Source description last updated: 25 July 2023

In brief: Small Arms Survey is an independent research project located at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva providing reports and updates on small arms and armed violence.

Coverage on ecoi.net:

Sudan and South Sudan Reports and Working Papers, Sudan and South Sudan Issue Briefs and Briefing Papers, other Reports as well as Annual Reports for countries of priorities A-C.

Coverage on ecoi.net twice a month.

Mission/Mandate/Objectives:

“The Small Arms Survey conducts extensive research on global trends in small arms and armed violence with the aim of providing international and national stakeholders with the data required to have an informed debate and make evidence-based policy decisions. [...] The Data and Analytics (DnA) unit's primary goal is to enable the broader small arms community (or specific regional and national partners) to use reliable and consistent information to make decisions. Projects and activities in this thematic area are primarily geared towards gathering and providing information and developing methodologies for research and analysis.” (Small Arms Survey Website, About the Small Arms Survey, undated)

For more information see the Small Arms Survey’s 2019-23 Strategy: https://www.smallarmssurvey.org/sites/default/files/resources/SAS-2019-23-Strategy.pdf

 Funding:

“The Survey depends entirely on external funding, and it is thanks to its donors’ support that it can carry out its operations. In 2022, the Survey was grateful for the unrestricted support granted by Australia, Sweden, and Switzerland. Unrestricted funding allows the Survey to maintain its institutional knowledge, react promptly to new developments, and explore innovative ideas in underserved areas. Additionally, in 2022 the Survey received project-specific support from the EU, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, the ATT Voluntary Trust Fund, UNDP, and UNMAS, as well as service contracts from several UN agencies and other partners.” (Small Arms Survey: Annual Report 2022, June 2022, p. 15)

A list of donors can be found on the website of the Small Arms Survey: https://www.smallarmssurvey.org/who-we-are/funding-and-finance

Scope of reporting:

Geographic focus: All countries; focus on Sudan and South Sudan, North Korea as well as North Africa and the Sahel-Sahara region

Thematic focus: Weapons and markets, armed violence, armed actors, regulations and controls, security programmes

Methodology:

“To understand the interaction between small arms demand and supply, the Survey conducts extensive research on conflict dynamics and drivers for violent extremism.” (Small Arms Survey: Annual Report 2022, June 2022, p. 5)

“Through its Data and Analytics work stream, the Small Arms Survey provides accurate and coherent information to governments, practitioners, and communities. In 2022, the Survey tracked, documented, and provided analysis on conflict dynamics and arms trafficking in some of the most affected regions, and developed online knowledge platforms that centralize all data and analysis on small arms and firearm violence. As part of these projects, the Data and Analytics team produced reports and developed methodologies at the global, regional, and national level.” (Small Arms Survey: Annual Report 2022, June 2022, p. 8)

“[...] the Small Arms Survey’s Policy and Capacity Support unit offers research-informed policy advice as well as direct support to partners in developing, disseminating, and implementing policies, practices, and standards. In 2022, the Survey provided support at both the national and regional level, including working with country delegations during the small arms control multilateral process, facilitating the development of national small arms strategies and NAPs, delivering online and in-person training sessions, and designing self-assessment tools.” (Small Arms Survey: Annual Report 2022, June 2022, p. 10)

“The Small Arms Survey emphasizes data-driven and research-informed policies and processes.” The Data and Analysis unit as well as the Policy and Capacity Support unit “worked to strengthen the evidence base for identifying lessons learned from previous mass proliferation events in order to draw implications for the current situation in Afghanistan and understand the risks of arms trafficking in the region. This included convening a closed expert workshop on lessons from mass proliferation events and policy implications for Afghanistan, and producing a restricted background paper on proliferation risks and control strategies. The workshop and paper contributed to defining future priorities for key international stakeholders in this area. The Survey received further funding to support work in these priority areas.“ (Small Arms Survey: Annual Report 2022, June 2022, p. 11)

“In 2022, the Survey maintained and consolidated the structure established the previous year: two programmatic units; an administration, finance, and human resources support unit; and a publications and communications team supporting programmatic outputs.” (Small Arms Survey: Annual Report 2022, June 2022, p. 15)

“The Small Arms Survey project works with a wide variety of partner institutions worldwide through collaborative projects. We are proud of our strong relationships with colleagues and departments within national authorities, regional and international organizations, and non-governmental partners. [...]. These international and local partners gather relevant data and information for the Survey’s various publications and work on collaborative research projects.” (Small Arms Survey Website, Our Partners, undated)

“In addition to the flagship Small Arms Survey yearbook - an annual review of global small arms and armed violence issues - the Survey publishes a range of periodic publications including Briefing Papers, Reports, Handbooks, a Book Series. We also have several series of publications developed by our focus projects - the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development, the Security Assessment in North Africa, and the Sudan Human Security Baseline Assessment - and a range of co-publications produced in collaboration with other organizations.” (Small Arms Survey Website, Publications by Type, undated)

“The Small Arms Survey tracks statistics on violent deaths and compiles them in its Global Violent Deaths (GVD) database. [...] The GVD database, updated annually, provides a tool for assessing progress in implementing Target 16.1. [commits all states to significantly reduce violence and related deaths] It contains data starting from 2004 and includes datasets on direct conflict deaths, homicides, and violent deaths by firearms—including the prevalence of firearms-related killings of women, as well as figures for women victims of lethal violence more generally.” (Small Arms Survey Website, Global Violent Deaths (GVD), undated)

“The Small Arms Survey’s Peace Operations Data Set (PODS) documents attacks on peacekeepers and other incidents resulting in the loss of arms and ammunition.” (Explanatory Note on the Small Arms Survey's Peace Operations Data Set (PODS), undated)

“The Small Arms Trade Transparency Barometer assesses the transparency of top and major exporters—states that are believed to have exported at least USD 10 million worth of small arms and light weapons, including their parts, accessories, and ammunition, for at least one calendar year since 2001.” (Small Arms Survey Website, The Small Arms Trade Transparency Barometer, undated)

“The Small Arms Survey continues to maintain its UEMS [unplanned explosions at munitions sites] database on an ongoing basis.” (Small Arms Survey Website, Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites, undated)

Language(s) of publications:

English

Further reading / links:

Small Arms Survey Website, Small Arms Survey Yearbooks, undated
https://www.smallarmssurvey.org/taxonomy/term/270?page=1

Small Arms Survey Website, Security Assessment in North Africa, undated
https://www.smallarmssurvey.org/project/security-assessment-north-africa-sana

Small Arms Survey Website, Human Security Baseline Assessment (HSBA) for Sudan and South Sudan, undated
http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/sudan-hsba.html

Small Arms Survey Website, Global Violent Deaths (GVD), undated
http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/tools/interactive-map-charts-on-armed-violence.html

Small Arms Survey Website, The Small Arms Trade Transparency Barometer, undated
https://www.smallarmssurvey.org/database/small-arms-trade-transparency-barometer

Small Arms Survey Website, HSBA Archive - Arms and Ammunition Tracing Desk, undated
https://www.smallarmssurvey.org/project/hsba/archive/arms-ammo-tracing-desk

Small Arms Survey Website, Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites (UEMS), undated
http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/weapons-and-markets/stockpiles/unplanned-explosions-at-munitions-sites.html

Methodological note:

ecoi.net's source descriptions contain background information on an organisation’s mission & objective, funding and reporting methodology, as well as on how we cover the source. The descriptions were prepared after researching publicly accessible information within time constraints. Most information contained in a source description was taken from the source itself. The aim is to provide a brief introduction to the sources covered regularly, offering information on relevant aspects in one place in a systematic manner. 

All links accessed 25 July 2023.