The United Nations Fellowship Training Programme on Small Arms and Light Weapons is an initiative mandated by the United Nations General Assembly in A/77/71, and allows practitioners from across all regions worldwide to strengthen their knowledge and expertise on small arms and light weapons control through an online course and an in-person training.

This landmark initiative strengthens the technical knowledge and practical expertise of government officials directly responsible for implementing the UN Programme of Action and the International Tracing Instrument.

The Fellowship Training Programme will run four times a year, involving practitioners from all regions of the world. A global foundation, tailored to each region, turning international laws and standards on small arms and light weapons into real action on the ground.

The fellowship training programme has the following overall objectives:

  • Increased understanding of United Nations disarmament and arms control concepts, machinery and experiences, in particular in the context of the PoA and ITI at the global, regional and national levels.
  • Increased understanding of the importance and relevance of gender mainstreaming in SALW control.
  • Sharing lessons learned and implementation practices in different areas of SALW control and in-depth understanding of regional trends and dynamics related to SALW control.
  • Opportunities for fellows to connect and exchange with counterparts on SALW control matters across countries and regions.

Map of our Activities

Here is a map showcasing the progress of the fellowship across regions. 

Caribbean Edition

From 28 July to 15 August 2025, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) and UNITAR delivered the first-ever United Nations Fellowship Training Programme on Small Arms and Light Weapons. Hosted in Trinidad and Tobago, the programme brought together 22 participants from 15 Caribbean countries.

Afifa Habbassi / UNITAR
Afifa Habbassi / UNITAR
Afifa Habbassi / UNITAR
Afifa Habbassi / UNITAR
Afifa Habbassi / UNITAR
Afifa Habbassi / UNITAR

African Edition

From 20 October to 7 November 2025, 19 fellows from 16 countries successfully completed the intensive three-week SALW fellowship training in Lomé, Togo, and Ouidah, Benin, in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC).

UNODA
UNREC

Asian Edition

From 16 February to 6 March 2026, the Asian edition of the fellowship program was organised with UNODA and UNRCPD and it was held at the premises of the Military College of Materials Management in Jabalpur, India, bringing together 18 fellows from 13 countries from Asia- Pacific

Mallika/ UNITAR
Mallika/ UNITAR
Mallika/ UNITAR

European Edition

From 20 April to 8 May 2026, the European iteration of the fellowship program was held in Turin, Italy and Lyon, France, bringing together 16 fellows from 16 countries from the Western European and Other Group (WEOG) and the Eastern European Group (EEG). The training was implemented and delivered in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).

UNODA
UNODA
UNODA

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