The second phase of the Regional Lessons Learned Seminar on Weapons and Ammunition Management (WAM) in Africa organised by UNIDIR in cooperation with the African Union. Building on the knowledge shared by States during the first phase of the Seminar held in November and December 2020, the second phase will provide an opportunity for the 10 African States that have undertaken WAM baseline assessments together with regional, international and United Nations partners to exchange lessons learned and discuss practical steps to improve WAM processes including on effective follow up activities and mechanisms, and identify synergies among relevant sub/regional WAM efforts such as the AU’s Silencing the Guns. It will also provide a platform for operators, implementing partners, and donors, to engage in dialogue on broader lessons from their perspective, including on further opportunities to better match needs and priorities identified during the baseline assessments to existing regional and international assistance and cooperation mechanisms. The Seminar will initiate dialogue among the United Nations and partners on options to further strengthen strategic approaches to WAM, including through integration with wider peace, security and development frameworks and agendas.
UNIDIR will present key issues raised during the Lessons Learned Seminar Phase II with the wider WAM community of practitioners during a side event on the margins of the Seventh Biennial Meeting of States on the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons in July 2021.
A provisional agenda and list of speakers will be sent to invited participants ahead of the Seminar.
Where & When
Phase 2 will be conducted online, with a total of three virtual sessions of three hours each (180 minutes) held on 13, 14 and 15 July 2021, from 15:00 to 18:00 CEST. Simultaneous interpretation for English and French will be provided on the virtual platform.
For additional information on this Seminar, and further inquiries on logistical and organizational matters, please contact Ms. Anna Mensah (anna.mensah@un.org ) and Ms. Erica Mumford (erica.mumford1@un.org).