UNDP ARTICLE FOR THE LANDMINE MONITOR :
February 1999
The indiscriminate laying of landmines has created a long term development
problem in many countries across the globe. The United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) has a growing role in supporting Governments of mine affected
countries and local communities to address this problem.
The recently finalized United Nations Policy on Mine
Action[3] confirms the need for
a fully integrated response to the problems caused by landmines and UXO, which
incorporates mine awareness and risk reduction education; minefield survey,
mapping, marking and clearance; victim assistance, including rehabilitation and
reintegration; and advocacy to stigmatize the use of landmines and support a
total ban on antipersonnel landmines. The policy outlines the roles and
responsibilities of each of the relevant UN Agencies, coordinated by the UN Mine
Action Service.
UNDP is responsible “for addressing the socio-economic consequences
of landmine contamination and for supporting national/local capacity building to
ensure the elimination of the obstacle they pose to the resumption of normal
economic activity, reconstruction and development. When applicable, UNDP will
have normal responsibility for the development of integrated, sustainable
national/local mine action programmes?..”
To do this, UNDP helps :
Establish management infrastructures and institutional arrangements in mine
affected countries through providing information and technical support, and
management and training support for national personnel;
Arrange training for technical teams, managers and other support staff, to
build the national capacity to manage mine action programmes in the future;
Set up national data-bases and provide input into information systems linked
to landmine surveys and the identification and marking of dangerous areas, so
that there is clear data on the extent of the problem which provides the basis
for setting of priorities for all aspects of Mine Action;
Ensure public education campaigns form a part of overall capacity building
in collaboration with UNICEF, so that local communities are empowered to
minimize exposure to risk in their everyday life;
• Support victim rehabilitation projects at the field level, in
coordination with UNICEF and WHO, providing both medical assistance and
rehabilitation and socio-economic reintegration;
Empower governments and communities to carry out their own advocacy and
resource mobilization efforts to raise support from donor communities and to
assist with the establishment and management of Trust Funds, and the submission
of programme information to the UN Mine Action portfolio;
UNDP, with
its network of offices in 137 countries and its multi-sectoral approach to
development, is able to provide appropriately targeted support and training for
the establishment of national Mine Action Programmes. To provide direct support
to the country offices, who in turn assist National Governments in dealing with
this issue, a Mine Action Project was established with a small team of
specialist staff based at the UNDP Headquarters in New York. The team provides
assistance in areas such as technical advice, resource mobilization and advocacy
for a holistic approach to mine action. The Mine Action Team also provide
coordination with the UN Mine Action Service, other UN partners, the World Bank,
non-government organizations and donors.
Mine Action capacity building projects are in various stages of development
the following twelve countries:
Angola
UNDP took over responsibility in 1997 from the former UN Department for
Humanitarian Affairs (DHA) for a capacity building programme at the Angolan
Institute for the Removal of Obstacles and Explosive Ordnance (INAROEE). Since
its inception in 1995, INAROEE has established clearance brigades in seven of
Angola’s 18 provinces. Before the renewal of hostilities in December 1998,
clearance teams had demined 200 minefields, out of a total of 2200, freeing
access to water sources, agricultural land, schools and clinics.
UNDP granted $1 million to the 1998-1999 programme, while the equivalent
of $3 million was pledged by the Angolan Government. In the light of the
current security situation, the programme’s design and concept for
operations are currently under review.
Azerbaijan
To facilitate resettlement, UNDP launched a reconstruction project that
targeted housing, water systems, schools, health facilities, telecommunications
and power plants, and led to the establishment of the Azerbaijan Reconstruction
and Rehabilitation Agency (ARRA). A comprehensive mine action programme and a
National Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) were established to further expand
resettlement activities, with help from UNDP, UNHCR, the World Bank, the
European Union and other donors. UNDP support to this capacity building project
is integrated into a broader reconstruction plan that has attracted over $40
million from the World Bank and the Islamic Bank, following a seed investment of
$3.3 million from UNDP.
Bosnia & Herzegovina
In July 1998, UNDP took over the responsibility for Bosnia’s
demining programme from the UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO),
and has been assisting the governments of both constituent entities of Bosnia
and Herzegovina (the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika
Srpska) to develop a mine action programme, identify priorities and supervise
clearance operations. To facilitate contributions to the mine action
programme’s annual requirement of $10 million, UNDP established and
manages a Mine Action Trust Fund.
Cambodia
In November 1993, the UN Secretary-General entrusted the responsibility
for Cambodia’s mine action activities to UNDP. A capacity building
programme and a Trust Fund for support to the Cambodia Mine Action Center (CMAC)
were established. By the end of 1998, CMAC had received cumulative cash
contributions exceeding $48 million, through fund raising efforts supported by
UNDP.
CMAC is a national endeavour with an organizational strength of 3,000
Cambodian staff. In the past year, CMAC teams conducted awareness training
that reached nearly 360,000 people in over 1,700 villages. Through this UNDP
programme, donors provide military advisers and civilian technical assistance
for planning, management, finance, logistics and human resource development.
Chad
In 1995, the Government of Chad requested UNDP’s assistance in the
coordination of a national mine action programme intended to support the peace
process and facilitate humanitarian and economic development plans in the
northern region of Borkou-Ennedi-Tibetsi (BET). In conjunction with a US
bilateral programme to train 80 demining instructors, UNDP established a
National Mine Action Center, supported public education campaigns and is
training management and administrative staff. An additional 40 deminers were
trained in December 1998, and a Regional Mine Action Center is set to open in
Faya Largeau in March 1999, contingent upon available resources.
Iran
UNDP began discussions with the Government of Iran in 1996 to develop and
implement an integrated mine action programme, as well as set up a national
civilian capacity to deal with the problem on a long-term basis. An initial UNDP
investment of $200,000 led to a $3 million commitment from the Iranian
government.
A pilot project in Iran’s western regions is being planned to survey
and mark mined areas and begin clearance activities. To address its mine
problem, Iran intends to maximise the use of technology and mechanical
means.
Laos
Since late 1995, UNDP has been providing essential management and
institutional support to the Lao mine action programme, known as UXO LAO. In
1997 and 1998, UXO LAO provided over 370 nationals with courses in clearance,
medical training, community awareness, leadership and "training of trainers."
Mine awareness teams briefed over 230,000 people and over 450 hectares of land
have been cleared for roads, fields, homes, schools, water supplies and
irrigation systems.
UNDP also helped establish and manages a Trust Fund, approved in 1995, to
which it has contributed over $2 million. The Fund has received cash
contributions totalling over $6 million toward the programme’s annual
requirement of $16 million.
Mozambique
With assistance from the former UNDHA, the Government of Mozambique
launched an Accelerated Demining Programme (ADP) to develop a national capacity
in all areas of mine action. The programme was transferred to UNDP in 1997, and
a project was added to support the National Demining Commission (CND) as the
national coordinating body.
To date, the ADP has cleared over 2.7 million square meters of area known
or suspected to be mined. A library of mine-related information gathered from
the provinces through mine surveys and reconnaissance is also being established.
A UNDP project to clear the land surrounding the Massingir Dam is set to begin
in February 1999, to permit an $80 million refurbishment project funded by the
African Development Bank.
Somalia
To address pressing humanitarian and development needs, UNDP initiated a
project in Northwest Somalia, opened a school for deminers and trained over 60
Somali deminers and medics in survey and clearance procedures, in partnership
with the Somaliland National Demining Agency (an independent agency in the
Ministry of Rehabilitation).
The town of Burao and its surrounding areas were identified as a first
priority for mine clearance to allow the return of 25,000 displaced people and
the resumption of trade through the port of Berbera. Local and international
teams began clearance operations in mid-1998 and cleared over 78,000 square
metres of land by November 1998.
This project, to which UNDP contributed $400,000, is a component of a
larger Plan of Action for Civil Protection in Somalia.
Sri Lanka
When the Government of Sri Lanka requested the assistance of UNDP in 1997,
it funded a feasibility study and provided $300,000 in seed money to help launch
a pilot Mine Action Project (MAP) in the Jaffna area, as part of the Jaffna
Rehabilitation and Resettlement Programme. MAP is designed to confirm the
boundaries of safe territory and limit injuries by sealing off dangerous areas.
The Project will also clear schools and recreational facilities, to help
communities regain a sense of normalcy after the war.
Tajikistan
UNDP is working closely with the Government of Tajikistan to establish a
mine action cell and develop a framework for a comprehensive programme that will
include setting up information management systems and supporting mine awareness
activities as priority tasks.
Yemen
Although technical assistance was provided from March 1995 to March 1996
by UNDP and the former DHA, and support for on-going mine awareness and other
activities is being provided by UNICEF and Save the Children–Sweden
(Rädda Barnen), the existing mine action capacities in Yemen are not
sufficient to handle the landmine threat. A national Level One survey,
coordinated by UNMAS and implemented by the Survey Action Centre, is planned for
1999.
Following a UN Interagency Mine Assessment Mission in September 1998, UNDP
is currently finalizing a capacity building project to strengthen management and
institutional arrangements, in support of the government’s National Mine
Action Committee, decreed in June 1998 within the Ministry of State for Cabinet
Affairs.
This project will complement an ongoing $3.5 million programme funded by
the United States. UNDP is also establishing a mine action Trust Fund to
facilitate donor contributions, which have been steadily increasing since
Yemen’s ratification of the Ottawa Convention.
In addition, the Government of Croatia has requested that the UN support to
the Croatian Mine Action Centre (CROMAC) be transferred from UNMAS to UNDP, and
it is expected that this will occur during 1999. Further inter-agency
assessment missions, led by UNMAS in 1999 are expected to result in additional
countries requesting UNDP’s assistance.
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has been contracted to
provide project services for many of these programmes. Further information on
the specific achievements of the programmes is contained in the country
information provided in this issue.
UNDP’s role is not to engage in mine clearance itself, but to assist
Governments to develop long term capacity to manage, prioritize and coordinate
their Mine Action Programme. UNDP currently has a study underway, supported by
several donors, to assess the global training need for management and
supervisory staff and to propose options to address it. Existing national
training capacities and initiatives will be considered as part of the
recommended solutions. This study started in January 1999, and the report, with
recommendations is expected in March.
UNDP also has a role as a funding agency, having provided over US $ 10
million of its own funds as seed money to initiate programmes and activities in
a number of countries. In addition, UNDP is actively involved in resource
mobilization and coordination with the donor community supporting the
establishment and management of Trust Funds for Mine Action Programmes. It has
secured a total of US$2.65 million from the UN Foundation for the Socio-Economic
Reintegration of Mine Victims, and for Mine Awareness in Bosnia-Herzegovina. In
addition, the UN Foundation recently approved a proposal submitted jointly by
UNDP and UNMAS for the conduct of ten Level One Surveys in mine affected
countries via the Survey Action Center. The Foundation will provide up to
US$3.79 million in matching grants towards this important initiative.
UNDP seeks and supports partnerships with other organizations working in the
area of Mine Action – for example the UNA-USA, which has launched an
“Adopt a Minefield” initiative, the Marshall Legacy Institute which
is supporting the establishment of a K9 Demining Corps, and cooperation with the
Governments of the United States and Japan who are funding the UNDP project for
the clearance of mines at the Massingir Dam in Mozambique, which is a key
element for the redevelopment of agriculture in the area.
The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) is a
another important partner for UNDP. GICHD will provide information management
systems to all UNDP Mine Action Programmes in-country to permit better
coordination and prioritization at the country level, and with UNMAS at the
international level. Each year, the GICHD convenes a conference attended by all
Mine Action Programme Managers and their national counterparts which allows UNDP
staff and others to pool their experiences and lessons learned.
1 "Mine Action
and Effective Coordination: the United Nations Policy, A/53/496, Annex
II, dated 14 October 1998. This policy was welcomed by the UN General Assembly
in resolution A/53/26 adopted on 17 November 1998.