ONGOING PROJECT

1. Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA)

(total budget: US$ 388,400)

Effective support is required for:

Harmonized legal systems and members of the executive as to the substance, procedure and practice of law;

Strengthened international cooperation in combating trans-national criminal activity;

Priorities are the upgrading of drug, crime and terrorism related legislation in the region, in a concerted and harmonized manner allowing regional cooperation, through the elaboration and adoption of effective domestic laws on MLA in freezing and confiscation of criminal assets, extradition and controlled delivery.

• GLO/900 - "Legal Advisory Programme"

This project assists countries in establishing adequate and functional legal frameworks for drug control and in implementing the international drug control conventions by: a) assisting the States to draft and adopt new and upgrade the existing drug-related legislation; b) providing specific training and direct operational support to prosecutors/judges in major drug related prosecutions and asset forfeiture casework; c) strengthening international judicial cooperation (e.g. international extradition and mutual legal assistance casework) among the States, particularly those of different legal practice; d) ensuring maximum application of know-how in the field to the assisted States.

The project facilitates accession to all the international drug control conventions, helps make them work in practice, and broadens their impact against drug abuse and drug-related crime. The work is done by a decentralized legal advisory team operating from Vienna, Tashkent, Bogota and Pretoria, with each field office budget under the GLO900 project.

2. Enhanced Information / Intelligence Collection, Analysis and Exchange

(total budget: US$ 19,630,000)

Bilateral cross-border cooperation and information/intelligence exchange mechanisms are being developed between Central Asian countries, Tajikistan/Afghanistan, Afghanistan/Pakistan, and Afghanistan/Iran.

All national and regional mechanisms, however, are in their developmental stages, and require further refinement to be fully effective at operational, tactical and strategic levels.

· The creation of CARICC ensures the more systematic collection, exchange and analysis of information to guide national and regional operations, and will help overcome the present lack of cooperation among agencies at national levels.

· In this context also, it will be important to continue to build on the experiences of the RER/F23 project for Central Asia in order to solidify the groundwork for a successful CARICC.

As part of the regional strategy, the cooperation of all countries in the region with CARICC, including Pakistan and Iran, will be defined, as well as between CARICC and other regional/international institutions that operate in drug and crime areas, including ICPO-Interpol, Europol, WCO and INCB-led precursor control activities.

GLO/U34 - "Trends M.A.P. Support (Trends Monitoring and Analysis Programme Support)"

In line with UNODC strategic priorities for the period of 2008-2011, the project provides support to UNODC's strategic theme II: "Policy and Trend Analysis", whose main strategic objective is: "Enhanced knowledge of thematic and cross-sectoral trends", resulting in a "Threat and Risk Analysis". The project contributes to the development and implementation of the related thematic programme framework, called Trends Monitoring and Analysis Programme (Trends MAP). The programme builds upon previous work undertaken by RAS in the area of policy and trend analysis and continues to be supported by a combination of regular budget and extra-budgetary resources (core and non core) provided under the present project.

With a view to simplify the administration of resources dedicated to this programme, the project consolidates and replaces four pre-existing support projects of the Research and Analysis Section dedicated to various and complementary undertakings in the field of drugs and crime data collection and analysis. All fall under the same thematic programme: GLOC92 - World Drug Report (since 1996) GLOC93 - Illicit Crop Monitoring Programme Support (since 1998) GLOH93 - Support to Illicit Market Studies (since 2004) RAFU09 - Data For Africa (since 2005).

This new project is submitted without developing a project idea, since it is in line with the objectives, outputs and inputs already approved under the predecessor projects and the policy and trend analysis thematic programme (including core resources) and does not introduce new elements at this stage, beyond an extension to cover the continuation of activities in 2008. In line with past practice, the project will use a rolling approach and maintain a two-year horizon through annual revisions.

RER/F23 - "Drug law enforcement systems for criminal intelligence collection, analysis and exchange"

This project has improved criminal intelligence collection and information management capacities, and established mechanisms for exchange, receipt and dissemination of information between drug control bodies. Specialized equipment and criminal intelligence analysis software have been provided by the project, along with basic training.

Currently the project intends to increase the initial life span and shape project activities to address new developments in Central Asia and the neighbouring regions. The project will add two new outputs that will extend the country scope and fortify past results of the project. The first of the new outputs will incorporate Afghanistan and Azerbaijan into the F23 project. The second will enhance the project's positive results by implementing additional intelligence-led policing components in countries that were involved in the previous phases of the project. The projected results will assure continuity and retention of trained and experienced analysts and operational officers, and ensure the professional and accurate use of installed equipment at law enforcement agencies in the region. The project will continue to contribute to establishing a solid base for law enforcement agencies in the region to become self-sufficient in collecting information/intelligence, and disseminating and sharing the data.

RER/H22 - "Establishment of the Central Asia Regional Information and Coordination Center" (CARICC)"

The project was launched in late 2004 and the decision was taken to break project into phases. This decision was based on the need to introduce step-by-step implementation of the activities of the project and due to limited donor funding at that time.

Consequently, during the first phase of the project, the regional expert group - Project Team comprised of one representative from each participating State has been established. It addressed the issues related to the development of the institutional documents, the identification and selection of the Centre premises. The second phase of the project initiated renovation of the premises, selection and recruitment process of staff to be seconded by each participating country to the Centre, provision of equipment together with other logistical and expert advice. Successful implementation of initial two phases of the project led to the endorsement of CARICC Agreements, which were then signed by the heads of the states. Ratification of the CARICC Agreement was initiated. On November 1, 2007 the Centre started its limited operations within the "pilot phase" pending CARICC Agreement entering into force.

After finalisation of the preparatory phases of the project there remains the need for full scale project implementation, as it was envisaged in the initial project document, aimed at supporting CARICC activities, providing training to the staff of the Centre and liaison officers, supporting its operations and capacity building efforts, as well as promoting cooperation of the Centre both with national authorities and at the regional and international levels. It is also important to ensure financial support to the Centre before the member countries would be in a position to gradually take over this function.

Due to the success of activities within the first two phases of the project additional donor support was provided, which exceeded the total budget of the project. This funding of $ 7,700,052 is sufficient to launch full-scale activities aimed at further development of CARICC infrastructure and its capacities. ( It says there is a budget shortfall of 7 million, but here is says that funding was secured. Which is correct)

The latest revision to the project introduced new outcomes and outputs/activities, increasing the project budget and extending the project duration until December 2011, to secure support to the Centre for the initial years of its operations.

3. Effective Regional Precursor Chemical Control

(total budget: US$ 5,221,900)

Priorities for UNODC are the linkage of national, regional and international precursor chemical projects, not only among actors in the region, but equally with third party initiatives, and with potential source or transit countries outside the region.

The regional effort will be focused on joint regional information collection and sharing, risk profiling and analysis, and joint precursor control operations.

RER/E29 - "Precursors Control in Central Asia"

The original project was designed to review status of precursors control measures  in Central Asian countries; identify problems of illicit diversion from international trade, manufacture, and from domestic distribution, and to establish adequate licit control mechanisms. Consequently this project focused on strengthening legislation, structures and human capabilities of the regulatory, Customs, scientific personnel and enforcement agencies, and on improving regional cooperation between relevant national agencies.  With the project and its first revision having established a functioning licit control structure in Central Asia, it is now evident that precursor chemicals are predominantly trafficked through neighbouring countries, including Central Asia, into Afghanistan. Therefore, and in line with UNODC's regional strategy for West and Central Asia, Paris Pact recommendations and findings of the mid-term project evaluation, the project shifts focus on measures in support of improved law enforcement operations against illicit smuggling of precursors in the region. Technical assistance will be provided to Customs and Border Guards at strategic border checkpoints and to mobile units to raise their precursor control/interception results. This project's inter-regional action will reach out beyond Central Asia and improve precursor control cooperation with Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and Russia.

EC Central Asia Drug Action Programme (CADAP), Phase 3 - XAC/J29 FORENSICS PROJECT "Support to Forensic Laboratories Capacity in Central Asia"

The project has been designed to strengthen forensic laboratory capacities in all five Central Asian states with a view to support national and regional law enforcement efforts to combat the illicit trade in drugs and precursor chemicals.

During the Inception Phase of the Project (first three months), an assessment of Central Asian law enforcement forensic laboratory capacities will be undertaken by the consultant recommended by the Laboratory and Scientific Section, UNODC, Vienna. The Assessment Mission will identify priority needs for equipment and training in each country, and recommend appropriate changes to the institutional and organisational frameworks in which forensic laboratories are working to ensure improvements in inter-Agency and international sharing of drug related data. The Assessment Mission will also make recommendations and proposals for a training programme for scientists of the relevant laboratories.

Following the endorsement of the Assessment Mission report by the European Commission, UNDP will procure and deliver equipment as recommended by UNODC, and proved related training. Each Government will sign Memorandums of Understanding's with UNODC on the maintenance of equipment, staff to be trained, inter-Agency and international sharing of data.

4. Strengthened Border Control & Cross-Border Cooperation

(total budget: US$ 39,335,260)

The main pillar of UNODC's drug control strategy in the region is strengthening border control of Central Asian countries, particularly those neighbouring Afghanistan to interdict illicit drugs and their precursors, and to facilitate increased licit traffic across borders. This pillar has several components.

· UNODC will continue to provide equipment and training, particularly computer-based-training, based on a 'train the trainer' model.

· Green border security is being improved through measures such as the establishment of mobile border interdiction units.

· Cross-border cooperation, especially with Afghanistan, is being promoted on the ground through the establishment of border liaison offices.

· At higher levels it is being supported through meetings, conferences and other mechanisms to bring relevant national authorities, international organisations and donors together.

This will have the effect of improving operational coordination at the national and sub-regional levels. Importantly, moving CARICC to the operational stage will increase the forms and effectiveness of sub-regional cooperation. To improve cooperation within the donor community, UNODC will continue to develop the Paris Pact database.

GLO/G80 - "Container Control Programme (CCP) - Turkmenistan Segment"

Increased participation in international trade is an essential part of sustainable development. In the framework of the project Turkmenistan will receive assistance to establish effective trade security and facilitation standards in their sea and dry ports as the UNODC Container Control Programme aims at improving the security in the containerized trade supply chain and facilitate the legal trade.

Establishment of joint inter-agency port control units, introduction to risk-based profiling of containers and improved information exchange at the national, regional and international levels will enhance the capacity of the law enforcement agencies in Turkmenistan to counter the use of containers for the transport of illicit goods, including narcotics.

The Container Control Programme encourages to forge partnerships between the relevant law enforcement agencies, and to develop closer cooperation and information exchange mechanisms and links to the trade and business community.

GLO/J33 - "The Paris Pact Initiative, Phase II - A partnership to counter traffic in and consumption of Afghan opiates"

This project facilitates the follow-up to the first and second Ministerial Conferences on Drug Trafficking Routes from Afghanistan, which were held in Paris and Moscow in May 2003 and June 2006, respectively.

It aims to positively impact the drug situation in priority countries along the Afghan opiates trafficking routes through a concerted identification of problem areas (both geographically and substantively) and actions required to address them, as well as through coordination of counter narcotics technical assistance.

To achieve these objectives, a consultative mechanism and an internet-based automated donor assistance database (ADAM - www.paris-pact.net) are continued from phase I (project number GLO/IO5) but reinforced in this phase through lessons learnt (e.g. external evaluation report). This second phase of the Paris Pact is brought in line with the UNODC Regional Strategic Paper for Central and West Asia, and as agreed at the Paris Pact Policy Consultative Group Meeting held in Vienna on Monday 27 November 2006, will aim to be operationally-oriented by: (i) improving the operational focus of the consultative mechanism; (ii) ensuring a more efficient/effective follow-up to the Paris Pact recommendations; (iii) ensuring wider use and sustainability of ADAM; (iv) strengthening of analytical capacities; (v) advocating a balanced approach to drug issues; and (vi) fostering partnerships with sub-regional, regional and international players.

RER/F43 - "Assistance in developing Controlled Delivery Techniques"

The project assists the MOU member states (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, and Azerbaijan) to set up and/or develop national mechanisms and capacities to carry out controlled deliveries. This will, in turn, enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies in the region to dismantle the criminal networks involved in illicit drug trafficking. The project also assists the MOU member states in improving their ability to detect sources and destinations of drug shipments, as well as to identify national, regional and international trafficking routes. By doing so the project serves as one of the key elements for effective implementation of CARICC initiative one of the objectives (Assistance in creating regional mechanisms for joint operations including controlled deliveries through the network of liaison officers seconded to CARICC from participating states).

RER/F60 - "Computer based drug law enforcement training in the member countries of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Sub-Regional Cooperation in Drug Control (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan)"

This project aims to enhance Governments' capacities to develop and implement self-sustaining training programs to counter drug trafficking, money laundering and related cross-border criminal activity through the application of a computer-based training program. The immediate objective is to introduce high-quality computer-based law enforcement training program in MOU participating states.

At the end of the project there will be a comprehensive ongoing computer based law enforcement training program in place that will significantly raise the level of skills, knowledge and awareness within the law enforcement community in all seven countries.

Within the framework of the project "Computer Based Training (CBT) in Pilot Regions" of Border Management programme in Central Asia (BOMCA), funded by European Union and implemented by UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia, the project will build training capacities of the Border Services of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan through the provision of renovated and equipped training classrooms, and the introduction of CD-ROM based interactive learning software.

KAZ/I76 - "Strengthening drug and related crime control measures in the selected checkpoints in Kazakhstan"

This project is designed to support the Kazakh Government's current efforts towards strengthening drug and crime control on the routes most vulnerable to drug trafficking. In line with UNODC ROCA's strategic programme framework for Central Asia (2004-2007), which refers to the provision of assistance to improve national and regional law enforcement capacities as an immediate operational priority, the project will improve the capacity of law enforcement officials posted along major transportation routes for identifying and intercepting drug traffickers through the provision of communications and other equipment, vehicles, training and expertise.

KGZ/I75 - "Establishment of Interagency Law Enforcement Mobile Groups in Kyrgyzstan"

Kyrgyzstan is being increasingly affected by the trade in narcotics carried out by organized criminal groups. Traffickers are deploying more vigilant, effective and aggressive methods in their operations and there are indications that drug trafficking through and into Kyrgyzstan is fuelling extremism and other criminal activities. In addition, related organized crime and corruption are adding to the political-socio-economic problems of the country.

Mobile law enforcement is currently recognized as one of the most efficient ways to combat organized and trans-national crime and mobility in law enforcement operations through the establishment of joint interagency mobile interdiction teams (MOBITs) is an accepted strategic objective of Kyrgyzstan.

The project aims at establishing 10 mobile units to be deployed throughout the country, which will be able to combat drug trafficking and organized crime, as well as to collect and analyse criminal intelligence information. The project will develop effective, intelligence-led mechanisms to fight illicit drug trafficking and other trans-national crime by providing for all aspects of technical assistance such as vehicles, equipment, intelligence awareness training at the front line, and multi-step training in criminal intelligence analysis at national and regional level. The teams will be accompanied by international law enforcement consultants who will mentor their work. Mobile team members will be selected from all agencies through a competitive, performance-based process and vetted by all-agency background checks and polygraph testing.

KYR/G64 - "Drug Control Agency in Kyrgyzstan - Kyrgyz DCA" (Phase II)

This project has been designed to establish and support the Kyrgyz Drug Control Agency (DCA) to become the lead drug enforcement agency in the country, and to develop sustainable capacities to maintain its operations.

An extension of the time frame is necessary to complete some planned project activities from the original project, delayed due to various unforeseen circumstances, including: changing of the top management at the DCA during the original project as well as a revolution in Kyrgyzstan, resulting in a regime change.

The current project will coordinate closely with a UNODC project that has recently commenced: "Establishment of Interagency Law Enforcement Mobile Groups in Kyrgyzstan (MOBITs)" (KGZ/I75), which expects to establish up to 10 mobile units to be deployed throughout the country, most likely under the coordination of the Drug Control Agency.

The main purposes of the current project are thus to (a) extend the duration of the project; (b) provide time to fully develop and implement an exit strategy; (c) increase staff levels at the DCA to fulfil growing analytical needs and needs of other new units, and (d) train units and officers, in close cooperation with bilateral donors.

TAJ/E24 - "Strengthening control along the Tajik/Afghan border"

This project was designed to improve the capacity of law enforcement agencies (1) to identify and intercept drug traffickers, (2) to store and destroy seized drugs; and (3) to effectively use drug-detecting dogs at border control posts. Although the project implementation has strengthened border control in Tajikistan, several of the initial project objectives were not achieved due to insufficient funding. The project plan was revised in 2003 to remain within available funding of USD 4,019,000.

However, the situation along Tajik-Afghan border changed considerably during 2004 and 2005. Large increases of opium poppy cultivation and opiate production in Afghanistan, particularly in northern Badakhshan, Takhar and Kunduz provinces with direct routes into and through Tajikistan, have increased the threat of trafficking activities within Tajikistan.

The impetus of the current project is (1) the recent structural and institutional changes in Tajik border control agencies and (2) the record high opium poppy harvest in Afghanistan. The project activities will be adjusted to reflect these changes and to expand the scope of the activities to account for the larger volumes of drug trafficking. The extension of the project both in terms of duration and in activities, contribute to the budget increase but the revision more strongly reflects the higher costs of project activities relative to the costs originally envisaged.

TAJ/H03 - "Tajikistan Drug Control Agency (DCA) - (Phase II of TAJ/D65)"

This project has been designed to support the Tajik Drug Control Agency (DCA) becoming the lead drug enforcement agency in the country, and in developing lasting sustainable capacities to maintain operations. The project can be divided into three phases which includes the new component of widening the geographical area of operational law enforcement cooperation: (1) Institutional building 1999 - 2003; (2) Reinforcement and development of operational Law Enforcement capacity 2004 - 2007; and (3) Strengthening national and international cooperation with drug law enforcement counterparts in neighbouring countries and regions 2008 - 2010.

The project was revised in 2007 but still retains all original project objectives, and amends some previous outputs and activities, while adding new ones. Currently the project aims to achieve the following: (a) improve international cooperation by increasing joint operational activities (b) strengthening national cooperation by increasing joint operational activities and having the DCA officers providing training to other Tajik drug law enforcement agencies (train the trainers) (c) establish infrastructure for information exchange among Tajik drug law enforcement agencies (d) extend the duration of the project in line with the continuing need for donor support to the DCA, (e) prolong the originally planned duration of the exit strategy in response to significantly changed external circumstances such as the massive increase in opium poppy cultivation and morphine/heroin production in Afghanistan during 2006 and 2007 and the withdrawal of the Russian Federal Border Services (RFBS) from the Tajik Afghan border.

In addition, two objectives have been transferred from AD/TAJ/E24 project as they relate to DCA. Those are (f) further development of forensic and chemical analysis capacities; and (g) strengthening the existing drug detecting dogs handlers' capacity.

The projected results will be assured continuity and retention of trained and experienced staff within DCA, through maintenance of grant payments and for the Government to assure DCA sustainability.

TKM/I78 - "Immediate assistance to Turkmenistan for the strengthening of activities at Imam Nazar checkpoint at the Turkmen -Afghan border"

One of the most important border crossings between Turkmenistan and Afghanistan is Imam-Nazar, even though the road infrastructure is extremely poor. This border crossing is confronted with an increasing stream of cargo and passengers but there are inadequate facilities, limited technical equipment and a lack of professional training available to Customs Officers and Border Guards.

This project aims at a significant improvement of interdiction capacities against illicit trafficking across the Afghan-Turkmen border.

UZB/J49 - "Strengthening Termez River Port checkpoint on the Uzbek-Afghan border"

This project is designed to support the Government's current endeavours by increasing the capability of border guards, customs and law enforcement bodies posted at Termez River Port checkpoint and improving their interdiction abilities relating to both drugs and precursor chemicals. This project will provide equipment such as communication means, detection equipment and specialized training in order to update and upgrade the expertise of law enforcement personnel. It also aims to improve cooperation and coordination between law enforcement agencies serving at Termez River Port.

XAC/I97 - "Pilot Project on Counter-Narcotics Training of Central Asian and Afghan Law Enforcement Personnel"

This project is designed to assist the NATO-Russia Council to deliver high-quality, professional law enforcement training to mid-level counter-drug officers of Afghanistan and the five Central Asian counties, in order to help them combat the threat of trafficking in opiates within and through their territories. There is an ongoing need for professional training in modern drug control and law enforcement techniques in West and Central Asia. This need has been recognized by the NATO-Russia Council, subsequent to an expert group meeting on Central Asia that took place in November 2004. On 8 December 2006, the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) decided to implement a mid-level drug control training pilot project in Central Asia and Afghanistan. The NRC approached UNODC's Regional Office for Central Asia to implement the project. The training will be provide by mobile training teams travelling to each country as well as in fixed training facilities in Russia and Turkey. UNODC will assist NATO experts to develop the curricula of the mobile training teams and organize the logistical support to the trainers and trainees.

5. Effective Responses for Drug Abuse and HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment and Care

(total budget: US$ 5,485,329)

UNODC/ROCA will focus on providing support to member states in the region in the implementation of

a) community centred primary prevention programmes;

b) HIV/AIDS prevention and care among injecting drug users, in prison settings and as it relates to trafficking in human beings;

c) drug dependence treatment and rehabilitation; and

d) monitoring of drug abuse, HIV/AIDS trends and services provided, as well as evaluation of responses.

UNODC/ROCA will help national counterparts and civil society organizations:

· develop and implement evidence-based programmes grounded on international best practices and guidelines;

· build capacity of programme planners and service providers to implement the various components of the programmes;

· foster partnership with civil society organizations, NGO and community leaders for delivery of community based initiatives;

· allow sharing of experiences within the regional counterparts and with other international organizations through networking;

· build capacities to monitor drug abuse and the HIV situation and evaluate the responses at local and national levels to improve their effectiveness.

GLO/E69 - "Global Assessment Programme on Drug Abuse"

In 1998 the Special Session of the UN General Assembly on Drugs adopted a Political Declaration to eliminate or significantly reduce the demand for illicit drugs by the year 2008. Monitoring progress toward this goal required reliable and systematic data collection on patterns and trends in drug consumption that was unavailable at a global level. To overcome this problem, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was asked to:

I. Assist Member States to compile reliable and internationally comparable data;

II. To collect, summarize and analyze data from Member States and report to the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) on patterns and trends in global drug consumption.

To respond to this request, UNODC developed the Global Assessment Programme on Drug Abuse (GAP) as a credible international follow-up to the Political Declaration of Member States to reduce the abuse of illicit drugs. The primary objective of GAP is to improve information on the magnitude and trends in global illicit drug consumption. GAP activities are carried out at the global, regional and national levels. The Central Asian region with its emerging drug problems was considered as a priority area for the working GAP and support has been provided since 2001 in building capacity of the national counterparts in drug abuse epidemiology and development of drug abuse information and monitoring systems. To this effect, GAP has been providing support to member states to build the necessary systems necessary for collecting reliable data to inform policy and action.