From Exchanging Weapons for Development to Security Sector Reform in Albania
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i UNIDIR/2004/19 From Exchanging Weapons for Development to Security Sector Reform in Albania Gaps and Grey Areas in Weapon Collection Programmes Assessed by Local People Geofrey Mugumya UNIDIR United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research Geneva, Switzerland NOTE The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. * * * The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations Secretariat. UNIDIR/2004/19 Copyright © United Nations, 2004 All rights reserved UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION Sales No. GV.E.04.0.19 ISBN 92-9045-165-3 The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)—an intergovernmental organization within the United Nations—conducts research on disarmament and security. UNIDIR is based in Geneva, Switzerland, the centre for bilateral and multilateral disarmament and non- proliferation negotiations, and home of the Conference on Disarmament. The Institute explores current issues pertaining to the variety of existing and future armaments, as well as global diplomacy and local entrenched tensions and conflicts. Working with researchers, diplomats, Government officials, NGOs and other institutions since 1980, UNIDIR acts as a bridge between the research community and Governments. UNIDIR’s activities are funded by contributions from Governments and donors foundations. The Institute’s web site can be found at URL: http://www.unidir.org Cover page: designed by Diego Oyarzún-Reyes (UNCTAD) iv CONTENTS Page Preface. ix Acknowledgements . xi Acronyms. xiii Chapter 1 Introduction . 1 Background . 1 New Evaluation Techniques . 3 Undertaking the Study . 4 Challenges and Obstacles to Be Avoided. 8 General Lessons Learned . 10 Presentation of Findings and Policy Recommendations . 10 Chapter 2 Development and Application of the Methodology . 15 Key Evaluation of Research Questions . 15 Selection and Training of Trainee Facilitators. 16 The New Evaluation Methodology: PM&E and the Five Evaluation Techniques. 16 Arrangements before Proceeding to the Focus Groups . 27 General Community Meeting and Forming the Focus Groups . 28 Chapter 3 Overview of Weapon Collection: Experiences and Perspectives of Secondary Stakeholders . 31 Causes of SALW Proliferation in Albania . 31 Reasons for Starting Weapon Collection Programmes . 34 Strategy and Process of Weapon Collection. 36 Challenges in Implementing Weapon Collection Programmes . 37 Measures to Curb Small Arms Proliferation and Armed Violence . 38 Measuring “Success” or “Failure” of Weapon Collection Programmes . 40 Conclusions . 41 v vi Chapter 4 Men’s Focus Groups: Experiences and Perspectives of Rural-Based, Urban-Based and Border-Based Men . 43 Before and Now Situations Analysis (BANSA): Evaluating Project Goals and Purposes . 43 Determining Decision-Making Process: Evaluating Project Identification and Design. 50 Conversational Interviews: Evaluating Project Appraisal and Implementation . 53 Community Calendar Approach: Evaluating Project Monitoring . 56 Three Star Game: Evaluating Project Performance. 60 Conclusions . 64 Chapter 5 Women’s Focus Groups: Experiences and Perspectives of Rural-Based, Urban-Based and Border-Based Women . 67 Before and Now Situations Analysis (BANSA): Evaluating Project Goals and Purposes . 67 Determining Decision-Making Process: Evaluating Projects Identification and Design . 73 Conversational Interviews: Evaluating Project Appraisal and Implementation . 75 Community Calendar Approach: Evaluating Project Monitoring . 77 Three Star Game: Evaluating Project Performance. 78 Conclusions . 81 Chapter 6 Focus Groups of Young Men and Women: Experiences and Perspectives of Rural-Based, Urban-Based and Border-Based Youth . 83 Before and Now Situations Analysis (BANSA): Evaluating Project Goals and Purposes . 83 Determining Decision-Making Process: Evaluating Project Identification and Design . 86 vii Conversational Interviews: Evaluating Project Appraisal and Implementation . 90 Community Calendar Approach: Evaluating Project Monitoring . 91 Three Star Game: Evaluating Project Performance. 92 Conclusions . 94 Chapter 7 Synthesis and Analysis of the General Lessons Learned . 97 Methodology . 97 Project Conception, Design and Implementation . 98 Gender Issues . 100 Assessment and Performance Indicators . 100 Characteristics of the Incentives . 102 Best Practises in Weapon Collection . 102 Long Term Resource Mobilisation Strategy . 103 Chapter 8 Policy Recommendations . 105 Funding Weapons for Development Programmes . 105 Need for Decentralised but Coordinated Programme Implementation Arrangements . 105 Women and Informal Institutions . 106 Security Sector Reform (SSR). 106 Regional Integrated Programmes. 107 Community and Childhood Peace Education . 107 Regarding Research and Advocacy on SALW. 107 Notes. 108 Recent UNIDIR Publications . 111 viii PREFACE The devastating effect of small arms and light weapons on people’s livelihoods, as well as their long-term effects on the economic and social sustainability of local communities, have prompted a wide range of international responses. Increasingly, micro-disarmament efforts to reduce the presence of small arms favour weapon collection programmes as a means to break the cycle of violence fuelled by the availability of weapons. Communities and individuals are encouraged to hand over their guns, often in exchange for individual or collective incentives. UNIDIR undertook a two-year assessment of weapons collection programmes in exchange for community-based development projects. The project used Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation (PM&E) techniques to harness the analysis and perceptions of affected communities directly, thus offering both innovative and more efficient lessons for designing and implementing post-conflict disarmament programmes. UNIDIR is grateful for the generous financial support offered by the Government of Japan as well as for the personal support it received from members of the Japanese Government. UNIDIR is also particularly indebted to the people of the Albanian cities of Bajza, Pishaj and Shushica; NGOs; local authorities; and the Government of Albania without whose contribution and assistance this research would not have been possible. This volume presents the results from the research carried out in Albania in November 2003. These findings serve to underscore the necessity for deeper and wider involvement of local people in all aspects of weapon collection, as a more direct and accurate path to understanding the root causes of violence and identifying solutions. The study suggests that the best means of ensuring successful weapon collection programmes is to place local communities at the centre of the design and implementation of these programmes. In particular, the differing perspective of key sections of the communities—women, men, youths and children—need to be factored into decision making for conflict prevention. ix x We have learned that participatory approaches can provide impetus for sustainable peace and security through inventive and better targeted disarmament programmes, for the welfare and security of people worldwide. Patricia Lewis Director UNIDIR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author of this report and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) are grateful for the assistance and support that they received in carrying out the research in Albania. First and foremost, this research would have been impossible without the cooperation of the people of Pishaj, Shushica and Bajza, in Albania. The Government of Japan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, in particular Ambassador Kuniko Inoguchi, Yoshifumi Okamura and Yusuke Shindo, have provided significant financial and intellectual support. The Weapons for Development Project continues to benefit immensely from the expertise of the members of its Directional Support Group: David Atwood, Peter Batchelor, Cate Buchanan, Robert Chambers, Jeff Crisp, Jono Honwana, Ambassador Sophie Kalinde, Suela Krifsa, Robert Muggah and Robert Scharf. We would also like to thank Susan Willett and Robin Poulton for having offered invaluable and incisive advice. The following persons contributed enormously to the field research in Albania: United Nations Resident Representative Anna Stjarnerklint, Project Manager Lawrence Doczy, Simon Prendi from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Shkodra; Ismet Drenova and Ahmet Osmani from Safer Albania, Ramanzan Beka from the Movement for Disarmament, Shkelzen Marku from the Centre for Rural Studies, the head of Weapon Collection police Todi Grazhidani, Mayor of Gramsh Lurjeta Dolla, the head of Pishaj commune Mustafa Zogu, the head of Shushica commune Lufti Lala, the head of Shkodra district Lorenc Mosi, Francis Deloeil from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) office in Tirana, and Ayesha Saran from the OSCE office in Shkodra. We wish to thank local facilitators and translators Arlinda Budo and Besnik Gjini. We would also like to thank the facilitators without whom we would not have been able to carry out the research: Ledi Shpiponja, Hajdar xi xii Sejdimi, Cylohola Suvoria, Diamanta Vito, Andi Grycsli, Rushe Gjoni, Alban Bekteshi, Rrok Lumaj and Lindita Lacaj. Finally, the author would