As one of the six key contributors and partners, Norway has provided a new contribution worth NOK 5,000,000 (approximately USD 500,000) to the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap Multi-Partner Trust Fund. This brings the total contribution from Norway to the Trust Fund to about USD 1.6 million.

“Norway is working with the EU to promote reforms and stability in the Western Balkans. In this regard, we attach great importance to the implementation of the Roadmap for SALW control in the Western Balkans by 2024, and we consider the projects funded by the Multi-Partner Trust Fund to be an important contribution to enhancing sustainable stability and security in the region,” said Ms. Kristin Melsom, Director of the Section for South East Europe at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Multi-Partner Trust Fund supports a donor- and jurisdiction-coordinated approach to the implementation of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition in the Western Balkans. It strengthens coordination, planning and communication among all partners, fosters collaboration, and reduces risks to governments and financial contributors.

Established in March 2019 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as Participating UN Organisations, the Trust Fund has benefitted from a strong cooperation with Germany and France, as the initiators of the Roadmap, that were soon joined by the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands. Due to the generosity and commitment of these donors, the Trust Fund mobilised contributions exceeding 23 million US dollars.

UNDP SEESAC functions as the Secretariat of the Trust Fund and is responsible for the overall coordination and monitoring of the Trust Fund, providing technical, management, planning and programming support to it. Thus far, the Trust Fund has supported 14 projects implemented by the Participating UN Organisations across the Western Balkans, and a new call for projects is expected in the upcoming period.

Originally published on www.seesac.org