Assisting the National Authorities of North Macedonia to Decrease the Risk of Weapon Proliferation and Misuse of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) (OSCE Mission to Skopje)

Duration

May 2020 – December 2025

Beneficiary/ies

Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National SALW Commission, government institutions, and the general public

Donor/s

United States, Germany, European Union, Belgium, France, Norway, and Slovakia

Funding Amount

EUR 8,059,445

Funding gaps (if any)

EUR 3,129,422.18

Objective/s

The overall objective is to support the Government of North Macedonia to implement international commitments in the field of SALW proliferation and contribute to security and stability in North Macedonia.

Contributing to the Roadmap goal/s

Contributing to the Roadmap overall targets

Goal 3:

• Prevent trafficking (smuggling, illicit trade, and transit) of FAE through improved processes, equipment, and training of targeted law enforcement units.
• Enhance operational and FAE detection capacities of specialized law enforcement units through infrastructure upgrades.

Goal 4:

• Increase awareness among licensed private and legal entities about the danger of misuse and illicit proliferation of FAE.
• Increase awareness among the general public, on the danger of misuse, illicit possession, and trafficking of FAE.
• Increase awareness of the dangers of celebratory shootings, especially as major contributors to firearm-related deaths and injuries.
• Increase awareness and reduce the misuse of firearms in violence against women, domestic violence, and other forms of gender-based violence.
• Increase awareness on the misuse and threats of FAE targeting the youth

Goal 6:

• Increase the capacities of the firearms administration through infrastructure upgrades and equipment assistance
• Increase the capacities of the firearms destruction committee through development of standard operating procedures and training manuals
• Increase the expertise of the firearms destruction committee through specialized training

Goal 5:

• Substantially increase the number of seized firearms, ammunition, and explosives.

Goal 7:

• Ensure safe and secure SALW/firearms and ammunition storage facilities, based on identified needs and in accordance with international standards.

Key activities implemented up to date

• K9 facilities at Ilinden, Hipodrom, the Regional K9 Training and Certification Center in Gjorche Petrov, and the K9 site in Delchevo upgraded and formally handed over to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
• Review and amendment of the detailed designs for civil construction, electrical, and ICT installation works to upgrade K9 infrastructure at the Strumica, Shtip, Gostivar, Ohrid, and Bogorodica sites completed. As a result, the project team prepared the tender documentation for the K9 location in Strumica.
• Two inter-agency promotional events on the capacities of the K9 Units organized.
• Fourteen K9 police vehicles and three K9 trailers donated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
• The procurement of office equipment for the K9 Units, as well as the procurement for the planting of grass and a green wall at the Gjorche Petrov polygon site, completed.
• Dog mattresses supplied and distributed across North Macedonia as part of the equipment for the K9 Units.
• Polygon agility training equipment enhancing K9 Units’ physical conditioning, agility, and operational skills delivered.
• Report on animal treatment and welfare for the Police K9 Headquarters, the K9 Training and Certification Center in Gjorche Petrov, and the K9 field office finalized.
• Standard Operating Procedure for the Use of Police Dogs in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and a K9 Handler Training Manual developed, approved by the Ministry, printed, and distributed to the relevant units.
• Working group on K9 Masterplan Development and Executive Committee on K9 Masterplan Implementation established.
• Final draft K9 Masterplan completed, amended, and submitted for review.
• Assessment report on the existing legislative framework for K9 deployment and management completed.
• Study visit on best practices in K9 management in Bosnia and Herzegovina organized.
• Training for K9 Units on Management, Organization, and Police Service Dog Mentoring completed.
• Regional Training Program on Duty Dog Care and First Aid implemented.
• Regional Certification Program for Dog Handlers on Product Scent, Modules 1, 2, and 3, completed.
• Access to the FRONTEX e-learning courses on K9 deployment provided.
• The first woman police dog handler officially appointed at the beginning of 2024.
• Infrastructure upgrades for Information Exchange Systems at the Police and Customs Cooperation Centers in Kjafasan, Blace, Deve Bair, Tabanovce, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs Headquarters completed.
• Secure Information Exchange Network Application encryption devices and ICT equipment donated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
• Standard Operating Procedure for Real-Time Information Exchange regarding SALW-related incidents and a Training Manual for Real-Time Exchange of Information on SALW developed, approved by the Ministry, printed, and distributed to the relevant units.
• Study visit on international best practices for real-time information exchange organized in Slovenia.
• First Basic Secure Information Exchange Network Application Training organized.
• Staff exchange and a follow-up visit with the Slovenian Border Police completed.
• Staff exchange program between law enforcement officials from the Police and Customs Cooperation Centers of North Macedonia and Austria completed.
• Connection between EUROPOL and North Macedonia through the Secure Information Exchange Network Application successfully established.
• Content development of the e-learning courses for the real-time information exchange training manual initiated.
• The High-level Police and Customs Cooperation Conference on Small Arms and Light Weapons and Migrant Smuggling in South Eastern Europe organized in Skopje
• Inter-agency cooperation meeting with the National SALW Commission organized.
• Rules of Procedure for the National SALW Commission approved and adopted.
• Orientation Manual outlining guidance on the processes and organizational framework within the Commission, accepted by the National SALW Commission.
• Standard Operating Procedure for the Collection of Data and Reporting Information finalized and accepted by the National SALW Commission.
• Leaflets on mandatory weapon certification were developed and distributed collaboratively with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
• Video for the recertification campaign of firearms permits was developed and published on social media and national TV.
• Communication Strategy for the National SALW Commission developed, approved, and translated.
• The service provider for the implementation of a public awareness campaign has been selected. Based on the chosen concept, the service provider developed a campaign strategy document outlining the proposed activities for implementing the campaign.
• Ten PCs and two multifunction machines were donated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
• Study visit on firearms deactivation to Kragujevac Proofhouse organized.
• A construction manager hired for the physical upgrades of the Deactivation Verification and Administrative facilities and the infrastructure upgrades to the Firearms Deactivation and Destruction Inspection facilities.
• Service provider for construction works, including electrical and low voltage installation services, for infrastructure upgrades of the Weapon Deactivation Verification facilities at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, contracted. The Ministry is exploring an alternative facility that ensures long-term operational efficiency.
• Working group on developing a standard operating procedure on weapons destruction as a joint effort with SEESAC UNDP. The scope of the operating procedure has been broadened to include ammunition and explosives destruction.
• Standard Operating Procedure documents for weapons, ammunition, and explosives destruction finalized.
• Standard Operating Procedure for marking and registration of deactivated firearms developed and shared with the Ministry of Internal Affairs for review.
• Deactivation certificate on secure paper, commensurate with the EU regulation EU 2018/337, developed and prepared for use in the Sector of Weapons, Explosives, and Hazardous Materials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
• Two vehicles for the deactivated firearms inspectors of the Ministry of Internal Affairs donated.

Main challenges encountered

• Increasing prices of construction materials, fuel, and labor temporarily reduced the scope (upgrades for four K9 locations instead of nine K9 locations).
• Delays in the implementation due to market instability.
• Need to align the project with the current project environment, including lessons learned and economic market situation.
• Ensuring gender mainstreaming within the working groups and during events.
• Delays in the delivery of procured items due to the global supply chain difficulties.
• Increased retirements in the Ministry of Internal Affairs led to delays due to strict procedures for appointing new personnel.
• Unforeseen challenges encountered on-site and the aging of the original Bills of Quantity.
• Delays due to the election process in April and May impacted the progress.
• Complex procedure for the adoption and integration of SOPs by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
• Challenges in meeting the expected performance standards by the consultant.