Italy
Support for Mine Action
In 2019, the Republic of Italy contributed €4.6 million (more than US$5 million)[1] in mine action funding to nine countries as well as global activities.
The largest contributions went to Afghanistan and Iraq, each receiving a contribution of €700,000 (some $780,000).
Overall, Italy allocated €0.9 million ($1 million)—20% of Italy’s total mine action funding—to victim assistance programs in Afghanistan and Somalia. Approximately €0.8 million ($0.9 million) went to clearance and risk education activities in Iraq and Palestine, accounting for 18% of its total contribution.
A further €371,000 (some $400,000 or 8% of its total contribution), designated as “global” in the table below, was provided to institutions and non-government organizations, without a designated recipient state or area.
More than half of Italy’s contribution, €2.5 million (some $2.8 million), supported clearance, risk education and victim assistance activities in Colombia, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen, but could not be disaggregated by sector.
Contributions by recipient: 2019[2]
Recipient |
Sector |
Amount (€) |
Amount (US$) |
Afghanistan |
Victim assistance |
700,000 |
783,580 |
Iraq |
Clearance and risk education |
700,000 |
783,580 |
Syria |
Clearance, risk education, and victim assistance |
550,000 |
615,670 |
Sudan |
Clearance, risk education, and victim assistance |
500,000 |
559,700 |
Ukraine |
Risk education and victim assistance |
500,000 |
559,700 |
Yemen |
Clearance, risk education, and victim assistance |
500,000 |
559,700 |
Colombia |
Clearance and victim assistance |
425,000 |
475,745 |
Global |
Advocacy |
371,000 |
415,297 |
Somalia |
Victim assistance |
200,000 |
223,880 |
Palestine |
Risk education |
136,235 |
152,501 |
Total |
4,582,235 |
5,129,353 |
From 2015–2019, Italy contributed more than €16.8 million ($19 million) to mine action, compared to €10.4 million ($13.8 million) during the previous five-year period from 2010–2014. This shows the negative impact of exchange rate on the US$ value of Italy’s contribution (62% increase in national currency terms; 38% increase in US dollar terms).
Italy has steadily increased its annual support for mine action since 2013 (from €1.1 million/$1.5 million to more than €4.5 million/$5 million in 2019).
Italy expected to provide in 2020 the same level of funding as in 2019.[3]
Summary of contributions: 2015–2019[4]
Year |
Amount (€) |
Amount (US$) |
% change from previous year (US$) |
2019 |
4,582,235 |
5,129,353 |
+18 |
2018 |
3,656,000 |
4,320,295 |
+12 |
2017 |
3,415,000 |
3,859,292 |
+40 |
2016 |
2,484,785 |
2,751,154 |
-7 |
2015 |
2,671,863 |
2,964,699 |
+34 |
Total |
16,809,883 |
19,024,793 |
N/A |
Note: N/A=not applicable.
[1] Average exchange rate for 2019: €1=US$1.1194. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 2 January 2020.
[2] Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 25 June 2020; and email from Andrea Celentano, Humanitarian and Emergency Aid, Directorate General for Development Cooperation, Italy Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, 14 September 2020.
[3] Email from Andrea Celentano, Humanitarian and Emergency Aid, Directorate General for Development Cooperation, Italy Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, 14 September 2020.
[4] See previous Monitor reports.