The Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap Multi-Partner Trust Fund receives a new funding contribution from Sweden, in the amount of SEK 4 million.

For the sixth consecutive year, Sweden remains committed to the Trust Fust and its goal of supporting a coordinated approach to the implementation 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. Since the establishment of the Trust Fund in 2019, Sweden has contributed with SEK 36 million in total (approximately US$ 3.8 million), which makes Sweden one of the principal donors and partners to the Trust Fund, in its overall efforts to support initiatives for a safer Western Balkans region.

“Sweden remains committed to supporting a peaceful, inclusive and more secure Western Balkans region. Strengthened regional cooperation and confidence-building efforts are essential to this end. We recognize the Multi-Partner Trust Fund and the Roadmap as important tools in further enhancing the regional cooperation on arms control and prevention of arms-enabled violence and crime. The Trust Fund has advanced, year after year, the efforts of jurisdictions in the region in countering illicit arms trafficking, strengthening criminal justice responses to firearm-related crimes, enhancing firearm-related investigations, and furthering the integration of the gender perspective while tackling SALW threats. We are happy to support these efforts in the year 2024”, said Ms. Ann-Sofie Nilsson, Head of the Department for Disarmament, Non-Proliferation at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden.

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, their ammunition and explosives in the Western Balkans. It strengthens coordination, planning and communication among all partners, fosters collaboration, and reduces risks to governments and financial contributors through a comprehensive risk and results-based management system.

Established in March 2019 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the 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 USD 28 million.

Thus far, the Trust Fund’s Steering Committee approved for funding 25 projects in support of the Western Balkans Roadmap implementation, with a value of US$ 26.7 million. The projects are implemented by the Participating UN Organisations, UNDP and UNODC, across the Western Balkans region. 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.