Sweden, one of the main contributors to the Western Balkan SALW Control Roadmap Multi-Partner Trust Fund, has confirmed the new contribution of SEK 6,000,000 (approximately USD 550,000) to the Trust Fund. This is in addition to the previously allocated $2.3 million.

“The Multi-Partner Trust Fund is a key tool to further improve work on SALW control in the Western Balkans, in line with the 2024 Roadmap. The projects funded by the MPTF ultimately contribute to increasing security in the region and in Europe as a whole. We welcome the progress as done so far by UNDP and UNODC in close cooperation with SEESAC and the countries of the Western Balkans,” said Mrs. Ann-Sofie Nilssonhead of the department for disarmament, non-proliferation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Multi-Partner Trust Fund supports a donor- and jurisdiction-coordinated approach to the implementation of Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illicit possession, abuse and trafficking of small arms and light weapons and their ammunition in the Western Balkans. It strengthens coordination, planning and communication between all partners, promotes collaboration and reduces risks for governments and financial contributors.

Established in March 2019 by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as participating UN agencies, the Trust Fund has benefited from strong collaboration with Germany and France, as initiators of the roadmap, which was soon joined by Great Britain, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands. Due to the generosity and commitment of these donors, the Fund mobilized contributions of over US$22.5 million.

UNDP SEESAC serves as the Trust Fund Secretariat and is responsible for the overall coordination and monitoring of the Trust Fund and provides technical, management, planning and programming support to it. So far, the fund has supported 14 projects implemented by the participating UN organizations across the Western Balkans.