Japan signs Grant Aid for Management and Reduction of Private Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs) in BARMM

On 13 September 2022, Japanese Ambassador KOSHIKAWA Kazuhiko and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran signed and exchanged notes for the “Project for Supporting Management and Reduction of Private Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs) in BARMM.” The signing ceremony was witnessed by Mr. Ali Salik, Member of the Bangsamoro Parliament, Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).
 
In response to the call of the Joint Normalization Committee (JNC), the project seeks the acceleration of the decommissioning and normalization aspects of the Mindanao Peace Process. The Government of Japan will be providing a grant aid worth USD 5 million for the implementation of the project. Meanwhile, the UNDP will be the implementing agency that will bring the project across the targeted vulnerable communities, consisting of over 6,000 residents, to address the issue of sporadic conflicts caused by the use of private small arms and light weapons (SALWs).
 
Ambassador KOSHIKAWA expressed his confidence over the collaboration. He conveyed in his message, “As this project will be a remarkable step for the Normalization, as the first large-scale and comprehensive project to tackle the issue of private SALWs, I am grateful that Japan can support it.”
 
Japan has been contributing to the Peace Process for more than 2 decades. To date, over USD 500 million in projects have been undertaken under the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD). Japan remains committed to its support for the progress of the Peace Process and furthering development in Mindanao.


Ambassador Koshikawa's remarks at the Signing Ceremony of the Exchange of Notes for The Project for Supporting Management and Reduction of Private SALWs in BARMM.
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