Publication

The Arms for Development (AfD) initiative, developed under the aegis of UNDP, aims to shift the mindset of communities from the benefits of owning weapons to the benefits of a weapons-free environment. This shift will enable the communities to put the war behind them and turn, instead, to development. Between March and June 2003, the AfD initiative conducted an extensive survey of the small arms environment in Sierra Leone. This was in keeping with its mission to "promote the conditions of stability and development in the country through support to national security institutions and civil society organizations, creating opportunities for the voluntary surrender of weapons and community recovery." The objective of our research was to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the small arms environment in the communities we are trying to assist.