Governments across the Caribbean Basin have successfully applied UNSCR 1540 to mutually benefit development and security sectors. As part of regional development efforts in the 1990s, governments of the Caribbean recognized the need to diversify their tourism-based economies. However, in the wake of September 11, 2001, these plans were jeopardized when the international community elevated mandatory security standards for cargo traffic.  As a result, Caribbean governments, whose ability to invest in further port development was exhausted, saw their economic development strategies eviscerated. Tapping into UNSCR 1540’s nonproliferation assistance has provided governments with new access to the modalities to not only resuscitate their economic diversification plans, but also meet global nonproliferation obligations. Click here for full text of our report.

Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization itself, the Middle East not only boasts the origin of many major religions, it is a part of the world rich in history, culture, and natural resources. Regrettably, the region is also afflicted with the internecine discord that all too often accompanies those physical and social attributes. Moreover, the Middle East is the very representation of the potentially daunting confluence of two insidious trends—global proliferation and the rise of catastrophic terrorism. Using 1540, governments of the region could, for instance, identify novel streams of assistance—both technical and financial—to address capacity shortfalls in pursuit of safe nuclear power generation. Click here for full text of our report.

Inadequate public health infrastructures and disease surveillance, small arms trafficking and terrorism are major contributors to the shackles of poverty in East Africa. At the same time, the global economic downturn threatens the flow of developed countries assistance in to the region, which in turn could hamper progress toward the Millennium Development Goals. Increased and novel streams of assistance are available under UNSCR 1540 and offers the sub-region capacity-building opportunities all three areas of regional security and development concern. Click here for full text of our report.

Regional organizations are important pieces of the puzzle when considering implementation of any global mandate. UNSCR 1540 is no different. This study analyzes the prospects of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the League of Arab States to assist their members in complying with Resolution 1540. Former Director General of the IAEA, Dr. Hans Blix, calls this report a “welcomed addition in the vast literature on nonproliferation.” Click here for full text of the report.

With a track record of success stories, MAB’s Beyond Boundaries Initiative seeks to forge new partnerships and promote the multifaceted benefits of UNSCR 1540. As demonstrated, the initiative has made significant strides in ensuring that international assistance efforts can be utilized in the most flexible manner, that scare resources do not go to waste, and that one country’s advances do not immediately undercut neighboring interests. MAB looks forward to bringing the program, and the advantages of UNSCR 1540, to Southeast Asia and the Andean Region in the coming year.