Eng. / Fr. /
Individual Allies and Partners support practical demilitarization projects and defence reform projects in Partner countries through individual Partnership for Peace Trust Funds.
One key objective is to assist with the safe destruction of stockpiles of surplus and obsolete landmines, weapons and munitions. Another priority is to help Partner countries manage the consequences of defence reform through initiatives such as retraining of former military personnel and the conversion of military bases to civilian use.
The Trust Fund policy is an integral part of NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme of practical security cooperation. Any Partner country may request assistance. Use of Trust Funds has been extended to countries of the Mediterranean and broader Middle East region, which participate in NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, as well as to Afghanistan.
Between 2000 and 2008, some €40 million have been contributed to Trust Fund projects. These projects have helped destroy 105 million small arms ammunition; more than 4 million landmines; 2 million hand-grenades; 270 000 pieces of unexploded ordnance (UXO); over 160 000 small arms and light weapons; 8 700 tonnes of munitions; 1 500 tonnes of chemicals, including rocket fuel; 1 000 man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS); 530 high-altitude anti aircraft missiles. Between 2005 and 2008, some 5 000 former military personnel have received retraining assistance from Trust Fund projects supporting defence reform. Trust Fund projects directly employed more than 400 people in Albania, Azerbaijan, Serbia and Ukraine between 2005 and 2007.
The destruction of surplus stockpiles of arms and munitions reduces the threat to individual Partner countries as well as the wider region. It also ensures that such materials are put beyond the reach of terrorists and criminals.
Trust Fund projects are funded by voluntary contributions from individual Allies and Partner countries. They typically involve close cooperation with other relevant organizations.
Projects may be initiated by either NATO member states or Partner countries. Each project is led on a voluntary basis by a “Lead Nation”, which is responsible for gathering political and financial support for the project as well as selecting the Executing Agent for the project. There can be several Lead Nations, and a Partner country can also take that role. The beneficiary Partner country is expected to provide maximum support to the project within its means.
The Luxembourg-based NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) plays an essential role in the development and implementation of Trust Fund projects. It offers technical advice and a range of management services. NAMSA has often been appointed to act as the Executing Agent for demilitarization projects by Lead Nations. This involves overseeing the development of project proposals as well as the competitive bidding process to ensure transparency and value for money in the execution of projects.
Once the project proposal is agreed by the Lead Nation and the Partner country concerned, it is presented to the Political-Military Steering Committee. This body serves as a formal forum to discuss the project and attract potential support and resources.
The Trust Fund policy was established in September 2000 to assist Partner countries in the safe destruction of stockpiled anti-personnel landmines. It provided the Alliance with a practical mechanism to assist Partners to meet their obligations under the Ottawa Convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and their destruction.
Initial success in the safe destruction of anti-personnel landmines led to an extension of the policy to include conventional munitions, as well as small arms and light weapons. In recent years, the scope of the Trust Fund policy has been further expanded to support wider defence reform initiatives.
