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Trust Fund projects - promoting security and defence reform 1. Trust Fund Policy Contents   1. Trust Fund Policy   2. How to put together a Trust Fund project?  3. Six principles of the Trust Fund policy  4. Trust Fund projects  5. Working together for results  6. Role of NAMSA  7. One Minute Interview Editorial Note   Important publisher and editorial information about this document Other Formats English PDF (~1080Kb) Printable version with colour illustrations Order a hardcopy version using the online order form. Warheads of anti-aircraft missiles in Georgia are safely destroyed by open detonation: the destruction of these missiles has significantly increased security and removed the risk of environmental contamination in the areas where the weapons were stored. The Trust Fund policy is an integral part of NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme of practical security cooperation between NATO and individual Partner countries. This policy was established in September 2000 to assist Partner countries in the safe destruction of stockpiled anti-personnel landmines. It provided the Alliance with a practical mechanism to assist Partners to meet their obligations under the Ottawa Convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and their destruction. Initial success in the safe destruction of anti-personnel landmines led to an extension of the policy to include a number of other areas of defence reform. Under the expanded policy, Trust Funds have been used to support the safe destruction of small arms and light weapons (SALW), man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS), missiles, conventional munitions and rocket fuel. More recently, Trust Fund projects have been established to support Partner countries in managing the consequences of defence reform through initiatives such as retraining and the conversion of military bases. Any of the 20 Partner countries taking part in the PfP programme may request assistance. The Trust Fund mechanism can also be used to support projects in countries which participate in NATO's other security cooperation initiatives. Some Trust Fund projects are being carried out in the framework of NATO's South East Europe Initiative, and the Trust Fund Policy can also be used to support NATO's activities in the context of the Mediterranean Dialogue and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. The Trust Fund policy has proved to be a practical tool to support defence reform and the fight against terrorism, supporting the Alliance's efforts to improve security and stability across the Euro-Atlantic area. The destruction of surplus stockpiles of arms and ammunition reduces the threat to individual Partner countries and their populations as well as the wider region. Safe destruction also ensures that surplus stockpiles are put beyond the reach of terrorists and criminals. What are MANPADS? Man-portable air defence systems are used for low-level attack on aircraft. These weapons constitute a serious threat against commercial and military aviation if they fall into the possession of terrorists. The Trust Fund policy aims to reduce the threat posed by these and other surplus weapons. The destruction of the complete weapon system includes both missiles and launchers. What are SALW? Small arms are weapons intended for use by an individual and include pistols, rifles, submachine-guns, assault rifles and light machine-guns. Light weapons are designed for use by two or three persons serving as a crew and include heavy machine-guns, some types of grenade launchers, mortars, anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns.

© NATO - OTAN 2005 -	NATO Public Diplomacy Division 1110 Brussels, Belgium, web site: www.nato.int e-mail: natodoc@hq.nato. int