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Voluntary Trust Fund (VTF)

What is the VTF?
Projects
How to apply?
How to donate?

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 operation of the VTF is governed by the following:

Donors to the VTF

Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Finland
France
Germany
Ireland
Japan
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Government of Flanders,
Belgium

VTF Aim

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.

VTF Selection Committee

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.

There are currently 15 members of the VTF Selection Committee who were appointed by CSP4 and who will serve until CSP6. The current member are: Australia, Chile, Finland, Germany, Japan, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom

VTF Selection Committee Chair's Communication

As part of the VTF's operationalization, the Chairperson of the VTF Selection Committee makes a regular Call for Voluntary Contributions to the Fund as well as an annual Call for Proposals.

The most recent communications from the Chairperson of the VTF Selection Committee are available here:

Call for Contributions (22 January 2018); Annexes:

VTF Administrative Rules (15 Nov 2016)

VTF Call for Contributions and Donations-2017-2018 Cycles

VTF Standard Donor Agreement

Call for Project Proposals for 2019 VTF cycle (deadline: 16 January 2019)

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Further information

For more information on the VTF see the following:

Frequently Asked Questions

VTF Information Brochure

For any VTF related enquiries, please contact: trustfund@thearmstradetreaty.org

2018

The following applicant States were approved for VTF funding in the 2018 cycle:

1. Burkina Faso

2. Chad*

3. Côte d’Ivoire

4. Dominican Republic

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.

2017

Details of the projects approved for VTF funding in the 2017 VTF cycle available here.

Final Reports

The Final Reports of all completed projects are available below, in accordance with paragraph 16 of the VTF Terms of Reference:

Cameroon
Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire (1)
Côte d'Ivoire (2)
El Salvador
Ghana
Guatemala
Liberia
Mauritius
Palau
Philippines
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Togo (1)
Togo (2)

Call for Proposals for 2019 VTF cycle NOW CLOSED!

The latest Call for Proposals was open from 15 October 2018 to 16 January 2019 and is now CLOSED.

Information on the latest Call for Proposals is available here: English, French, Spanish

The next Call for Proposals will be issued in October 2019.

Who is eligible to apply?

Only States may apply directly for VTF funding.

The VTF Terms of Reference pronounce as follows on eligibility:

Any State Party to the ATT requiring assistance in the implementation of the Treaty may submit a project proposal.
Signatory States and other States having shown clear and unambiguous political commitment to accede to the ATT requiring assistance to implement the Treaty may also submit project proposals.
Assistance projects proposed by requesting States may be implemented by or in conjunction with UN agencies, international or regional organisations, civil society organisations or other competent bodies. Applicant must be the beneficiary country /countries.

How does a State apply for VTF funding?

All VTF project proposals must be submitted using the following prescribed VTF forms:

Grant Application Form
Detailed Budget Form

The Forms are available in English, French and Spanish. Applications that are submitted in French 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, French and Spanish.

* All fields of the Grant Application Form and Detailed 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.

Where should a State submit a project proposal?

All VTF project proposals must be submitted by email to: trustfund@thearmstradetreaty.org

When is deadline for submitting proposals?

The deadline for VTF proposals for each cycle of the VTF is announced in the annual Call for Proposals. The latest Call for Proposals was open from 15 October 2018 to 16 January 2019.

The deadline for the next Call for Proposals will be announced in Ocotber 2019.

Application forms

The forms that must be used to apply for VTF funding and guidance on completing the forms are available here:

Grant Application Form (Annex 1)

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Detailed Budget Form (Annex 2)

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Explanatory Notes for Completing the
Grant Application Form

EnglishFrenchSpanish

Explanatory Notes for Completing the
Detailed Budget Form

EnglishFrenchSpanish

When can contributions be made?

Contributions to the VTF can be made throughout the year by governments and private-sector donors in any amount of money. The Chairperson of the VTF Selection Committee issues Calls for Contributions to the VTF on a regular basis. The latest Call for Contributions is available here.

What conditions govern donations?

A copy of the Standard Donors’ Agreement entered into between a donor and the ATT Secretariat (as administrator of the Fund) is available here.

Donors to the VTF

Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Finland
France
Germany
Ireland
Japan
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Government of Flanders,
Belgium

Further information

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

Grant Application Form (Annex 1)