Weapons Threat Reduction Program (WTRP), 2018-19 to 2023-24 – Evaluation Summary

About the evaluation

Global Affairs Canada’s (GAC) Evaluation Division worked in partnership with Goss Gilroy Inc. to prepare the Evaluation of the Weapons Threat Reduction Program (WTRP) for the period from 2018-19 to 2023-24. The objectives of the evaluation were to assess the program’s relevance and performance in delivering on its mandate and identify areas of improvement at the program and corporate levels.

Key findings

• The WTRP investments and activities are well-aligned with countering significant weapons of mass destruction and conventional weapons threats, as well as advancing non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament priorities.
• Project development and selection are guided by existing partnerships and consultations with stakeholders and are based on an assessment of need and an understanding of threats.
• There is evidence that the WTRP is achieving its expected immediate and intermediate outcome across its portfolios.
• The WTRP has placed a large focus on sustainability and has built lessons learned into project designs; however, there are limited opportunities for implementing partners to learn from and collaborate with other organizations.
• The program has made notable contributions to championing gender equality in non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament and made progress in integrating gender equality dimensions in its programming. The evaluation identified additional opportunities to expand programming in this area.
• The WTRP is well-known and regarded internationally but its visibility within GAC and among Canadian stakeholders is not high.

Recommendations

1. The WTRP should increase its profile and engagement with Canadian civil society and academia. This should be done with the aim of both strengthening project identification and development, and increasing the program’s visibility. The program should also take steps to increase its visibility within GAC and the Government of Canada.
2. The WTRP should increase the level of sharing of best practices and lessons learned among existing funding recipients and with potential funding recipients. This could include documented experiences and virtual meetings.
3. The WTRP should continue its advocacy with international partners for GE and its integration into projects. The WTRP should further explore opportunities for GE-rated projects in its programming, particularly in the chemical security portfolio. There are opportunities to build upon the existing work done by WTRP-funded partners and others regarding best practices in integrating GE into chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) work.