Finland

Support for Mine Action

Last updated: 08 November 2018

In 2017, the Republic of Finland contributed €2.9 million (US$3.3 million)[1] in mine action funding to five countries. The largest contributions in 2017 went to Iraq and Afghanistan, both receiving the equivalent of more than $1 million each.

Contributions by recipient: 2017[2]

Recipient

Sector

Amount (€)

Amount (US$)

Iraq

Clearance and risk education

1,000,000

1,1130,100

Afghanistan

Capacity-building and clearance

900,000

1,017,090

Ukraine

Various

485,000

548,099

Somalia

Clearance and stockpile destruction

294,000

332,249

Syria

Risk education and victim assistance

233,000

263,313

Total

 

2,912,000

3,290,851

 

In 2013–2017, Finland’s contribution for mine action totaled nearly €20 million (some $24.5 million), this is 31% less than the $35.6 million recorded during the previous five-year period from 2008–2012.[3]

Whereas Finland budgeted funding for mine action in 2016, it was reported that payments could not be executed due to changes in the administration, and the prolongation of the tender-processes. Therefore no support was reported in 2016 and the 2017 total included some of the funding initially budgeted for 2016.

Summary of contributions: 2013–2017[4]

Year

Amount (€)

Amount (US$)

% change from previous year (US$)

2017

2,912,000

3,290,851

N/A

2016

0

0

N/A

2015

5,000,000

5,548,000

-30

2014

6,000,000

7,978,200

+4

2013

5,800,000

7,702,980

+7

Total

19,712,000

24,520,031

N/A

Note: N/A = not applicable.


In October 2015, Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs published the results of the evaluation of its humanitarian mine action policy. Among the main recommendations presented in the evaluation was that Finland’s mine action support should focus on “fragile states where it has an embassy” in order to better align with its development and humanitarian cooperation strategy as well as to be able to play an active role in advocacy efforts in the recipient countries.[5] The evaluation recommended the rapid phasing down of funding in Angola and Cambodia, which were among the main recipients of Finland’s support to mine action between 2011–2015 and received respectively $6 million and $8.8 million over that period.[6] The evaluation also concluded that victim assistance “should be removed from the humanitarian mine action strategy and placed within existing country development cooperation programs (health sector) and/or polled funding arrangements with ICRC where applicable.”[7]

In March 2016, at the International Pledging Conference for the implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, Finland pledged €12 million ($13.4 million) to support humanitarian mine action for 2016–2020, representing a drop of more than 50% compared to 2011–2015.[8] This planned decrease in Finland’s mine action budget is the result of budgetary cuts in its development cooperation appropriations.[9] For 2016–2020 Finland has planned to contribute to mine action projects in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, and Somalia, while funding to Angola and Cambodia will be phased out.[10]

In July 2016, at the Pledging Conference in Support of Iraq in Washington, Finland announced €10 million ($11.1 million) in new funding over 2016–2020 to support humanitarian and stabilization in areas liberated from Islamic State, half of which (€5 million/$5.5 million) will go to mine clearance operations in Iraq and Syria.[11]

 



[1] Average exchange rate for 2017: €1=US$1.1301. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 11 January 2018.

[2] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Mikko Autti, Desk Officer, Finland Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 10 October 2018.

[3] See Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor, “Country Profile: Finland: Support for Mine Action,” 29 August 2013.

[4] See previous Monitor reports.

[5] Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, “Evaluation of Finland's humanitarian mine action,”21 October 2015.

[6] See previous Monitor reports.

[7] Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, “Evaluation of Finland’s humanitarian mine action,” 21 October 2015.

[8] Statement of Finland, International Pledging Conference for the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, Geneva, 2 March 2016. Exchange rate for March 2016: €1=US$1.1134. US Federal Reserve, “Foreign Exchange Rates (monthly),” 1 April 2016.

[9] Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, “Finland’s Humanitarian Mine Action Concept for 2016–2020,” June 2016.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, “Finland grants additional support to Iraq,”20 July 2016. Average exchange rate for July 2016: €1=US$1.1055. US Federal Reserve, “Foreign Exchange Rates (monthly),” 1 September 2016.