ANNEX
1. General Framework
This Decision builds on the CODUN initiative to address the threats posed by the trafficking of SALW and other destabilising commodities via air. Within the context of the CODUN initiative, this Decision follows on from projects undertaken by the Council in collaboration with SitCen, the Club of Budapest and SIPRI. This Decision provides for software, pilot implementation systems, training and outreach programmes, for relevant crisis management missions, as well as international and national authorities, in order to better monitor, update and disseminate information on suspect air cargo actors operating in Africa and from other regions. In the implementation of this Decision, good coordination with other relevant projects financed in the framework of Community programmes and other Council Decisions, should be ensured in order to increase the impact of the Union’s action in preventing the illicit trade of SALW.
2. Objectives
The projects described below will address three areas identified by CODUN and other stakeholders involved in the EU initiative to combat SALW trafficking via air:
(a)
the need to develop a secure system for providing updates on companies and aircrafts which routinely reregister assets and relocate businesses in their efforts to avoid detection;
(b)
the provision of risk-management software and training to allow relevant crisis management missions, and international and national authorities to more effectively monitor and screen an increasing number of air cargo actors suspected of involvement in SALW trafficking or the movement of other destabilising commodity flows via air;
(c)
the need to provide training and technical support to, and raise awareness in multilateral organisations, missions, regional bodies and states in Africa and other regions in order to strengthen their ability to monitor and detect actors involved in SALW trafficking or the movement of other destabilising commodities via air.
3. Project description
3.1. Project 1: Creating a software package and implementing a pilot project to monitor, update and disseminate information on air cargo actors suspected of illicit SALW trafficking
3.1.1. Project objective
The project aims at improving tools and techniques at the disposal of relevant crisis management missions, international and third countries’ national authorities, and Member States, to effectively screen and target suspect air cargo aircrafts likely to be involved in the illicit trade of SALW via air, within, from or to third States.
3.1.2. Project description
In the framework of this project, the following activities will be undertaken:
(a)
the development of an air trafficking risk management software package for multilateral organisations, missions and selected third countries;
(b)
the development of a secure pilot risk management and information dissemination package system;
(c)
the field testing of the software package in consultation with the HR and relevant Council bodies;
(d)
the field testing of the information dissemination package system in consultation with the HR and relevant Council bodies;
(e)
the development of a manual and accompanying training material to facilitate the use and adoption of the systems described in points (a) and (b) by relevant crisis management missions, international and third countries’ national authorities, and Member States;
(f)
the presentation of the final software and associated manual and training material in a concluding workshop where relevant stakeholders will be invited to participate (up to 80 people).
The project will be implemented over an appropriate time period which takes into consideration the need to consult and coordinate with the various stakeholders, under the control of the HR. The project will be implemented in six phases.
Preparatory Phase
SIPRI, in consultation with relevant Council bodies and under the control of the HR, will develop a software package, risk management tools, as well as an information and disaggregated data dissemination package system, using relevant information technology (IT) options.
Data Input Phase
Using open source information only, the project will input data from the relevant sources to build comprehensive databases, capable of providing sufficient information to support accurate risk management, detection and profiling tools.
Assessment Phase
SIPRI, in consultation with relevant Council bodies and under the control of the HR, will undertake an assessment of various sites, regions, organisations and missions where the pilot package using open-source data may be field tested under optimum conditions.
Field Testing phase
SIPRI, in consultation with relevant Council bodies and under the control of the HR, will undertake a field testing phase in conjunction with partners identified in the assessment phase.
Evaluation and adapting phase
Following field testing, SIPRI will evaluate and adapt the software to take into account the experience and lessons learned from the field testing phase. This will result in a final product to be made available with the agreement of the various stakeholders.
Presentation phase
The final version of the software and of the training material will be presented in a dedicated event to relevant stakeholders (up to 80 people) who were involved in its development and were identified as final users of the software.
3.1.3. Project results
The project will:
(a)
strengthen the ability of relevant crisis management missions, international and third countries’ national authorities, and Member States, to monitor the activities of air cargo actors suspected of SALW trafficking via air;
(b)
provide the tools and pilot systems necessary to increase the number of interdictions of suspected illicit SALW shipments, shipped via air by multilateral organisations, missions and states in Africa and other regions;
(c)
increase the ability of Member States to securely share information on air cargo actors through disaggregated data techniques and other profiling mechanisms.
3.1.4. Project beneficiaries
The beneficiaries of the project will be relevant personnel from crisis management missions and national and international authorities. The selection of specific beneficiaries to test the pilot software package will take into account variables such as the presence of European or multilateral crisis management missions in the field, the need to maximise resources, the availability of assistance at local level, political will and the capacity of local and national authorities to counter the illicit trade of SALW via air. SIPRI will propose a shortlist of beneficiaries which will then be endorsed by the HR in consultation with the competent Council bodies.
3.2. Project 2: Strengthening awareness of monitoring, detection and risk management practices against air cargo carriers engaged in SALW trafficking via air and other destabilising commodity flows through publications, training and outreach
3.2.1. Project objective
The project aims at increasing the awareness and technical expertise of relevant international and national personnel of ‘best practices’ in the areas of monitoring, detection and risk management analysis against air cargo carriers suspected of SALW trafficking via air.
3.2.2. Project description
In the framework of this project, the following activities will be undertaken:
(a)
the development and publication a manual and accompanying training material to be disseminated to up to 250 individuals working for multilateral organisations, missions or states;
(b)
through the organisation of up to three regional seminars, the training of, and outreach to, between 80-100 personnel working for specific departments or cells within crisis management missions, and international and third countries’ national authorities, with a multiplier effect envisaged through the provision of ‘train the trainer’ material;
(c)
the processing of results and evaluations received from the training and outreach activities, and development on this basis of a ‘best practices’ model for information-sharing on this subject among relevant international and national personnel;
(d)
the presentation of the results of the ‘best practices’ model in a final concluding workshop where relevant stakeholders (up to 80 people) will be invited to participate.
3.2.3. Project results
The project will:
(a)
increase awareness on the part of personnel serving in multilateral organisations, missions and states of ‘best practices’ in the areas of monitoring, detection and risk management analysis against air cargo carriers suspected of SALW trafficking via air and other destabilising commodity flows;
(b)
contribute to the standardisation of ‘best practices’ in this field through the publication and dissemination of a manual on monitoring, detection and risk management analysis techniques;
(c)
pilot the establishment of ‘best practices’ of information coordination through training and outreach activities for personnel working for specific departments or cells within multilateral organisations, missions or states.
3.2.4. Project beneficiaries
The beneficiaries of the project will be relevant personnel from crisis management missions and national and international authorities. The selection of specific beneficiaries to benefit from the training will be made on the basis of a shortlist of beneficiaries proposed by SIPRI, to be endorsed by the HR in consultation with the competent Council bodies.
4. Locations
Locations for project 3.1 field testing and the concluding workshop, as well as the training, outreach activities and concluding workshop of project 3.2, will be determined taking into account the wish to maximise resources, minimise carbon footprint and the available assistance at local level. SIPRI will propose a shortlist of recommended locations to be endorsed by the HR in consultation with the competent Council bodies.
5. Duration
The total estimated duration of the projects will be 24 months.
6. Implementing entity
The technical implementation of this Decision will be entrusted to SIPRI. SIPRI will ensure the visibility of the EU contribution and will perform its task under the responsibility of the HR.
7. Reporting
SIPRI will prepare regular reports on a bi-monthly basis and after the completion of each of the activities described. The reports should be submitted to the HR no later than 6 weeks after the completion of relevant activities.
