Purpose
The purpose of this consultancy is to provide support in the implementation of the EU Council Decision 2019/2111 in support of SEESAC disarmament and arms control activities in South-East Europe, reducing the threat of illicit small arms and light weapons and their ammunition, the IPA/2021/ 425-067 project: “Support for enhancing the fight against the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in the Western Balkans” and the EU Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/2321 in support of the South-Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) for the implementation of the Regional Roadmap on combating illicit arms trafficking in the Western Balkans and in support of disarmament and arms control activities in South-East and East Europe.
Objective
To contract an expert to provide strategic, technical and advisory support for the activities related to countering of illicit trafficking and misuse of firearms, essential components and ammunition as well as explosives, including support to the revision of the Roadmap, to the intelligence phase of EMPACT Joint Action Days, to provide quality assurance of training for border police and customs, to assist in drafting the Western Balkan regional threat assessment, to deliver analyst training course, to support the outreach activities of Firearms Focal Points (FFP), to provide oversight of an expert team and technical input during the meetings of SEEFEN, Border police and Criminal police and to support the operationalization of the Firearms Focal Point (FFP) in Moldova.
Background information
The South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) is a joint initiative of the UNDP and the Regional Cooperation Council. As such, it is an integral part of UNDP’s work in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (ECIS) region and has, since 2002, worked primarily to strengthen the capacities of national and regional stakeholders to control and reduce the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, and thus contribute to enhanced stability, security and development in South Eastern and Eastern Europe.
The overall objective of the project is to contribute to international peace and security by combatting the threat posed by the widespread accumulation and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons and their ammunition in and from SEE. At the same time, it enhances regional stability by working within the framework of the RCC and in partnership with other relevant initiatives. The project is directly contributing to the implementation of the EU Security Strategy, the EU SALW Strategy, the EU Strategy Against Illicit Firearms, Small Arms & Light Weapons & Their Ammunition, the Arms Trade Treaty, the UN Programme of Action, the International Tracing Instrument, UN Firearms Protocol, UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and will specifically enhance regional cooperation in combating the threat posed by the spread of SALW and their ammunition.
SEESAC is currently implementing the EU Council Decision 2019/2111 that envisages the provision of support to capacity building of the regional authorities to perform both preventive and repressive activities necessary to successfully identify, thwart and counter the trafficking of firearms, ammunition and explosives from and through their jurisdiction. Project results directly contribute to the implementation of the South East Europe Regional Implementation Plan Combatting the Proliferations and Impact of Small Arms and Light Weapons and the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and their ammunition in the Western Balkans by 2024, as well as to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peaceful and just societies, in particular targets 16.1 (Significantly reduce all forms of violence and death rate everywhere) and 16.4 (significantly reduce illicit arms flows).
Based on the recommendations derived from the detailed Needs assessment of the capacities of the Border and Criminal Police of Albania, Serbia, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina to counter illicit trafficking of firearms, further advancement of the Border and Criminal Police Services of 6 Western Balkan jurisdiction and Moldova is planed through targeted trainings for the Border and Criminal police and through regional meetings that will create a platform for information-sharing and regional cooperation.
Furthermore, SEESAC implements the IPA/2021/ 425-067 project: the Support for Enhancing the Fight Against the Illegal Possession, Misuse and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Western Balkans that specifically aims to strengthen the strategic and operational capacity of the Western Balkans authorities to conduct firearms investigations as well as exchange information within the region and with the EU on illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition. In addition, it will support the authorities in the region to better understand and increase the response to the factors fueling the demand and misuse of firearms in the Western Balkans.
Despite significant progress made and the support provided to the Western Balkans jurisdictions regarding establishing the FFPs within the EU Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1788, gaps remain in operational data collection, analysis and information sharing related to firearms. SEESAC is addressing these issues by further enhancing the strategic and operational capacities of Western Balkan authorities to conduct firearms investigations and exchange information within the region and with the EU on illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of SALW. Output 1 of the project is specifically focusing on strengthening the network of functional FFPs in the Western Balkans through strengthening the capacities of FFPs. Capacity building of the FFPs is comprised of the provision of technical advice, technical tools, training including intelligence analysis and outreach toward other institutions related to the work of FFPs.
Under the scope of the currently implementing EU Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/2321 and building on the previously and currently implemented actions under the EU Council Decisions 2018/1788 and 2019/2111, support is envisaged for Customs Authorities in Western Balkans in enhancing their capacities related to the detection of firearms, essential components, ammunition and explosives in border crossing points. Based on the model of the previously conducted Needs Assessments of the capacities of Border and Criminal Police Services in Western Balkans to counter illicit trafficking of firearms and its ammunition and also following the EU standards on Integrated Border Management (IBM) adopted in the IBM Strategies of Western Balkan jurisdictions, the same level of support shall be provided to Customs authorities in Western Balkans. The aim of the envisaged actions is to provide trainings for the Customs services and border police in Western Balkans in the area of border control as a key part of combating illicit trafficking of firearms as well as to further strengthen a joint and coordinated response of Border Police and Customs related to this specific threat.
* References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of the Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999).
Job Features
