Implementing period: April 2021 - March 2023

Budget: U$ 522,067

The project aimed to improve the capacities of the authorities in both jurisdictions to create more violence-resilient communities through series of closely coordinated activities such as joint trainings and sharing of experience and intelligence, joint actions in combating converted weapons trafficking, joint police patrols at the border, joint analysis and problem and risk profiles, information sharing as well as promoting an integrated institutional approach towards dealing with firearms-related threats. Project activities built upon and complemented other SALW and Roadmap related projects in Kosovo and North Macedonia, achieved synergies, developed best practices and enabled more coherent approaches.

The project was intended to reduce and overcome the knowledge and skills gap on SALW investigations and complexities and inconsistencies in operational structures and working procedures between the two jurisdictions and bring them closer to best European practices in the field. Project results directly enhanced the cross-border and inter-institutional collaboration in the field of SALW from the early stage of investigations and improved the capacities of law-enforcement institutions to deal with trans-national arms trafficking threats. Through its efforts, the project also aimed to reduce the workload to national resources, improve the quality of investigations and secure solid and reliable information flow, thus increasing the number of conviction cases at courts.

Overall achievements:

• Strengthened institutional capacities and police officers’ knowledge and understanding of illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of SALW through specialized trainings.
  • Completed needs assessment and gap analyses in relation to IAT, SALW control, possession and misuse as well as weapons categorization, for both jurisdictions. Several meetings and workshops were organized to verify or present the findings of the gap analyses.
  • A series of specialized training sessions enabled 820 police officers from both jurisdictions (77 women, 743 men) to enhance understanding and knowledge on illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of SALW. More specifically:
    • 12 training sessions on information gathering, information sharing, and information analysis were provided for 420 police officers in total from both jurisdiction, 220 from Kosovo and 200 from North Macedonia (36 women, 384 men).
    • 11 training sessions on weapons categorization and their essential parts, explosives and other handmade explosives, the possession and misuse of firearms and community policing/ILP were provided for 400 police officers in total from both jurisdictions, 200 each jurisdiction (41 women, 359 men).
  • Knowledge products were developed and translated into local languages to serve as a continuous resource, in addition to the needs assessment and gap analysis for each jurisdiction, including:
    • Manual on explosives, handmade explosives, and precursors.
    • Manual on community policing and intelligence led policing.
       
• Strengthened institutional capacities and improved operational information sharing between North Macedonia and Kosovo law-enforcement institutions in combating trafficking of converted firearms.
  • Four comprehensive training sessions and one workshops on converted firearms trafficking were developed and delivered, enabling 119 law enforcement officers (75 men and 24 women) to jointly exchange and enhance knowledge and understanding on the subject matter. Per jurisdiction, this encompassed 59 (46 men and 13 women) from North Macedonia and 60 (49 men and 11 women) from Kosovo.
  • A Joint Investigative Operation between police of Kosovo and North Macedonia was planned and successfully executed in November-December 2022, tackling a potential organized crime group dealing in illicit arms trafficking. This paved the way towards future joint operations and actions.
     
• Improved capacities of Cyber Crime Units and Firearms Focal Point (FFP) in dealing with illicit firearms trafficking on the Internet and Darknet
  • In joint efforts, the project developed a Practical Manual on the Investigation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) on the Internet. This was made accessible in local languages for a continuous use of the law enforcement agencies.
     
• Increased outreach and communication to citizens through mass-media and targeted awareness raising campaigns.
  • The project successfully completed two mass media awareness raising campaigns (one in each jurisdiction) and four targeted campaigns (two in each jurisdiction) on the dangers of the misuse and trafficking of firearms. The campaigns were highly praised by the project beneficiaries in both jurisdictions and achieved excellent visibility within the targeted audiences, with more than 1.3 million registered social media views and more than 8 million social media impressions.
     

The project contributed to Roadmap Goals 3, 4, 5 and key performance indicators 4, 5, 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.

Implementing period: December 2022 - February 2024

Budget: US$ 513,600

The project built upon the previously implemented activities as well as the identified risks, needs, and priorities of North Macedonia as it strove to advance towards achieving SALW Control Roadmap Goals. It aimed to improve implementation of the Information Management System (IMS) of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) to facilitate the gathering of SALW related data, with a particular focus on data collection related to domestic violence involving firearms. It also aimed to improve the analytical capabilities of the Forensics Department through the provision of specialized equipment and training, as well as improve weapons warehouse management and tracing capacities leading to a decreased risk of the proliferation of SALW and improved security overall.

Overall achievements:

• Improved implementation of the Police Information Management System (IMS) with regards to SALW-related data collection, analysis and management.
  • Through technical support and awareness raising for selected police units, the project enhanced the use of the Police Information Management System (IMS), bolstering the overall collection and processing of SALW-related data by the Ministry of Interior (MoI).
  • An analysis related to domestic violence cases, including through the misuse of firearms, was produced as part of the project and approved by the MoI. This will be the basis for the subsequent development of a domestic violence module, which will be integrated in the IMS and thus ensure this type of cases are properly collected and analyzed as well.
     
• Enhanced analytical capabilities of MoI’s Forensics Department.
  • The MoI’s Forensic Department was equipped with a Desktop SEM-EDD device, which will substantially advance microanalysis of gunshot residue. Relevant personnel were trained on the use of the device. This unique state-of-the-art equipment will improve the work of the Forensic Department in examining evidence from firearms-related incidents. A video was produced and promoted on social media to enhance the visibility of this contribution.
  • A study visit to the National Forensic Center of the Republic of Serbia facilitated expert exchange of senior representatives from the Ministry of Interior with their peers from the neighboring country. The productive exchange inspired collaboration and needs for improvement in ballistic and crime scene investigation areas, which will be pursued further through a new project initiative funded under the MPTF, which commenced in January 2024. 
     
• Upgraded weapons warehouse management and tracing capacities that leads to decreased risk of proliferation of SALW and improved security.
  • The MoI was provided with a Laser Marking Machine and relevant staff were trained on its use. The device will be used by the MoI to mark deactivated weapons in accordance with EU regulations, and thus contribute to decreasing the risk of proliferation and diversion of firearms.
  • The technical documentation for physical security and video surveillance of the warehouses in the “Gjorche Petrov” Police Center was prepared as part of the project. In line with the identified gaps and needs for improved security of weapons warehouses, the project supported enhanced electrical infrastructure, upgraded lighting systems, and the integration of a diesel generator to mitigate power outages. These upgrades will enhance the security of weapons warehouses, thereby mitigating the risk of firearm proliferation.
     

The project contributed to Roadmap Goals 2, 4, 5, and 7 and key performance indicators 2, 3, 8, 10, and 13 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 – September 2025

Budget: $1,149,180

The overall objective of the project Implemented by UNDP North Macedonia is to modernize the forensic and crime scene investigation (CSI) units in North Macedonia to improve the quality of handling crime scenes and collecting of evidence thus leading to better investigations, strengthened bilateral and international exchange of evidence and a more efficient criminal justice system.

The project interventions will upgrade ballistic facilities and operations of MoI’s Forensics Department, as well as enhance analytical, technical and investigative capacities of the CSI units. In addition, the project will contain a gender perspective dedicated to preventing gender-based violence, focusing in particular on gender sensitization of CSI staff, as well as improving the tracking of domestic violence cases that involve firearms through a separate module in the Police Information Management System (IMS) of North Macedonia.

The project contributes to Roadmap Goals 1, 2, 3, 4 and key performance indicators 2, 3, 9, 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.