Guidance

Counter Proliferation Programme guidance 2025 to 2026

Updated 20 December 2024

1. Executive summary

Counter proliferation is integral to the UK’s security and prosperity. The government’s strategic approach to international security and counter proliferation is set out in the 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy (IR). The Integrated Review Refresh 2023 (IR2023) was published to reflect changes in the global context since 2021 and highlights the government’s vision for the UK’s role in the world over the next decade and the actions it will take to 2025.

The Counter Proliferation Programme is managed by the Counter Proliferation and Arms Control Centre (CPACC). This programme is the only dedicated fund across government supporting counter proliferation activity. Through the Counter Proliferation Programme, the UK seeks to maintain a leading role in defending and strengthening international counter proliferation architecture and its implementation; and increase international action against the most acute counter proliferation threats.

The annex provides more detail on our programme priorities for financial year 2025 to 2026.

The Counter Proliferation Programme is managed under the Programme Operating Framework, through its 10 programming principles and 29 mandatory rules.

2. Call for bids for financial year 2025 to 2026

Bids for projects must be submitted by 11:59pm UK time on 16 February 2025.

Eligible projects can be single state, multi-country, regional or global in scope. For financial year 2025 to 2026, the CPACC Programme Board will prioritise bids of approximately £100,000 to £300,000 which can demonstrate real impact in support of UK strategic objectives.

The Programme Board welcomes bids that follow a consortium approach or are from a single institution or organisation. No organisation can financially profit from receiving grant funding.

Proposals from for-profit organisations for grant funding can only be considered if an officially-registered non-profit making arm, or division of the for-profit organisation, will deliver the project. The Programme Board reserves the right to consider other projects outside the timings stated in the timeline at 3.1.

For financial year 2025 to 2026, the programme is not able to fund projects which qualify for Official Development Assistance (ODA). More detail on the criteria for ODA is provided by the OECD at Official Development Assistance (ODA) - OECD.

We recommend that potential applicants discuss project ideas with the CPACC before preparing and submitting bids.

3. Operational arrangements

3.1 Timeline

Programme activity	Timing
Bid deadline	16 February 2025
Communication of bid results	By 14 April 2025

3.2 Bid requirements

Bids must include:

• a fully completed project proposal form including a theory of change and a draft results framework
• a full activity-based budget

3.3 Project budget

Budgets must profile detailed expenditure as accurately as possible, and align it to intended activity and impact, to enable robust financial monitoring throughout the year. All bids should be submitted in GB pounds sterling.

It is mandatory requirement that all programme activity must be completed by the end of the UK financial year (31 March 2026).

FCDO can only pay for costs that are incurred after signature and between the start and end date stated in a funding agreement or contract. The duration and value of all funding arrangements must be fully covered by an approved budget.

3.4 Project impact

Each project proposal must detail how it will measure demonstrable impact in support of the Programme’s Intended Policy Outcomes. All bids are required to include a theory of change, results framework, and a plan for monitoring and evaluating impact.

Activity based budgets could include an element of spend within the project bid to cover the costs of monitoring and evaluation of project outcomes during the project lifecycle. Further details of monitoring and evaluation requirements and guidance is in section 3.7 below and in the Programme Operating Framework.

3.5 Risk analysis and management

The Programme Board monitors spend throughout the year to manage any financial risk and uses progress reports from each project to monitor the risks both to projects and the overall programme. Projects should ensure that their bids include clear risk management, particularly risks with the potential to affect impact and the wider programme, including the risks of:

• variable or reduced engagement of key stakeholders
• the project failing to deliver impact
• any agreed outputs or objectives not being delivered
• the project failing to complete in the current financial year
• underspend and overspend
• any reputational risks

3.6 Assessment criteria

Each project proposal will be considered in line with the following criteria:

• strategic alignment: all programmes and projects must align with the Programme’s stated outcomes, as well as with Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and UK government strategic objectives. Proposals must provide clarity, coherence and clear benefit to the host countries or region and the UK. Project outcomes should be achievable within the financial year and demonstrate measurable impact, sustainability and scalability
• resourcing: demonstrable adequate staffing throughout lifetime of the project
• suitability: the implementer’s track-record, networks and expertise. Where possible, as well as adding value, projects should build on wider capacity building activities, not simply duplicate efforts already being undertaken. Where implementers have previously received funding from this programme fund, new bids should summarise the outputs and impact of those projects, and should include copies of project completion reports
• monitoring and evaluation: clear baselines and opportunities for beneficiary input, and transparent and robust processes in place
• risk assessment: bids must contain a clear, detailed budget, aligned with activities that demonstrate value for money. Strong proposals will spread activity throughout the financial year, spending to profile
• Due Diligence Assessment (DDA): a DDA will be undertaken internally by the FCDO to satisfy risk and mitigation requirements prior to signing a grant agreement or memorandum of understanding and before sanctioning project activity. CPACC will engage with partners to identify risks and mitigations for projects to improve delivery
• host government(s) or organisational support and engagement: evidence of wider stakeholder support and engagement is desirable. We will consider jointly funded projects
• Paris Agreement: all programmes (and the projects, interventions or events within them) must align with the Paris Agreement – and assess climate and environmental impact and risks, taking steps to ensure that no environmental harm is done
• gender equality: projects and their objectives must promote gender equality; or not contribute to further gender inequality. In assessing proposals, policy leads will be required to make a statement explaining how gender equality issues have been considered and how delivery of project objectives will address these issues

3.7 Programme monitoring and evaluation requirements

• monthly updates on budgetary position: implementers will be required to provide CPACC project managers with updated expenditure forecasts
• quarterly programme review: implementers will be required to submit quarterly narrative monitoring reports to the CPACC Programme Team to review, with particular focus on delivery against the project outcomes. These will feed into an overall quarterly programme review conducted by the Programme Manager
• end of financial year review: project completion reports will also be required for an end of financial year review of project activity, outputs and initial impacts of the programme’s funding

3.8 Programme Board

Bids require approval for funding by the Programme Board. The Programme Board is chaired by the Head of CPACC and formed of representatives from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) within CPACC.

4. Stakeholder management and communication

We expect bids to:

• demonstrate how the project will communicate with its stakeholders, more widely to other target audiences, and how these communications will contribute to project outputs and help to deliver project objectives
• identify the principal stakeholders for each project, how they have been engaged to date and proposed plans for future engagement
• to ensure that successes from the programme are celebrated and publicised through a range of media where appropriate

5. Other issues and information

We recommend that potential applicants discuss project ideas with the relevant policy leads in CPACC before submitting bids. Email [email protected] for contact details of relevant policy leads, or to submit general questions about the programme or the bidding process.

Annex: Counter Proliferation Programme strategic priorities

1. Relevant strategic and geographical priorities

Effective counter proliferation helps to maintain regional and global stability, reduces threats to our citizens and armed forces, facilitates safe trade for our industry and protects high-skilled jobs across the UK.

Changes in the global context since 2021, including events in Ukraine plus new risks presented by emerging technologies, demonstrate that international counter proliferation is more important than ever.

Other challenges faced included Russia’s use of chemical weapons in Salisbury, and chemical weapons use in Syria and Ukraine. In Syria, we will look to support the final, verified and complete destruction of chemical weapons. 

We must also:

• address growing threats from states such as Iran, China and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)
• respond to evolving threats including the illicit acquisition of advanced and emerging and disruptive dual-use technologies
• reinforce the global counter proliferation, humanitarian arms control and multilateral export control architecture against growing pressures, shaping its future in our interest
• keep pace with rapid advances in science, particularly the convergence of artificial intelligence and life sciences

In addition, the Integrated Review highlighted that it was likely that a terrorist group would launch a successful terrorist attack by 2030, and proliferation of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) weapons, advanced conventional weapons and novel military technologies will increase the risk and intensity of conflict and pose significant challenges to strategic stability.

2. Programme design

2.1 Programme strategic goals and sub objectives breakdown

For financial year 2025 to 2026 the programme is focused on ensuring impact in the following areas:

• counter proliferation norms and treaties function effectively and, where possible, have been strengthened. States’ adherence to, and effective implementation of, international security regimes, treaties and initiatives is improved
• the number of states taking disruptive action against the most acute counter proliferation threats has increased

2.2 Intended policy outcomes

The following information highlights the programme’s intended policy outcomes, including some suggestions for potential programme activities. 

Intended Policy Outcome 1:  Strengthened non-proliferation architecture and better implementation:

Counter proliferation norms and treaties function effectively and, where possible, have been strengthened; and states’ adherence to, and effective implementation of, international security regimes, treaties and initiatives is improved.

We seek to enhance efforts to uphold the rules-based architecture, counter efforts to undermine global norms, and support implementation and universalisation of non-proliferation and disarmament regimes. We will also focus on improving the resilience and capability of international organisations such as the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit (BTWC ISU), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).   

Themes and activities

See below the themes and activities related to this intended policy outcome:

• the Non-Proliferation Treaty is fundamental to global and UK security goals. Achieving the best possible Review Conference in 2026 is a top priority for CPACC. We welcome bids that could suggest what a Review Conference could achieve in the current geopolitical context, and to assist the UK in building a global consensus towards a successful outcome
• we welcome bids that identify how the UK and/or global community can best support the work of the IAEA to deliver its objectives
• Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has brought to the fore the risk of nuclear facilities in conflict/war. There is sufficient existing legislation, but we welcome projects to clarify its application, and/or explores practical risk management e.g. through norms and codes of conduct for reactor operations, emergency procedures, IAEA access, etc
• we welcome bids to engage, learn from and re-enforce existing nuclear weapon free zones and work towards future zones including in the Middle East
• we welcome proposals to support the work of the OPCW, including its Ukraine and Syria missions. We are particularly interested innovative methods, using technology to strengthen implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and support effective detection, verification and investigation of chemical weapons
• His Majesty’s Government is committed to holding those who use chemical and biological weapons to account.  We welcome innovative proposals which seek to generate options to hold users of chemical and biological weapons to account
• biosafety and biosecurity in the context of rapid scientific and technological advances are ever more severe challenges. We welcome projects to identify the opportunities and threats posed by the convergence of technologies; to propose proportionate and effective policy responses; to support implementation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC); and support the UN Secretary-General’s Mechanism for Investigation of Alleged Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons (UNSGM)
• innovative use of emerging technologies, such as AI, can strengthen implementation of international security regimes, treaties and conventions. We welcome proposals on the use of technology to enhance the implementation of the CWC and BTWC, and support effective protection, detection, verification and investigation
• across humanitarian arms control, we welcome proposals that:
  • support work to deliver the objectives of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, Convention on Cluster Munitions and Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. This may include work to better understand and address convention challenges in the current geopolitical climate, universalisation, or advocacy on under-addressed Convention areas such as CCW Protocol III. Note: The Counter Proliferation Programme will not fund direct mine action programming activities such as clearance, victim assistance and stockpile destruction, which the UK funds through other processes, but could fund other work in support of the Conventions
  • contribute to international discussions about the understanding and application of international humanitarian law (IHL) in relation to lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS).  This could include the scoping and/or develop of an instrument or manual constituting an authoritative and comprehensive statement of the application of International Humanitarian Law and agreed best practice to LAWS
  • support the universalisation of the Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA) Political Declaration. Activity could include one or more of data collection and evidence building; facilitating the sharing of best practice between actors to improve policy and processes; and embedding an international structure for long term sustainability
• on export controls, we welcome proposals that: identify ways to engage the private sector on how to synergise export controls with commercial interests; new technologies to improve export controls; address the challenges posed by emerging technology and ‘dual use’ goods; and incentivise more countries to participate in export control regimes.
• strengthening regional efforts to implement international obligations relating to the control of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and ammunition (including stockpile destruction) can ensure they adapt to evolving global challenges and priorities is important. This may include efforts that can support the implementation of outcomes of the Programme of Action following the 4th Review Conference in 2024 and objectives and measures of the Global Framework on Through-Life Conventional Ammunition Management. We are particularly interested in projects that have a focus in Asia Pacific or East Africa
• we welcome projects to drive the implementation and universalisation (particularly in underrepresented regions) of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). We are particularly interested in projects in Asia Pacific or East Africa. Note: the CPACC Counter Proliferation Programme will not fund projects related to the ATT which would be better addressed through the Treaty’s Voluntary Trust Fund

Intended policy outcome 2:  Increased threat reduction

The number of states taking disruptive action against the most acute counter proliferation threats has increased.

Themes and activities

See below the themes and activities related to this intended policy outcome:

• the risk of Iran developing nuclear weapons continues to be a major concern for the UK, which requires collective international action. We welcome bids to:
  • identify approaches most likely to build support for collective action to condemn Iran’s ongoing nuclear escalation including in multilateral fora
  • assess states in the region’s view of the risk, potential responses to such a risk materialising, and drivers of that risk approach including national experiences, key geopolitical relationships, and strategic foreign policy objectives
• encouraging dialogue between nuclear powers in South Asia, building understanding and reducing the risk of miscalculation
• we welcome projects that help prevent state and non-state actors from gaining the CBRN technology and knowledge required to create weapons of mass destruction
• we welcome proposals to improve biosecurity through capacity-building that enhances the ability of developing countries to detect, identify and respond to deliberate biological threats
• we seek to tackle the impact of disinformation on chemical and biological weapons. We will welcome project proposals on countering disinformation and improving standards for evidence
• sanctions are a critical counter proliferation tool. We seek to raise awareness and strengthen the willingness of states and their ability to disrupt illicit procurement networks, and the circumvention of sanctions and export controls
• a further priority is to raise awareness of the most pressing emerging and disruptive advanced conventional technology challenges to global and regional stability, and to build momentum towards concerted action. We welcome bids to:
  • generate open-source products on threats presented by specific emerging technologies and military programmes to regional and international security, and options to mitigate, that could be used as the basis for briefing international audiences, including at key arms control and counter-proliferation forums
  • create a tracker based on open-source information to show links between Iranian education institutions and Iranian state military and security apparatus to inform research security decisions