Supporting the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects and the Global Framework on Ammunition

The illicit proliferation and misuse of small arms, light weapons (SALW) and ammunition continue to fuel armed violence, conflict, insecurity and organized crime worldwide. Funded by the European Union (Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/2565) and implemented by UNODA and its partners, this project supports international, regional and national efforts to strengthen weapons and ammunition management, prevent diversion and advance the implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UN PoA) and the Global Framework on Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management (GFA) in support of sustainable peace, security and development.

Regional activities are implemented by UNODA Regional Centers:

  • Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC)
  • Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD)
  • Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC).

Full Project Overview English | French | Spanish

PILLARS AND ACTIVITIES

Pillar I: Strengthening forward-looking and action-oriented policy outcomes under the UN GFA, PoA and ITI

✓ Development of action-oriented recommendations in support of the first Meeting of States on the Global Framework on Ammunition in 2027

  • Series of virtual expert roundtables focusing on key substantive issues in through-life conventional ammunition management: Sustainability, Safety, Security and Cross-cutting objectives
  • Report with findings and recommendations

✓ Regional Preparatory meetings for the first Meeting of States to review the Global Framework on Ammunition in 2027

  • West and Central Africa (In-person) – December 2026
  • East and Southern Africa (In-person) – December 2026
  • Caribbean (Virtual) - TBD
  • Latin America (Virtual) - TBD
  • Asia-Pacific (In-person) - TBD

✓ Regional webinars on developments in SALW manufacturing, technology and design

✓ Sponsorship for participants of developing States or States severely affected by illicit SALW and ammunition to attend key intergovernmental Meetings on SALW and Ammunition

  • BMS9 (2026) – Three panelists sponsored to open-ended technical expert group  expert panels
  • GFA First Meeting of States (2027) – Forthcoming
  • BMS10 (2028) - Forthcoming

Pillar II: Supporting the coordination and strengthened implementation of the international instruments at the national, subregional and regional level

✓ Enhancing MOSAIC and strengthening the MOSAIC Assessment Tool

  • Assessment missions upon requests by States
  • Enhancement of the MOSAIC Assessment Tool

✓ Assistance to States to strengthen regional and national implementation efforts and cooperation of the UN PoA/ITI and the Global Framework on Ammunition

  • Asia-Pacific
    • Support implementation of  the ASEAN Declaration on Combating Arms Smuggling
    • Strengthening role of the National Points of Contacts and coordination mechanisms under the UN PoA and the GFA
    • MOSAIC Assessments and in-country assistance in three (3) countries.
  • Africa
    • Four in-country assistance , including two MOSAIC assessments
    • Fostering a continental community of practitioners for SALW and ammunition control.
  • Latin America and the Caribbean
    • Support development of an ANDEAN Roadmap
    • Strengthening ammunition marking practices in Latin America and the Caribbean in support of the implementation of the Global Framework on Ammunition.

Pillar III: Leveraging SALW and ammunition control in broader peace and security efforts to more effectively prevent armed violence and sustain peace and development

✓ Development of a ‘package of support’ for the integration of SALW control and ammunition management into prevention and peacebuilding efforts

✓ Gender perspectives and youth engagement are mainstreamed throughout the project

✓ Data collection toolkit on SALW and ammunition

✓ Development and launch of African/African Union Operational Guidance Note on Gender, SALW and Ammunition

✓ Support an informal network of youth experts on SALW and ammunition to promote their work to prevent violence and implement relevant global frameworks

✓ Preventing Firearms in Schools Initiative in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Civil Society Engagement: Actions to strengthen civil society’s engagement in small arms and ammunition control are included under all three pillars. The project will provide targeted assistance to civil society to support national authorities to implement the UN PoA/ITI and the GFA, supporting civil society participation in intergovernmental meetings and offering a grants programme that enhances smaller non-governmental organization’s projects and constructive collaboration with States and the public.

OUR PROJECT PARTNERS
This project is funded by the European Union