UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund

The Western Balkans Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Control Roadmap Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) was established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the MPTF Office as a key funding mechanism for the implementation of the Roadmap. It enables a platform to strengthen coordination, planning and communication among the donors, implementing partners and national authorities, and develop synergies among different players involved in this programmatic area. It also reduces risks to governments and financial contributors through a comprehensive risk and results-based management system.

​

The Trust Fund supports projects implemented 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. Projects can be implemented by the UNDP Offices in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, and by UNODC.

Governance

The Steering Committee is chaired by UNDP and is made up by the Representatives of the Participating Organizations (UNDP and UNODC), 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.

The functions of the Secretariat are performed by SEESAC. The Secretariat is responsible for the programmatic coordination and monitoring of the Trust Fund, providing technical and management support to the Steering Committee. The Secretariat is not part of the Steering Committee and does not have the right to vote.

Participating Organizations receive funds through the Administrative Agent, 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.

Status of contributions by donors 

(update as of 21 September 2023):  

• Germany:                $12.80 million 
• The Netherlands:   $3.25 million 
• Sweden:                   $2.91 million
• France:                     $2.87 million
• UK:                            $2.61 million
• Norway:                    $1.61 million
• TOTAL:                     $26.05 million

Calls for project proposals:

Two calls for project proposal were launched in July 2019 and February 2020, respectively, resulting in 10 projects approved for funding at a value of $12 million. Using the direct solicitation of projects modality in 2022, the Steering Committee approved additional six projects, at the value of $2.6 million, to bridge the gap between the second and third open call until the mid-term evaluation of the Trust Fund was to be completed. The third call for proposals was launched in March 2023, and a new batch of proposals is expected to be approved by the end of 2023.

Information about the projects funded through the Western Balkans SALW Control MPTF are available in the sub-sections, or in the links below:

1. Albania: Strengthening control, administration and social attitudes towards SALW
2. Albania: Increased security of the arms depots under the administration of the Albanian State Police
3. Bosnia and Herzegovina: Halting Arms and Lawbreaking Trade (HALT)
4. Bosnia and Herzegovina: Urgent Action on Ammunition Destruction - Project EXPLODE+, in Bosnia and Herzegovina
5. Bosnia and Herzegovina: Prevention and illicit arms reduction in Bosnia and Herzegovina (project PILLAR)
6. Bosnia and Herzegovina: Digitalization and Institutional and Regional Cooperation Project (DIRC)
7. Kosovo: Support to Combating Illicit Arms Trafficking in Kosovo for Criminal Police (CPIAT)
8. Kosovo: Support to Firearms Related Investigations
9. Kosovo and North Macedonia: Cross-border integrated institutional approach towards combating illicit arms trafficking
10. Montenegro: Advancing the capacities of the Police Directorate In the field of custody chain, crime scene investigations and the forensic laboratory in the field of operations and investigations in detection and trafficking of explosives criminality
11. North Macedonia: Improvement of data and SALW collection practices and SALW related investigations
12. Serbia: Advancing the capacities of the ministry of interior in the SALW-control-related field, Phase II
13. Serbia: Reduce Risk - Increase Safety II
14. Regional: Criminal Justice Response against Arms Trafficking
15. Regional: Support for Increased International Cooperation in Criminal Matters
16. Regional: Countering Trafficking in Firearms, their parts and ammunition in Express Courier and Postal Parcels: Project HERMES, Phase 1