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:
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:
- Communication - Call for Contributions;
- Annexes:
Further information
For more information on the VTF see the following:
For any VTF related enquiries, please contact: trustfund@thearmstradetreaty.org
2024
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
2023
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.
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:
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- El Salvador
- Fiji
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Mali
- Mexico
- Namibia
- Rwanda
- Sudan
- Trinidad and Tobago
*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:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Burkina Faso
- Chile
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Fiji
- Kazakhstan
- Lebanon
- Madagascar
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Palau
- Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- South Sudan
- Togo
- Tuvalu
- Zambia (1)
- Zambia (2)
Details of the projects approved for VTF funding in the 2019 VTF cycle available here.
*Tuvalu's application to the VTF was withdrawn.
2018
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.
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 open.
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
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:
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.
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, Mr. Dumisani DLADLA at: dumisani.dladla@thearmstradetreaty.org
Avenue de France 23
1202 Geneva
Switzerland
Copyright The Arms Trade Treaty 2024 All rights reserved.