Switzerland
Support for Mine Action
In 2012, the Swiss Confederation contributed CHF17,257,952 (US$18,404,555)[1] in mine action funding to 15 countries, to three other areas, to the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), and to the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD). The largest contribution went to the GICHD, which received 52% (CHF8.9 million/$9.5 million) of Switzerland’s total contribution for the year, a similar rate to 2011.[2] Switzerland is one of the largest donors for Somaliland through UNDP and HALO Trust.
In February 2012, Switzerland released its 2012–2015 Mine Action Strategic Plan. The strategy reaffirms Switzerland’s commitment to the Mine Ban Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Switzerland will continue giving its support to GICHD and the Implementation Support Unit on the issue of gender in mine action and accessibility for survivors to development projects, and to the development of national capacity and ownership in mine action programs.[3] In releasing its strategy, Switzerland said it expected to contribute approximately CHF16 million ($17 million) per year.[4]
Contributions by recipient: 2012[5]
Recipient |
Sector |
Amount |
Amount |
GICHD |
Various |
8,918,566 |
9,511,108 |
Global |
Various |
1,187,581 |
1,266,483 |
Lao PDR |
Clearance |
936,000 |
998,187 |
Congo, Dem. Rep. of |
Clearance |
918,750 |
979,791 |
Somaliland |
Clearance |
673,750 |
718,513 |
Libya |
Clearance |
607,500 |
647,862 |
Mozambique |
Clearance |
600,000 |
639,863 |
Sri Lanka |
Clearance |
580,000 |
618,535 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Clearance |
530,000 |
565,213 |
South Sudan |
Clearance |
468,750 |
499,893 |
Sudan |
Various |
291,751 |
311,135 |
UNOPS HQ NY |
Clearance |
250,000 |
266,610 |
Kosovo |
Clearance |
235,650 |
251,306 |
Colombia |
Clearance, |
234,648 |
250,238 |
Western Sahara |
Clearance |
225,000 |
239,949 |
Lebanon |
Clearance |
189,925 |
202,543 |
Myanmar |
Risk education |
149,000 |
158,899 |
Burundi |
Clearance |
70,000 |
74,651 |
Senegal |
Advocacy |
55,000 |
58,654 |
Niger |
Risk education |
49,073 |
52,333 |
West Africa |
Advocacy |
33,802 |
36,048 |
Chad |
Clearance |
32,206 |
34,346 |
UN Mine Action |
Clearance |
21,000 |
22,395 |
Total |
|
17,257,952 |
18,404,555 |
Besides the 52% that Switzerland allocated to GICHD, other contributions to mine action support included 38% for clearance and 6% for advocacy. Victim assistance and risk education received the remaining 4%. Handicap International and the ICRC were the only recipients of victim assistance funding.[6]
Contributions by sector: 2012
Sector |
Amount (CHF) |
Amount ($) |
% of total contribution |
Various |
9,001,636 |
9,599,697 |
52 |
Clearance |
6,579,712 |
7,016,863 |
38 |
Advocacy |
1,028,531 |
1,096,866 |
6 |
Victim assistance |
450,000 |
479,898 |
3 |
RE |
198,073 |
211,233 |
1 |
Total |
17,257,952 |
18,404,555 |
100 |
Since 2008, Switzerland has consistently contributed approximately CHF16 million each year (an average of $16 million) with the majority of its funding going to the GICHD.
Summary of contributions: 2008–2012[7]
Year |
Amount (CHF) |
Amount ($) |
2012 |
17,257,952 |
18,404,555 |
2011 |
15,534,954 |
17,529,851 |
2010 |
16,375,420 |
15,697,297 |
2009 |
16,243,958 |
14,957,604 |
2008 |
16,341,060 |
15,108,229 |
Total |
81,753,344 |
81,697,536 |
[1] Average exchange rate for 2012: US$1=CHF0.9377. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2013.
[2] Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 30 April 2013.
[3] “Mine Action Strategy of the Swiss Federation 2012 - 2015,” Berne, April 2012, pp. 16–18.
[4] Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, “Federal government demining strategy, 2012 to 2015,” Press Release, Berne, 4 April 2012.
[5] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Claudia Moser, Section for Multilateral Peace Policy, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland, 22 March 2013.
[6] Ibid.
[7] See Landmine Monitor reports 2008–2011; and ICBL-CMC, “Country Profile: Switzerland: Support for Mine Action,” 10 September 2012.