Assessments
Information Collection or Mapping Phase
During this phase information is collected in three areas of interest using three primary methods of research.
This phase seeks to collect the following three sets of data:
- Physical (or geo-political) information about the nature and extent of the small arms problem in the country concerned and the region.
- Attitude information to assess the manifestation of the problem in the country and its impact on civil society.
- Resource information to establish what resources are available at the national, regional (provincial) and local levels to currently address the small arms problem and assist with the implementation of the national plan of action. These resources can come from either governmental or non-governmental sources. Without having a thorough understanding of what is available for assisting with the implementation plan it will be impossible to fully ascertain the additional resources and skills needed for implementation.
These three sets of data are collected using three primary research methods:
- Law enforcement agency workshops - these are conducted in each region (province) of the country by the government representatives of the National Focal Point (NFP) and the Mapping Team. Visiting each region of the country and identifying its specific circumstances, needs and experiences is important in creating a nuanced National Action Plan (NAP) adapted to regional needs. Typically, these meetings will be attended by members of the police, army, intelligence, customs and immigration services and representatives of the local administration / authority. Participants will come from both the regional / provincial level and the district level to ensure that the needs and experiences of officials at all levels are gauged. The workshops aim to both inform the participants of the ongoing mapping exercise and of the development of the NAP, and their involvement as well as assess their level of commitment to the unfolding process. They are also designed to collect information on key security and firearms issues in the region and on issues of resources and capacity and to solicit their views on what should be done. Information is collected during the workshops through open discussion, more targeted discussion in small groups and a specially developed assessment questionnaire looking at specific aspects of law enforcement, small arms and capacity issues. The regional police commander will also present a paper on the small arms issue in the region and presentations will be given by the NFP representative and the mapping team.
- Civil society workshops - these are conducted in each region (province) of the country by the Mapping Team and government and civil society representatives of the NFP. Participants come from active civil society organisations including non-governmental organisations, religious groups and community-based organisations. As with the law enforcement agency workshops, identifying regional peculiarities is important. These workshops seek to inform local civil society actors of the NAP and their potential involvement in its implementation. They also seek to collect information from local civil society on their engagement and knowledge of the small arms issue, their views on what should be done and their capacity needs.
- Population (attitude) survey - a representative crosssection of the population in terms of age, gender and geographical distribution are surveyed. The survey is conducted by local people trained in research methods by the Mapping Team. The survey itself examines various socio-economic indicators as well as indicators of security and firearms penetration. In so doing, the survey illuminates some of the factors influencing the demand for small arms and the interconnections between these factors and other societal socio-economic issues as well as highlighting the true impact that firearms are having on society. The results of the survey are particularly important in identifying those regions most seriously affected, prioritising responses within the framework of the NAP and identifying specific strategies to reduce the demand for small arms. The survey also helps to throw light upon the capacity of communities themselves (community structures, ability and willingness to help others etc.) to proactively address the small arms issue.
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