Example of Basic Training Curriculum for Civil Society¹ for the Implementation of Regional Action

Practical Example: The Nairobi Declaration in the GreatLakes Region and Horn of Africa

Purpose

To equip organised Civil Society in the Great Lakes Region and Horn of Africa to fulfil their role and responsibilities in support of the implementation of the Nairobi Declaration, The Protocol for the Prevention, Control and Reduction of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes Region and Horn of Africa and other relevant regional and International instruments as part of the National Focal Point on Small Arms.

Objectives

After completion of the training modules the learner must have:

• An understanding of the nature of the problem and the international solutions proposed
  
• An understanding of applicable arms initiatives and protocols dealing with Small Arms and Light Weapons
  
• An understanding of arms management issues in their prevention, control and reduction aspects
  
• A working knowledge of the planning and conducting of:
  
  
  o A Work Plan
  o Mobilisation of Resources
  o Research and information gathering activities
  o Public Awareness Programme
  o Communication and Networking
  o Workshops and seminars
  
• A working knowledge of the National Action Plan
  
• A working knowledge of Law Enforcement Agencies, their way of operating and liaison mechanisms
  
• Practical knowledge of:
  
  
  o The relevant national Firearm legislation
  o Identification of firearms ammunition and explosives
  o Reporting procedures
  o Participation in Law Enforcement Operations

Training Modules

Module 1: Nature of the Problem and International and Regional Solutions Proposed

Module Objective

After completion of this module the learner must have a thorough understanding of:

• The background to and nature of the SALW problem
  
• Manifestation, impact and effects of the SALW problem with specific reference to the African continent and the various regions of Africa
  
• Development of the regional strategy to deal with the problem
  
• Existing Initiatives dealing with Small Arms and Light Weapons

Table of Contents

Topic 1: Definitions and Terminology

• Small Arms
  
• Light Weapons
  
• Ammunition and Explosives
  
• Legal Trade
  
• Illicit Activities
  
• Transfers
  
• Demand
  
• Supply
  
• Arms Management
  
• Disarmament
  
• Brokering

Topic 2: The manifestation of the problem on the African continent and in their specific region of Africa

• Background and history.
  
• Manifestation
  
  
  o Licit Stock that became Illicit
  o Illicit Stock that has always been Illicit
  o New Stock
  
• The problem in their specific region of Africa defined

Topic 3: The effects and impact of Small Arms and Light Weapons

• SALW and human rights abuses and breaches of international humanitarian law
  
• SALW controls
  
• SALW and terrorism
  
• SALW and cultures of violence
  
• SALW and violent crime
  
• SALW and gender
  
• SALW and development
  
• SALW and governance

Topic 4: Existing Initiatives dealing with Small Arms and Light Weapons

• Development of an international and regional strategy to deal with the problem based on the ownership of action model and its dimensions of Control, Reduction and Prevention
  
  
  o African Initiatives:
  
  • The Bamako declaration on the African Common Position on the Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons
    
  • The Nairobi Declaration on the Problem of the Proliferation of Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes Region and Horn of Africa
    
  • Protocol for the Prevention, Control and Reduction of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes Region and Horn of Africa
    
  • The SADC Declaration
    
  • The SADC Protocol on the Control of Firearms, Ammunition and other related Materials
    
  • The ECOWAS Moratorium on the Import, Export and Manufacture of Small Arms and Light Weapons in West Africa
    
  • African Conference on the Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms: Needs and Partnerships
    
  o International Initiatives:
  
  • The United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects
    
  • The Protocol Against the Illicit Manufacture of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components, and Ammunition
    
  • The Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials
    
  • OSCE Document on Small Arms
    
  • The EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports
    
  • The EU Joint Action on Small Arms

Topic 5: Implementation of the Nairobi Declaration

• The Declaration
  
• The Co-ordinated Agenda for Action
  
• The Implementation Plan
  
• 1st Ministerial Review Declaration
  
• The Protocol for the Prevention, Control and Reduction of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes Region and Horn of Africa

Responsible for development of content: A member of the Regional Training Task Force must be held responsible for content development and the provision of background materials.

Module 2: Arms Management

Module Objective

After completion of this module the learner must have a thorough understanding of:

• Basic Arms Management Concepts
  
• The Ownership of Action Model and its concepts of control, Reduction and Prevention

Table of Contents

Topic 1: Arms Management

• Demand Issues:
  
  
  o Peace support operations, disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR)
  o Weapons Collection and Destruction
  o Regulating civilian ownership of SALW
  o SALW and security sector reform
  o The inability of the state to provide sufficient security to the population
  o Stockpile management
  
• Supply and transfer issues:
  
  
  o Establishing a normative framework
  o Establishing effective operative procedures
  o Licensing controls and procedures
  o End use certification and monitoring
  o Marking and tracing
  o Brokering and shipping agents
  o Licensed production overseas

Topic 2: Ownership of Action: A Working Model for Arms Management and Disarmament

• Basic Tenants
  
• Managing existing flows and stocks and associated problems
  
• Resolution of small arms proliferation
  
• Prevention of Future Flows
  
• Development of national and regional action plans based on the control, resolution and prevention dimensions

Responsible for development of content: A member of the Regional Training Task Force must be held responsible for content development and the provision of background materials.

Module 3: Planning and Action

Module Objective

After completion of this module the learner must be able to plan and conduct:

• A Work Plan
  
• Mobilisation of Resources
  
• Research and information gathering activities
  
• Public Awareness Programme
  
• Communication and Networking
  
• Workshops and seminars

Table of Contents

Topic 1: Planning and work plan

• Overview
  
• Assessing the situation
  
  
  o Understanding problems and solutions
  o Mapping solutions
  o Analysing the environment
  
• Establishing Goals
  
  
  o Prioritising solutions
  o Setting goals
  
• Developing a Strategy
  
  
  o Framing the issues
  o Identifying and categorising stakeholders
  o Devising a strategy
  
• Planning Activity
  
  
  o Setting objectives
  o Developing an action plan
  
• Implementation and Monitoring
  
  
  o Developing a monitoring framework
  o Setting indicators
  o Information gathering
  o Monitoring and verification activities
  
• Evaluation
  
  
  o Evaluation tools

Topic 2: Mobilisation of Resources

• Overview of funding and mobilising resources
  
• Methods of mobilising resources
  
• Identifying and researching potential funding sources
  
• Sources of funding and their implications
  
• Writing a proposal for support
  
• Writing a report

Topic 3: Research and Information Gathering

• Overview and different types of research
  
• Key questions to address
  
• Primary and secondary information
  
• Information gathering plan
  
• Research activities and gathering of information
  
• Analysis and evaluation of data
  
• Presentation of research results

Topic 4: Public Awareness

• Basic tenants of a public awareness campaign
  
• Devising a communication Strategy
  
• Compiling the message/s for communication
  
• Identification of the audience
  
• Tailoring the awareness message/s to suit the audience/s
  
• Choosing the medium/s of communication
  
• Guidelines for communicating with different audiences
  
• Mobilising support through an awareness programme
  
• Monitoring and evaluation of the awareness campaign

Topic 5: Communication and Networking

• Different methods of communication
  
  
  o Using the Media
  o Briefings
  o Workshops and Seminars
  o Lobbying
  
• Networking
  
  
  o Types of networks
  o Different methods of networking
  o Establishing a network
  o Servicing a network
  o Follow-up and evaluation

Topic 6: Workshops and Seminars

• Types of Workshops and seminars
  
• Planning a Workshop or seminar
  
• Organising a workshop or seminar
  
• Role of the Facilitator during a workshop or seminar
  
• Workshop and seminar proceedings, report and follow-up
  
• Evaluation

Responsible for development of content: A member of the Regional Training Task Force must be held responsible for content development and the provision of background materials.

Module 4: National Action Plan

Module Objective

After completion of this module the learner must have a thorough understanding of:

• The objectives with the creation of a National Action Plan
  
• The process of creating a National Action plan
  
• The elements of the National Action Plan
  
• Roles and responsibilities of the government in implementing the National Action Plan
  
• Roles and responsibilities of Civil Society in supporting the implementation of the National Action Plan
  
• National Co-ordinating mechanisms for implementation and their interface with Civil Society

Table of Contents

Topic 1: The National Action Plan

• Guidelines for the creation of a National Action Plan from the international, regional and sub-regional initiatives to deal with the problem of Small Arms and Light Weapons
  
• Objectives of the National Action Plan
  
• Roles and responsibilities of Government
  
• Roles and responsibilities of Civil Society

Topic 2: The Mapping Process

• Logic and Method of the Process
  
• Phases of the Mapping Process:
  
  
  o The Pre-Mapping Phase
  
  
  Objectives
  Activities
  Role and responsibility of Government
  Role and Responsibility of Civil Society
  
  o The Information gathering phase
  
  
  Objectives
  Activities
  Role and responsibility of Government
  Role and Responsibility of Civil Society
  
  o The Analysis Phase
  
  
  Objectives
  Activities
  Role and responsibility of Government
  Role and Responsibility of Civil Society
  
  o The Planning Phase
  
  
  Objectives
  Activities
  Role and responsibility of Government
  Role and Responsibility of Civil Society
  
  o The Implementation Phase
  
  
  Objectives
  Activities
  Role and responsibility of Government
  Role and Responsibility of Civil Society
  
• Monitoring and Verification
  
  
  o Objectives
  o Activities
  o Role and responsibility of Government
  o Role and Responsibility of Civil Society

Topic 3: National Implementation Structures

• The National policy Making Body
  
  
  o Organisation and structure
  o Roles and responsibilities
  o Civil Society interface with the National policy Making Body
  
• The National Focal Point
  
  
  o Organisation and structure
  o Roles and responsibilities
  o National Focal Point members and their roles and responsibilities
  o Civil Society interface with the National Focal Point
  
• The Provincial/Regional Task Forces
  
  
  o Organisation and structure
  o Roles and responsibilities
  o Task Force members and their roles and responsibilities
  o Civil Society interface with the Task Force
  
• National NGO Network
  
  
  o Organisation and structure
  o Roles and responsibilities
  o Co-ordinating members and their roles and responsibilities
  o Governmental interface with the National NGO Network

Responsible for development of content: A member of the Regional Training Task Force must be held responsible for content development and the provision of background materials.

Module 5: Practical Aspects

Module Objective

After completion of this module the learner must have a practical working knowledge of:

• Law Enforcement Agencies, their way of operating and liaison mechanisms. As such:
  
  
  o The learner must know the general roles, responsibilities of the following law enforcement agencies:
  
  
  Police
  Customs
  Immigrations
  Judiciary
  Border guards and gendarmerie
  The military
  
  o The learner must have a basic knowledge of the regional law enforcement structures, such as the Interpol SRB, EAPCCO, Customs Union, etc.
  
  o The learner must know the mechanism within the different law enforcement agencies for liaison with the public.
  
• The relevant national Firearm legislation. As such:
  
  
  o The learner must have a basic understanding of the applicable national Firearms legislation to know what is legal and what is illegal in terms of ownership, collection, possession, transport, of firearms and ammunition.
  
  o The learner must understand the required reporting and evidence requirements as far as firearms and ammunition is concerned in his/her own country.
  
• Identification of firearms ammunition and explosives. As such the learner must be able to:
  
  
  o Identify the different types of small arms and light weapons most common to the specific country/region.
  
  o Identify the types of ammunition, grenades, etc most common to the specific country/region.
  
  o Know that all small arms, light weapons, ammunition and explosive devices are potentially lethal, and that non-trained personnel should under no circumstances handle it.
  
  o Know the correct procedure to mark, guard and report any small arms, light weapons, ammunition and explosive devices.
  
• Participation in Law Enforcement Operations. The learner must know the role and responsibilities civil Society can undertake to support law enforcement agencies in arms reduction operations.

Table of Contents

Topic 1: Law Enforcement Agencies

• Police:
  
  
  o Sub-regional and regional Cooperation structures
  o Police Statutes or Act
  o Roles and responsibilities
  o Working with the Police:
  
  
  Police culture
  Standard operational issues
  Liaison mechanisms
  
• Customs:
  
  
  o Sub-regional and regional Cooperation structures
  o Customs Act
  o Roles and responsibilities
  o Working with Customs Officials:
  
  
  Customs culture
  Standard operational issues
  Liaison mechanisms
  
• Immigrations:
  
  
  o Sub-regional and regional Cooperation structures
  o Immigration Act
  o Roles and responsibilities
  o Working with Immigration Officials:
  
  
  Immigration culture
  Standard operational issues
  Liaison mechanisms
  
• Judiciary:
  
  
  o Roles and responsibilities
  o Working with officials from the Justice Department:
  
  
  Judiciary culture
  Standard operational issues
  Liaison mechanisms
  
• Military:
  
  
  o Sub-regional and regional Cooperation structures
  o Military Statutes or Act o Roles and responsibilities
  o Working with the Military:
  
  
  Military culture
  Standard operational issues
  Liaison mechanisms

Topic 2: National Firearms and Ammunition Act

• Ownership of Firearms
  
• Illegal possession of firearms and ammunition
  
• Restrictions on possession
  
• Safekeeping and safe storage of firearms and ammunition
  
• Transport of Firearms and ammunition
  
• Reporting procedure in case of lost or stolen or found firearm or ammunition

Topic 3: Identification of Small Arms, Light Weapons, ammunition and Explosive devices

• Small Arms:
  
  
  o Pistols and Revolvers and their ammunition
  o Shotguns and their ammunition
  o Rifles and their ammunition
  o Semi-automatic rifles and their ammunition
  o Assault rifles and their ammunition
  o Sub-machine guns and their ammunition
  o Home Made Firearms and their ammunition
  
• Light Weapons:
  
  
  o Machineguns and their ammunition
  o Mortars and their ammunition
  o Grenade Launchers and their ammunition
  o Surface to air missiles and their ammunition
  o Rocket propelled grenade launchers and their ammunition
  o Hand grenades
  o Mines
  o Explosives and accessories

Topic 4: Participation in Law Enforcement operations

• Types of Law Enforcement Operations:
  
  
  o Arms Reduction Operations
  o Joint Operations
  o Cross Border Operations
  
• Activities that can be undertaken by Civil Society in support of law enforcement operations:
  
  
  o Public Awareness Campaigns
  o Research and Information Gathering
  o Collection and Destruction activities
  o Joint activities such as community based policing activities, neighbourhood watches, etc

Responsible for development of content: A member of the Regional Training Task Force must be held responsible for content development and the provision of background materials.

Notes

The structures for this module have been referenced from a number of background materials including the work of Virginia Gamba in “The International Agenda: Finding Leverage Points and Making Action Possible” in V. Gamba (ed), Society Under Siege: Licit Responses to Illicit Arms, Towards Collaborative Peace series, Volume II, ISS, Halfway House, 1998, chapter 2. and from the unpublished handbook developed by Saferworld, Oxfam and International Alert entitled “Action Against Small Arms: A resource and training handbook” 2003.