SCRAPweapons

What SCRAPweapons does

SCRAP Weapons (Strategic Concept for the Removal of Arms and Proliferation) is a non-profit disarmament advocacy and research project established in 2017 and housed at SOAS University of London's Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy. The project is led by Director Dan Plesch and supported by a small core team of 3-5 staff plus annual cohorts of 15-25 Masters student project assistants from SOAS, with an advisory committee of over 40 former ambassadors, UN officials, and disarmament experts. Its core outputs are a Draft Framework for a Treaty on General and Complete Disarmament (consolidating provisions from INF, START, CWC, BWC, and regional WMD-free zone treaties), a Global Weapons Tracking Service web portal built with Worcester Polytechnic Institute that aggregates open-source weapons tracking organizations, and a portfolio of publications, video series (Disarmament Diaries), podcasts, and webinars. The project advocates for the convening of a Fourth UN Special Session on Disarmament (SSOD-IV) and a 'COP for Weapons' framework modeled on climate governance.

The organization operates as a civil society advocacy initiative that mobilizes support through open letters, petitions, webinars, conferences, and grassroots campaigns targeting governments, UN bodies, and the public. Its customer base spans UN member states, the Vatican, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, civil society coalitions, academic researchers, and youth activists. All publications, frameworks, and resources are distributed free of charge. Revenue is sourced from charitable grants and donations, with the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust identified as the primary funder, supplemented by the Marmot Trust and Polden Puckham. The project has no commercial pricing, no equity ownership, and operates as part of SOAS's Disarmament and Globalisation Project rather than as an independent legal entity.

Name

SCRAPweapons

Legal name

SCRAP Weapons - Strategic Concept for the Removal of Arms and Proliferation

Website

https://scrapweapons.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SCRAP Weapons is a non-profit disarmament advocacy project at SOAS University of London that promotes General and Complete Disarmament through a model treaty framework, the Global Weapons Tracking Service, and SSOD-IV campaign targeting UN member states, civil society, and academics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disarmament Advocacy and Policy Research

NAICS

National Security (928110)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Peace, Security & Arms Control Organizations (BPADAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disarmament, Demobilization & Reintegration (DDR) Programs (BPADAFAD), Missile Defense & Strategic Deterrence (Nuclear Forces) (BPAIAHAG)

Keywords

• Disarmament advocacy
• Arms control research
• Nuclear disarmament policy
• Weapons treaty frameworks
• International security

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Grants and Donations: SCRAP Weapons operates as a non-profit advocacy project receiving funding from charitable trusts and donations to support its disarmament research and advocacy activities.
2. Academic Institutional Support: The project benefits from institutional support through SOAS University of London, including student volunteer contributions and academic staff involvement as part of the Disarmament and Globalisation Project.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SCRAP Weapons (Strategic Concept for the Removal of Arms and Proliferation) is a non-profit academic advocacy and research project housed at SOAS University of London. It develops policy frameworks, including a draft Treaty on General and Complete Disarmament, produces research publications, runs youth engagement programs, and operates the Global Weapons Tracking Service. Its outputs are distributed freely to influence UN member states, civil society, and academic audiences.

Product overview

SCRAP Weapons (Strategic Concept for the Removal of Arms and Proliferation) is a disarmament advocacy and research organization housed at SOAS University of London. It operates as a portfolio of interconnected initiatives rather than a unified software product. Core offerings include Disarmament Diaries (digital storytelling with video interviews), Arms and Arguments (literature review program), the Global Weapons Tracking Service (web portal for weapons tracking organizations), and the Draft Framework for a Treaty on General and Complete Disarmament. The organization also produces publications including Open Source Investigations in the Age of Google and Masters of the Air, runs webinar series on verification and feminist leadership, and maintains a podcast series. These initiatives are supported by student volunteers and work toward advocacy for comprehensive disarmament at the United Nations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Disarmament Diaries

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2021Joint organization of webinar 'Advancing Integral Disarmament in Times of Pandemic' with Cardinal Pietro Parolin's support. The Vatican has publicly endorsed the #FreezeWeapons initiative and committed to continued support through newsletters.
• Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking relationship on disarmament research; joint publication on Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. GCSP Head of Arms Proliferation cluster Marc Finaud serves on SCRAP Committee.
• International Peace BureaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in global disarmament advocacy efforts. IPB Executive Director participates in SCRAP initiatives.
• Institute for Policy StudiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in SCRAP's network of disarmament and security research institutions.
• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint publication on 'Reintroducing Disarmament and Cooperative Security to the Toolbox of 21st Century Leaders'. SIPRI Director of Arms Control programme serves on SCRAP Committee.
• Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint project providing parliamentarians with documents on arms control and disarmament agreements to monitor government actions.
• Worcester Polytechnic InstitutecoreTechnology or IntegrationStudents at WPI Massachusetts developed the Global Weapons Tracking website in collaboration with SCRAP Weapons.
• SOAS University of LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution providing academic framework through the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy (CISD). SCRAP forms part of the Disarmament and Globalisation Project.
• Pugwash Conferences on Science and World AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirector of Pugwash Geneva Office serves on SCRAP Committee. 11th President of Pugwash is committee member. Collaborative engagement in disarmament advocacy.
• Canadian Pugwash GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization working on nuclear weapons abolition; collaborated on SSOD-IV campaign.
• Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in feminist leadership and disarmament initiatives; joint webinar series on gender perspectives in disarmament.
• Re-Imagining New CommunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization listed in SSOD-IV coalition supporting UN Special Session on Disarmament.
• Women Volunteers for Peace (WOVOP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenyan women-led organization partner in SSOD-IV coalition focused on peace and security.
• Uzalendo Afrika InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in SSOD-IV coalition representing youth leadership for peace.
• NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace, and SecurityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in SSOD-IV campaign for UN Special Session on Disarmament.
• OxfamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicy advisor on arms and Arms Trade Treaty from Oxfam serves on SCRAP Committee. Collaborative engagement in arms control advocacy.
• Pax Christi England and WalesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in SSOD-IV coalition; Christian organization working on peace and disarmament.
• Justice for AllminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in SSOD-IV coalition focused on human rights and peace.
• Moruroa e TātouminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in SSOD-IV coalition focused on nuclear testing legacy issues.
• Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNigerian civil society organization partner in SSOD-IV coalition; Transparency International Nigeria affiliate.
• Ágora MexicominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMexican partner organization in SSOD-IV coalition focused on peace and diplomacy.
• Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear WeaponsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian coalition partner in SSOD-IV campaign for nuclear weapons abolition.
• IPHRD-AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican partner organization in SSOD-IV coalition focused on human rights and peace.
• Thrive Together Community Based OrganizationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenyan community organization partner in SSOD-IV coalition.
• Jeunesse pour la Paix et le Développement du Monde RuralminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRural development and peace organization partner in SSOD-IV coalition.
• Reimagining New CommunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in SSOD-IV coalition focused on community-based peacebuilding.
• Menard PressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher providing generous support for SCRAP publications on nuclear issues.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Article 36: UK-based specialist NGO working on weapons policy, particularly around autonomous weapons and nuclear disarmament. Comparable smaller-scale civil society advocacy focus on specific weapons categories.

Direct peers

• Arms Control Association: Washington DC-based nonprofit focused on research, analysis, and advocacy on arms control policy. Closely comparable to SCRAP as a civilian advocacy organization producing policy briefs and frameworks on disarmament issues.
• Reaching Critical Will: Geneva-based NGO program of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom focused on disarmament diplomacy at the UN. Directly comparable as a small, expert civil society advocacy project operating at the UN level on disarmament issues.
• British American Security Information Council (BASIC): UK and US-based security think tank originally founded and directed by Dr. Dan Plesch from Washington DC until 2001. SCRAP's lineage and thematic focus on transatlantic nuclear and conventional arms control make it a near-direct successor organization.
• International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN): Nobel Peace Prize-winning civil society coalition campaigning for the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Direct counterpart in pursuit of comprehensive disarmament frameworks with global campaigning DNA similar to SCRAP's.
• Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs: Nobel Peace Prize-winning international organization of scholars and public figures dedicated to reducing the danger of armed conflict, with deep engagement in disarmament policy. SCRAP committee includes Pugwash directors and the 11th Pugwash President.

Broad incumbents

• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI): Swedish government-funded independent institute conducting research on conflict, armaments, and disarmament. Larger, more institutionalized research organization in the same thematic space with SCRAP's Director of Arms Control serving on the SCRAP committee.
• Royal United Services Institute (RUSI): UK-based defense and security think tank where SCRAP's founder Dr. Dan Plesch served as Senior Research Fellow from 2001. Larger, broader-scope security research institution in the same London ecosystem.
• Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF): Oldest women's peace organization globally, with active disarmament advocacy programs at the UN. Larger established peer in disarmament advocacy working with the same multilateral institutions.

Others

• United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR): UN autonomous institute within the UN Secretariat conducting independent research on disarmament and international security. Direct thematic overlap but operates as an intergovernmental body rather than civil society advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SCRAPweapons
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@scrapweapons3532
• Facebookfacebook.com/scrapweapons
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scrapweapons
• Instagraminstagram.com/scrapweapons/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SCRAPweapons