The Genesis of Weapons for Development - A Disarmament Innovation that Transformed Post ‐ Conflict Reconstruction: The Case of Cambodia
Posted: 24 Mar 2017
Date Written: March 23, 2017
Abstract
This paper provides a description of the specific Cambodian context when we disarmed the Khmer Rouge and offered them development projects; together with analysis and Lessons Learned from many different countries about collecting firearms and managing weapons.
Weapons for Development (WfD) was first tested by the UNDP in Albania in a project led by General Henny van der Graaf, and replicated with remarkable success in Cambodia under the EU-ASAC project (1999-2006). In Cambodia, we literally exchanged weapons for development projects chosen by the villagers, creating a model and learning lessons that others can apply. For WfD you need a favorable political context, a professional mechanism to collect weapons, and also a professional mechanism to deliver development – practices that demand teams with totally different skills, but who need to work together. When a colonel tries to deliver development, the result is pretty unconvincing as we discovered in Cambodia and non-professionals equally should keep out of the weapons business.
WfD has become a familiar 21st century strategy, undergoing exciting adaptations in different cultures. This is the story of how we invented WfD along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Cambodia.
Keywords: disarmament, Khmer Rouge, weapon management, conflict transformation, micro-development, weapons-for-development, peace building
JEL Classification: O12, O35, N45, H84, F63, D63, D04, C78,
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation