bicc Publications

Safer Stockpiles: Developing Regional PSSM Instructor Cadres

edited by David Häfner and Joe Farha

SSPublications

Crossing the fence: Challenges of operationalizing PSSM

edited by Elvan Isikozlu, Matthias Krötz and Claire Trancart

Physical security and stockpile management (PSSM) can be broadly defined as a series of activities that make national stockpiles of weapons and ammunition safe and secure. Over the last decade, PSSM has become a highly requested form of intervention to curb the illicit flow of small arms and light weapons (SA/LW) and conventional ammunition (CA), as well as to keep communities safe from unintended explosions. Donors have provided substantial funding for PSSM activities to countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where we have learned that the impact of PSSM assistance depends a great deal on how actively improvements are maintained. Maintaining PSSM improvements has to do with influencing human behavior. Organizations supporting national institutions with PSSM are well aware of this but are often overwhelmed by immediate, tangible needs on the ground such as demands for new depots, fencing, or training. While these activities are critical, they will easily go to waste if PSSM is not practiced on a daily basis. This article will discuss three challenges that we have observed and present some critical questions for organizations to consider when providing PSSM assistance.

CTPublications

More Bang for Their Buck: Enhancing the Sustainability of Surplus Ammunition Destruction Programs

edited by Joe Farha, Matthias Krotz and Einas Osman Abdalla Mohammed

Dealing with stockpiles of surplus ammunition remains a key challenge for many African countries. In the last 10 years, at least 38 ammunition sites across Africa reportedly experienced unplanned explosions, causing injury and loss of life as well as significant damage to infrastructure and the environment. Numerous reasons such as overstocking, inadequate storage facilities due to insufficient resources, inadequate capabilities of storage sites, or simply unstable ammunition may be the cause of these unplanned detonations. These factors are often exacerbated by personnel having a limited knowledge and awareness, or insufficient training on relevant subjects such as explosive compatibility groups or ammunition life cycles. Regardless of the reasons outlined previously, the destruction of surplus and/or deteriorating ammunition is required as part of a general physical security and stockpile management (PSSM) regime, in particular to reduce the risk of unplanned explosions at ammunitions sites (UEMS).

MBPublications

bicc Posters

UN Hazard Classification Poster

2019-07

bicc Documentaries

DE KTSO_Keep The Safety On

States are unable to counter the threat of weapons and ammunition proliferation alone. Recognizing the value of a regional cooperation approach, BICC, RECSA and MSAG have been training a core group of instructors specialized in simple but effective ways of controlling and managing arms in limited resource environments. After a three year training period, the first batch of Physical Security and Stockpile Management Senior Instructors are now sharing their expertise on weapons and ammunition management within their own countries as well as training armed forces in conflict and armed violence affected regions across the continent. This is their story.