not protect, firearms kill!”, addressing younger population, primarily students of the final two grades of high schools, on negative impact of illegal SALW, potential consequences of possession and usage of illegal SALW and overall threats posed by SALW.
      • The outreach was carried out in cooperation with 12 law enforcement agencies in BiH during 2022 and 2023, encompassing over 250 schools and reaching approximately 29,500 students (18,200 in 2022 and 11,309 in 2023).

Overall, the focused awareness raising campaigns reached approx. 679,000 people.

• A general awareness-raising campaign followed at the end, implemented in the period 2023-2024, with a slogan “Respect Life, Not Weapons”. This constituted a major work strand within the project, and its design and roll out were carefully coordinated and implemented in partnership with the law enforcement agencies across BiH. UNDP contracted a specialized marketing agency and a supervisory consultant for the campaign implementation. The campaign was implemented in three waves, as follows:
• 1st wave in the period 25 September 2023 – 15 October 2023 focusing on femicide.
  • In cooperation with SALW CB BiH and all relevant police agencies in the country, the project launched media campaign addressing an increasing number of violence and incidents against women involving the use of firearms. The project used mixed media approach comprised of: TV, radio, social media, digital media and out-of-home platforms.
• 2nd wave in the period 30 October 2023 – 05 December 2023 focusing on responsible SALW ownership.
  • Apart from the presence in all forms of media, the project supported relevant police agencies to conduct 11 outreach events in selected BiH cities from 13 November to 06 December 2024. The second wave also targeted younger population through partnerships with influential individuals/artists – one musician and one actor. 
• 3rd wave in the period 31 January 2024 – 15 March 2024 focusing on voluntary surrender of illicit SALW.
  • Continuing the presence across all forms of media to ensure adequate reach to the targeted population, the project also supported the police agencies to conduct 13 outreach events in selected cities/communities.
  • It is important to note that following the third wave of the general awareness-raising campaign, police agencies reported voluntary surrender of 204 long barrels, 180 short barrels, 19,384 pieces of ammunition and 216 explosive ordnances.  
• Prior to the official launching of the campaign, three focus groups meetings were held with law enforcement agencies in Sarajevo, Mostar and Banja Luka with an aim to analyse the perception of the citizens regarding the ownership and the use of firearms. The findings from these focus groups served as a basis for creation of public campaign slogans that were endorsed by police agencies. Likewise, three “exit” focus group meetings were held at the end of all the campaigns, in Sarajevo, Mostar and Banja Luka, with the aim to analyze the outcome of the campaign and change in perception of the citizens regarding the ownership and the use of firearms. The results and findings from the focus groups were presented at the final coordination meeting with the management of 12 police agencies on 25 April 2024. Some of the key findings and recommendations encompass the need for continued efforts to raise awareness about SALW in BiH, ensuring that as many citizens as possible are informed about the importance of safely storing legal weapons and surrendering illicit ones; the importance of appropriate messages for target audience, inclusive of additional efforts to understand how the target audience perceives these messages; the positive effect of creative and engaging content and discussions about the responsibility of the state, institutions, and individuals in preventing violence and ensuring safe handling of weapons; importance of educational programs to raise public awareness, and taking measures to increase citizens’ safety, including the control and monitoring of weapon possession; added value of continuously evaluating the effectiveness of the campaign through data analysis, audience feedback, and monitoring key success indicators.
• Overall, the general awareness raising campaign reached an estimated 89,01% of the population in the country, translating to over 2.6 million individuals of target group of 18 years of age and older.
   

The project contributed to Roadmap Goals 4, 5 and 6, and key performance indicators 10 and 14 of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons and their ammunition in the Western Balkans.

[1] Project: Digitalization and Institutional and Regional Cooperation Project (DIRC), in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2022BIH12)

Implementing period: October 2022 - December 2023

Budget: US$ 309,412

The project ensured continuity in and the strengthening of the ongoing efforts and achievements of Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding SALW control. The project introduced new digital tools and structured joint in-country and regional exercises to fight against illegal SALW trafficking, ultimately contributing to more efficient and effective overall fight against illegal SALW trafficking. Furthermore, the project ensured further strengthening of gender mainstreaming and women’s engagement in SALW control within the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH (BiH Customs). It shall support women’s engagement in SALW matters, in particular the gender equality network within the Indirect Taxation Authority to raise awareness on the detection and prevention of gender-based harassment and to reduce gender inequality within the institution.

Overall achievements:

• Enhanced capacity of BiH ITA, Border Police, and 14 law enforcement agencies to fight illicit SALW trafficking:
  • A new and improved version of the SALW ID Tool application containing 384 items and more than 1500 related high-resolution photographs was produced, installed on laptops, and distributed to 12 law enforcement agencies in the country together with the Tool’s source code, to support their daily SALW-control operations.
  • Six local joint exercises were organized, with BiH customs and cantonal, entity, and state level police representatives, along with the active participation of the BiH Prosecutor Office. These two-day joint exercises enabled 93 customs and police officials to properly apply the previously developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), regulating a step-by-step approach in the detection of illegal SALW in vehicles and compounds, as well as to correlate the SOPs with BiH criminal procedure codes.
  • Two international joint exercises were organized, one between BiH and Serbia and one between BiH and Montenegro, with the involvement of the police, customs, and prosecution representatives from these countries. 52 customs and law enforcement officials took part in the exercises which included simulation of an attempted smuggling of illegal SALW at joint border crossings. The developed SOPs and associated specialized equipment were used for the exercise, which also involved application of respective legal provisions and cross-border collaboration elements.
  • An analysis of the digitalization needs in the relevant police bodies in FBiH and the RS MoI was prepared, including recommendations for follow-up interventions which will be pursued under the next project implemented in BiH funded by the Trust Fund.
     
• Engagement of women in SALW control/security matters was enhanced:
  • Building upon the previous gender equality advocacy as well as awareness raising on sexual and gender-based harassment among the ITA employees, two gender equality workshops were organized for 45 ITA staff (19 women and 26 men), including participation of experts on gender issues from the BiH Agency for Gender Equality, two Associations of Women Police Officials, the Ministry of Security BiH, and the ITA itself.        
  • Upon a call for proposals, two small-scale initiatives received funding support and were successfully implemented by the two associations of women police officials operating in BiH -– the Network of Women Police Officers, and the Republika Srpska Women Police Officials Network (RS WPON).
    • The Network of Women Police Officers successfully organized a workshop on “Advocacy and women’s activism in the security sector” involving 23 women officials from 13 different police agencies as participants. The activity increased the participants’ knowledge and awareness of advocacy and women’s activism in the security sector and trained active members in their coordinator role for future advocacy activities. The Network also organized a two-day meeting of its Steering Board to define the necessary changes to the association’s Statute and other relevant internal regulatory documents, which were subsequently adopted at the Network’s Assembly meeting.
    • The RS WPON successfully organized a training session on “Firearms safety measures and firearm injury care,” with participation of 15 women police officers from the RS MoI. RS WPON completed the design and distribution of a brochure aimed at assisting police officers with SALW misuse in domestic violence cases, including examples on how to prevent SALW misuse in domestic violence. 220 brochures were printed and distributed across the RS Ministry of Interior’s organizational units. RS WPON also published a leaflet covering key legal provisions on SALW possession and statistics on SALW misuse in domestic violence cases. 2,000 leaflets were then distributed by RS WPON in a street campaign format in Banja Luka, Doboj, and Istočno Sarajevo. As part of these campaigns, RS WPON members engaged with the local populations and media, shedding additional light on the topics for the respective communities.
       

The project contributed to Roadmap Goals 2, 3, 4, 5 and key performance indicators 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 14 of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons and their ammunition in the Western Balkans.

Implementing period: December 2023 – December 2025

Budget: $1,455,035

The Project LEAD aims to enhance the capacity and engagement of relevant national institutions and civil society in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as strengthen inter-agency and cross-border collaboration to advance the implementation of the National SALW Control Strategy and the SALW Control Roadmap.

The project builds upon previous interventions and entails a series of activities that focus on inter-agency operational and strategic cooperation, as well as provision of specialized resources, equipment and knowledge and peer-exchange to prevent and counter FAE-related crime. An inclusive approach to civil society organizations and outreach to communities and stakeholders will be ensured, with duly integrated gender and human rights perspectives. The expected result is a comprehensive strengthening of key stakeholders in the SALW control field, leading to increased ownership and sustainability of results.

The project contributes to Roadmap Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and key performance indicators 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 12, 14 of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons and their ammunition in the Western Balkans.