Resolving Small Arms Proliferation

SaferAfrica and Saferworld would like to express our gratitude to the governments of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, without whose support the mappings and NAP development would not have been possible. Thank you also to the European Commission which is supporting the implementation of the Tanzania National Action Plan.

Table of Content

Foreword

Introduction

Background

Key Principles of the Mapping approach

Mapping Methodology

Preparatory phase
Information collection phase (mapping)
Analysis and plan creation phase
Implementation and verification phase

Practical Implementation Experiences

Engaging with and building capacity of civil society
National conferences as tools for awareness raising and consensus building
Population surveys
Engaging with donors
Developing institutional structures
Cross-border co-operation
Micro-development projects
Stockpile management and destruction
Legal reform

Lessons learned

Political environment
Security environment
Mapping and plan creation
Implementation

Annex I - Implementation Results in Tanzania

Foreword

The United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in all its Aspects (UN PoA) is divided into recommendations for action at national, regional and global levels. All of these are equally important and constitute one integral and inter-dependent whole. In order for national measures to be successful they require a conducive regional environment. Likewise, for the regional measures to advance they require a strong commitment in realising concrete action at national level.

Under the national recommendations section there are 22 paragraphs that identify the measures and actions that each State should undertake in compliance with the Programme. It is clear that some measures and actions that should be undertaken at national level, namely the establishment of national co-ordination agencies and focal points are fundamental points of departure. All of the other measures also require urgent attention and can be usefully realised, in a sustainable and practical manner, through the national decision of undertaking a national plan of action for arms management and disarmament.

In 2002 and 2003, some countries have commenced national plans of action as a tool for compliance with the UN PoA and their own regional initiatives. This is particularly the case in the United Republic of Tanzania, the Republic of Mozambique, the Republic of Uganda and the Republic of Kenya in Africa. The process that these countries are pursuing follows an interesting and successful model developed by SaferAfrica and Saferworld for development primarily in Africa but with the potential for application in all States equally affected by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

This publication by Jakkie Potgieter and Angus Urquhart of SaferAfrica and Saferworld will greatly assist those who wish to implement similar processes at national level.

Ambassador Mitsuro Donowaki,
Japan Ambassador Carlos Dos Santos,
Mozambique Ambassador Camilo Reyes,

Colombia June 2003

Introduction

Over the past two years, SaferAfrica and Saferworld have responded to requests from the governments of Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique and Kenya to assist with the development of National Action Plans for Arms Management and Disarmament (NAPs) to control the proliferation of small arms. SaferAfrica and Saferworld have worked with the governments and civil society in these countries to conduct national assessments, or mappings, of the extent and nature of the small arms problem from which a NAP can be developed.

In Tanzania, the mapping process was completed in late 2001 and a NAP has been approved by Cabinet. It is now in its second year of implementation and the practical impact is already being seen. In Uganda, the information collection phase of the process has been concluded and the NAP is currently being developed. While in Mozambique and Kenya preparations are being finalised for the information collection phase and NAPs will be developed later in 2003.

The mapping projects initiated by the governments of Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda represent some of the most significant and comprehensive national efforts that have been taken to tackle the scourge of small arms. Two years after the agreement of the UN Programme of Action on small arms these projects are evidence of the substantial progress that can, and must, be made. As many governments and civil society organisations across the globe seek to develop comprehensive and sustainable small arms programmes - and in so doing seek to fulfil the commitments of the UN Programme of Action and other international and regional small arms agreements - we felt that it would be useful to share the experiences gained from the mapping and NAP processes in Southern and Eastern Africa.

This report describes the process and environment that has lead to the development by SaferAfrica and Saferworld of the small arms mapping/NAP methodology; outlines the methodology; presents some of the practical experiences gained through its implementation; and reflects upon some of the key lessons that we have learnt. Our thanks go to all the government officials and civil society organisations in Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda who have seized so readily on the NAP idea and worked so hard to make these projects successful. Thanks must also go to the Security Research and Information Centre whose staff, especially Jerry Kitiku, have played an important role in the mappings in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

Lastly, thanks to all the staff from SaferAfrica and Saferworld who have given so much time, commitment and expertise, and in particular to Jakkie Potgieter who, as Mapping Co-ordinator, has driven this process so skillfully and effectively.

Virginia Gamba
Director, SaferAfrica

Paul Eavis
Director, Saferworld

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