3 December 2023
The first AAMVS 'Pilot of the Pilot' workshop, held in Accra, Ghana from 30th November to 1st December 2023, marked a significant step towards refining the AAMVS Self-Assessment Tool for its scheduled pilot in 2024. Engaging subject matter experts from Ghana, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and the Economic Community of Western Africa States (ECOWAS), the workshop aimed to gather valuable insights into the tool's functionality, question suitability, and the presentation of results.
During the workshop, subject matter experts provided comprehensive feedback on the AAMVS Self-Assessment Tool, addressing its functionality, question relevance, and proposed result presentation. This feedback is crucial for enhancing the tool's effectiveness before the 2024 pilot. The workshop saw enthusiastic participation, with experts actively contributing to discussions and providing constructive input. Two surveys questions on the self-assessment tool yielded essential feedback, highlighting areas of success and opportunities for improvement. Participants were surveyed on the AAMVS as a whole, emphasising its utility in arms control and capacity building for armed forces and police. The positive responses underscored the system's potential impact on enhancing the safety and security of arms and ammunition stockpiles.
The workshop laid the groundwork for the AAMVS self-assessment tool's pilot in 2024. The project team, represented by GICHD-AMAT, will further explore options for conducting the pilot with the same states, and potentially others from the region. Simultaneously, efforts will be directed towards proposing and adopting an effective system and process for its implementation.