Voluntary Trust Fund (VTF)

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:

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.

Donors to the VTF

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

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.

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. In October 2024, Ambassador Thomas Göbel of Germany has been selected as Chair of the VTF Selection Committee for two years concluding at CSP12 via silence procedure.

VTF Selection Committee Chair's Communication

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.

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

Call for Project Proposals for 2025 VTF cycle (deadline: 17 January 2025)
English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish

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

2025

The following applicant States were provisionally approved for VTF funding in the 2025 cycle:

Cameroon
Chile
Côte d'Ivoire
Fiji
Gambia
Latvia
Lesotho
Madagascar
Philippines
Togo

*Details of the projects approved for VTF funding in the 2025 VTF cycle is available here

2024

The following applicant States were approved for VTF funding in the 2024 cycle:

Benin
Brazil
Cameroon
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Gambia
Guinea
Kiribati
Lesotho
Liberia
Namibia
Peru
Philippines
Papua New Guinea
Sierra Leone (1)
Sierra Leone (2)
Tanzania
Togo

*Details of the projects approved for VTF funding in the 2024 VTF cycle is available here

*Benin's application to the VTF was withdrawn.

2023

The following applicant States were approved for VTF funding in the 2023 cycle:

Belize
Burundi
Cambodia
Central African Republic
Ethiopia
Guinea
Lesotho
Liberia
Madagascar
Malawi
Mauritius
Paraguay
Togo
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.

2022

The following applicant States were approved for VTF funding in the 2022 cycle:

Argentina
Burkina Faso
Côte d'Ivoire
The Gambia
Madagascar
Nigeria

*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.

2021

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.

2020

The following applicant States were approved for VTF funding in the 2020 cycle:

Botswana
Côte d'Ivoire
Ghana
Kenya
Madagascar
Nigeria
Sierra Leone
South Sudan
Togo
Zambia

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.

2019

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.

*The VTF project implemented by Lebanon was discontinued due to political situation in the country.

2018

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

1. Burkina Faso

2. Chad*

3. Cote 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:

Call for Proposals for 2025 VTF cycle is closed.

The latest Call for Proposals opened on 20 September 2024 and closed 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

Videos on the VTF and how to apply and report

The following short videos are available to introduce potential applicants to the VTF and how to apply and complete the reporting:

Introduction to the VTF English Arabic Chinese French Russian Spanish
How to complete the Grant Application Form English Arabic Chinese French Russian Spanish
How to complete the Budget Form English Arabic Chinese French Russian Spanish
How to complete the Reporting English Arabic Chinese French Russian Spanish

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
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.

Where should a State submit a project proposal?

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

When is the deadline for submitting proposals?

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.

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)

EnglishArabicChineseFrenchRussianSpanish

Budget Form (Annex 2)

EnglishArabicChineseFrenchRussianSpanish

Explanatory Notes for Completing the
Grant Application Form

EnglishArabicChineseFrenchRussianSpanish

Explanatory Notes for Completing the
Budget Form

EnglishArabicChineseFrenchRussianSpanish

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 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.

Communication - Call for Contributions (issued 15 October 2024); Annexes:

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
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

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, Ms. Carina SOLMIRANO at: carina.solmirano@thearmstradetreaty.org .

VTF Video - Introduction to the VTF