Article 16(3) of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) provides for the establishment of a Voluntary Trust Fund (VTF) to support national implementation of the Treaty and encourages all States Parties to contribute resources to the Fund.
The VTF was formally established in August 2016 by the Second Conference of States Parties to operate under its approved Terms of Reference (ATT/CSP2/2016/WP3/Rev.1). The VTF shall disburse funds to ATT implementation projects according to the provisions of its Terms of Reference and Administrative Rules. Where necessary, OECD DAC guidelines for development cooperation may also apply.
The VTF aims to assist requesting States requiring international assistance to implement their Treaty obligations, including with respect to legal or legislative assistance, institutional capacity building, and technical, material and financial assistance.
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bulgaria
Canada
Costa Rica
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Finland
France
Germany
Ireland
Japan
Madegascar
Mexico
Montenegro
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Republic of Korea
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Government of Flanders,
Belgium
A Selection Committee consisting of up to 15 seats supports the administration of the VTF. Members of the Selection Committee serve for two years and are eligible for reappointment.
The 10 members of the VTF Selection Committee were appointed by CSP10 and will serve until CSP12. These members are: Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Finland, Germany, Japan, Latvia, Republic of Korea, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
As part of the VTF's operationalization, the VTF Selection Committee makes a regular Call for Voluntary Contributions to the Fund as well as an annual Call for Proposals.
For any VTF related enquiries, please contact: trustfund@thearmstradetreaty.org
The following applicant States were approved for VTF funding in the 2024 cycle:
1. Benin
2. Brazil
3. Cameroon
4. Costa Rica
5. El Salvador
6. Gambia
7. Guinea
8. Kiribati
9. Lesotho
10. Liberia
11. Namibia
12. Peru
13. Philippines
14. Papua New Guinea
15. Sierra Leone (1)
16. Sierra Leone (2)
17. Tanzania
18. Togo
*Details of the projects approved for VTF funding in the 2024 VTF cycle is available here
The following applicant States were approved for VTF funding in the 2023 cycle:
1. Belize
2. Burundi
3. Cambodia
4. Central African Republic
5. Ethiopia
6. Guinea
7. Lesotho
8. Liberia
9. Madagascar
10. Malawi
11. Mauritius
12. Paraguay
13. Togo
14. Zambia
*Details of the projects approved for VTF funding in the 2023 VTF cycle is available here
*Paraguay's application to the VTF was withdrawn.
The following applicant States were approved for VTF funding in the 2022 cycle:
*Details of the projects approved for VTF funding in the 2022 VTF cycle is available here
*Argentina's application to the VTF was withdrawn.
**The VTF project implemented by Burkina Faso was discontinued.
The following applicant States were approved for VTF funding in the 2021 cycle:
*Details of the projects approved for VTF funding in the 2021 VTF cycle available here.
*Applications of Lebanon and Mexico to the VTF were withdrawn.
*The VTF project implemented by Sudan was discontinued.
The following applicant States were approved for VTF funding in the 2020 cycle:
Details of the projects approved for VTF funding in the 2020 VTF cycle available here.
*Botswana's application to the VTF was withdrawn.
*The VTF project implemented by Madagascar was discontinued.
The following applicant States were approved for VTF funding in the 2018 cycle:
1. Burkina Faso
2. Chad*
5. Ghana (1)
6. Ghana (2)
7. Madagascar
8. Paraguay
9. Samoa
10. Senegal
Details of the projects approved for VTF funding in the 2018 VTF cycle available here.
*Chad's application to the VTF was withdrawn.
The following applicant States were approved for VTF funding in the 2019 cycle:
Details of the projects approved for VTF funding in the 2019 VTF cycle available here.
*Tuvalu's application to the VTF was withdrawn.
Details of the projects approved for VTF funding in the 2017 VTF cycle available here.
The Final Reports of all completed projects are available below, in accordance with paragraph 16 of the VTF Terms of Reference:
The latest Call for Proposals opened on 20 September 2024 and closes on 17 January 2025.
Communication from the VTF Selection Committee regarding the Call for Proposals is available here: English.
Detailed information on the latest Call for Proposals is available here: English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish
The following short videos are available to introduce potential applicants to the VTF and how to apply and complete the reporting:
Only States may apply directly for VTF funding.
Budget Form
The Forms are available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. Applications that are submitted in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish must be accompanied by an English translation.
Explanatory Notes for Completing the Grant Application Form and the Detailed Budget Form are available in English.
* All fields of the Grant Application Form and Budget Form are mandatory and must be completed in full.
* Any VTF Grant Application submitted in any other form other than the VTF prescribed form shall not be considered.
All VTF project proposals must be submitted by email to: trustfund@thearmstradetreaty.org
The deadline for VTF proposals for each cycle of the VTF is announced in the annual Call for Proposals. The Call for Proposals for 2024 VTF cycle is open from 27 September 2023 to 19 January 2024.
Contributions to the VTF can be made throughout the year by governments and private-sector donors in any amount of money. The VTF Selection Committee issues Calls for Contributions to the VTF on a regular basis. The latest Call for Contributions was issued on 1 November 2023.
A copy of the Standard Donors’ Agreement entered into between a donor and the ATT Secretariat (as administrator of the Fund) is available here.
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bulgaria
Canada
Cyprus
Costa Rica
Czech Republic
Finland
France
Germany
Ireland
Japan
Madagascar
Mexico
Montenegro
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Republic of Korea
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Government of Flanders,
Belgium
States and other donors with additional queries regarding donating to the VTF or who are interested in making a contribution to the VTF should contact the Head of the Secretariat, Mr. Dumisani DLADLA at: dumisani.dladla@thearmstradetreaty.org
Avenue de France 23
1202 Geneva
Switzerland
Copyright The Arms Trade Treaty 2024 All rights reserved.