Division 3.4.2 Project description

National assistance programmes will be established for up to nine beneficiary countries.

The dedicated assistance programmes should be developed according to the following steps:

1. (a)

   request for assistance to implement the ATT. This request should be as substantiated as possible, and should identify which specific areas are to be targeted to receive assistance. Where relevant, the requesting country should also refer to past and ongoing assistance from other assistance providers (see also section 6 below) and provide information on its national ATT implementation strategy;

2. (b)

   based on the degree of substantiation of the request and the criteria set out in section four the High Representative, in liaison with COARM and the implementing entity, will decide on the eligibility of the requesting country;

3. (c)

   where the request for assistance is positively received, an expert assessment visit will be organised by the implementing entity. It should proceed from close contacts between the implementing entity and the third country seeking assistance, and comprise some of the most relevant experts taken from the pool of experts.

   The expert assessment visit can, where possible, be prepared for by using questionnaires and by collecting existing information; it will be comprised of an initial assessment of the needs and priorities of the country requesting assistance. In particular, it will enable clarification with the country requesting assistance of what is required to effectively implement the ATT and the comparison of those requirements with the existing resources of the country. This initial expert assessment visit will gather all the relevant domestic agencies and stakeholders and identify motivated and reliable local partners;

4. (d)

   based on the results of the expert assessment visit, the implementing entity will draft an assistance roadmap. In drafting such an assistance roadmap, the implementing entity will take into account any ATT-related assistance possibly provided through the Voluntary Trust Fund of the ATT, the UN Trust Facility supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation (UNSCAR), or by other organisations (see also section 6 below). Where the country seeking assistance has already developed a national implementation strategy for the ATT, the implementing entity will also ensure that the assistance roadmap is consistent with that national implementation strategy;

5. (e)

   the draft assistance roadmap will be shared with the beneficiary country with a view to its endorsement by the appropriate authority. The roadmap will be tailored to the beneficiary country and will identify the priorities for assistance;

6. (f)

   the roadmap will be implemented with the involvement of relevant experts taken from the pool of experts, and with the involvement of other stakeholders as appropriate. The implementing entity will have the option to delegate the organisation and/or implementation of the assessment process, and the drafting of the assistance roadmap, to an external expert or experts as appropriate. The implementing entity will oversee this process.

   The range of assistance instruments will, in particular, cover legal reviews, training seminars, workshops and promote the use of web-based tools and information sources such as the EU P2P outreach web portal and the EU P2P newsletter. Those assistance instruments will be selected by the implementing entity according to the exact needs and priorities identified by the expert assessment visit and in line with the roadmap.