Organized Crime: West African Response to Trafficking (OCWAR-T)

Organized Crime: West African Response to Trafficking (OCWAR-T)

Project Details

Duration

2019-2022

Funded by

GIZ, EU

Partners

ECOWAS, GIZ, EU, NATCOMS, UNODC, MAG, ICMPD

Project location

ECOWAS- Countries (Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Niger, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali)

 

About the project

Despite significant efforts undertaken over the years, the fight against the trafficking of small arms and light weapons continues to prove a major challenge to the growth and development path for many Sub-Saharan countries. This action is thus designed to strengthen regional governance frameworks in combatting Transnational Organized Crime and arms trafficking and to enhance the capacity of state agencies specialized in combatting these threats. Specifically, it will create high level community-based awareness on the dangers associated with the illicit proliferation of small arms and armed violence; strengthen the capacity of security institutions and communities to enhance safety and above all encourage voluntary weapons surrender/collection in return for development community-based development projects; it will strengthen gender-based participation in SALW outreach program and further reinforce the role of the NATCOMs within the respective national security architecture.

This initiative aims at addressing the following:

  • Creating high level and community awareness and sensitization on the dangers associated with the illicit proliferation and trafficking of small arms and armed violence;
  • Strengthening the role of the NATCOMs and enabling the setup of effective decentralized structures to coordinate relevant security stakeholders and foster linkages within the respective national security architecture.
  • Reduce the existing circulation and trafficking of additional availability of SALWs within the pilot communities by strengthening border communities’ mechanisms, systems and controls.