Implementing period: April 2021 - March 2023

Budget: U$ 522,067

The project under implementation by UNDP Kosovo* and UNDP North Macedonia aims to improve the cross-border cooperation between North Macedonia and Kosovo and lay the basis for an integrated institutional approach in combating illicit arms trafficking in the two jurisdictions through a series of closely coordinated activities. These include actions such as joint training and sharing of experience and intelligence, joint investigation teams (JIT), and joint actions in combating converted weapons trafficking.

Project results will directly enhance the cross-border and inter-institutional collaboration in the field of SALW from the early stage of investigations and improve the capacities of law-enforcement institutions to deal with trans-national arms trafficking threats. It will reduce the workload to national resources, improve the quality of investigations and secure solid and reliable information flow and increase the number of conviction cases in the court. This will bring the two jurisdictions closer to best European practices in the field.

The project contributes 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, implemented by UNDP North Macedonia, builds upon previously implemented activities as well as the identified risks, needs, and priorities of North Macedonia. It aims to improve implementation of the Information Management System (IMS) of the Ministry of the Interior that enables the gathering of SALW related data, with a particular focus on data collection related to domestic violence involving firearms. It also aims 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.

The project contributes 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.