Afghanistan

Support for Mine Action

Last updated: 12 November 2017

In 2016, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan received US$57.3 million from 14 donors, an increase of 11% compared to 2015.[1]

The United States (US) provided the largest contribution with $29.6 million, which represents more than half of the total international mine action assistance in Afghanistan for 2016. Two other donors contributed more than $6 million each: Germany ($6.1 million) and Canada ($6 million).

Of the total contribution, 82% ($46.7 million) went toward clearance and risk education activities, 7% ($4.2 million) was for victim assistance, and the remainder ($6.4 million) went to other mine action activities that were not disaggregated by sector.

Victim assistance is integrated within the broader coordination mechanisms of the disability sector.[2] Consequently, overall funding to victim assistance is under-reported. In 2016, victim assistance came from three donors: Germany ($3.5 million), Italy ($553,600), and Norway ($144,753).

The Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA) is largely funded through international assistance, although in the past the government of Afghanistan has reported contributing to some specific projects. For instance, in 2015 the government of Afghanistan contributed $1.5 million for clearance operations in Logar Province, while in 2013, Afghanistan contributed $2.6 million for clearance of the Aynak copper mine.[3] No information on any national contribution was available for 2016 and 2014.

International contributions: 2016[4]

Donor

Sector

Amount (national currency)

Amount (US$)

US

Clearance and risk education

$29,566,000

29,566,000

Germany

Clearance and victim assistance

€5,500,000

6,089,600

Canada

Various

C$8,000,000

6,040,927

Japan

Clearance and risk education

¥342,094,387

3,148,301

United Kingdom

Clearance and risk education

£1,652,391

2,239,816

South Korea

Clearance and risk education

N/A

2,000,000

Netherlands

Clearance and risk education

€1,793,422

1,985,677

Sweden

Clearance and risk education

SEK15,000,000

1,753,545

Denmark

Clearance and risk education

DKK9,000,000

1,337,773

Norway

Clearance and victim assistance

NOK11,215,000

1,336,137

Ireland

Clearance and risk education

€850,000

941,120

Italy

Victim assistance

€500,000

553,600

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

Various

$232,232

232,232

Slovenia

Capacity-building

N/A

32,739

Total

 

 

57,257,467

 

Since 2012, Afghanistan has received more than $310 million in international assistance for mine action. Between 2010–2014, a downward trend had been apparent with a continuous decline in international assistance that dropped from $102 million in 2010 to less than $50 million in 2014.

In September 2015, MAPA noted that “While the APMBT [Mine Ban Treaty] work plan envisages a reduction in the funds required as the plan progresses, the funds received from donors in the past four years have decreased at a more rapid rate. If this trend continues, it is unlikely that Afghanistan will meet its 2023 deadline under the MBT [Mine Ban Treaty].”[5] In order to cope with the recent fall in international assistance, the Mine Action Coordination Centre of Afghanistan (MACCA) reported it has implemented new initiatives as part of its mobilization strategy, notably via the exchange of experience and the provision of trainings. In line with these efforts, the United Arab Emirates provided mine/explosive remnants of war training at its training center in Kabul, which benefited 8,622 Mullah Imams from 18 provinces between April 2014 and March 2015.[6]

Summary of contributions: 2012–2016[7]

Year

Amount (US$)

% change from previous year ($)

2016

57,257,467

+11

2015

51,689,045

+18

2014

43,973,822

-34

2013

66,733,076

-26

2012

90,585,225

-8

Total

310,238,635

 

 



[1] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Ditte Bjerregaard, Head of Section, Stabilization and Security Policy, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 22 June 2017; Germany, Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) Protocol II Annual Report, Form E, 30 March 2017; Ireland, CCW Protocol II Annual Report, Form E and Annex, 30 March 2017; Italy, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 20 April 2017; Japan, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 30 April 2017; response to Monitor questionnaire by Olivia Douwes, Policy Officer, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2017; email from Ingrid Schoyen, Senior Adviser, Section for Humanitarian Affairs, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 31 May 2017; ITF Enhancing Human Security, “Annual Report 2016,” April 2017, p. 25; South Korea, CCW Protocol II Annual Report, Form B, 26 April 2017; Sweden, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 12 April 2017; United Kingdom, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 30 April 2017; Canada, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 21 July 2017; and email from Steve Costner, Deputy Office Director, Weapons Removal and Abatement, US Department of State, 30 October 2017.

[3] MACCA, “MAPA Annual Report 1394,” September 2016, pp. 40–41; and MACCA, “Fast Facts: Mine Action Coordination Centre of Afghanistan,” December 2013.

[4] Average exchange rate for 2016: C$1.3243=US$1; DKK6.7276=US$1; €1=US$1.1072; ¥108.66=US$1; NOK8.3936=US$1; £1=US$1.3555; SEK8.5541=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 4 January 2017.

[5] MAPA, “Annual Report 1393,” September 2015, p. 40.

[6] Ibid., pp. 18 and 40.

[7] See previous Monitor reports. The total for international support in 2015 has been rectified as a result of revised US funding totals.