Sierra Leone

As part of UNDP’s integrated strategy to return Sierra Leone into lasting peace and stability, the Arms for Development (AfD) project was launched in 2003 following conclusion of the Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Programme in 2002. The AfD initiative, which is still ongoing, aims to enhance the conditions for stability, human security, and opportunities for socio-economic development in the rural communities of Sierra Leone. It is a community empowerment project, to promote the voluntary surrender of weapons in exchange for development in rural communities. The project takes into account that some of the underlying issues of the conflict remain a serious impediment to social cohesion. It does this through the fostering of a sense of belonging and encouraging people to work together towards a common goal, while reflecting on the needs of the community as a whole. It also assists in stimulating decision-making on issues affecting their security and development through democratic consensus.

Since the inception of the project in 2003, the AfD has collected about 6,112 mostly hunting rifles and has promoted community safety through the identification and detonation of 44 items of unexploded ordinance scattered about farming fields. UNDP provides a development grant to chiefdoms that have cooperated in the voluntarily surrendered of their arms after verification and certification by the Sierra Leone Police. The money is utilised on the implementation of a community project of the people’s choice. About 50 community projects identified are now at different stages of implementation.