Netherlands
Support for Mine Action
In 2019, the Kingdom of the Netherlands contributed €13.3 million (US$14.9 million)[1] in mine action funding to 10 states and one territory, and for global activities.
The largest country-specific contribution went to Iraq (€3.6 million/$4 million), with two additional countries—Lebanon and Yemen—each receiving the equivalent of more than $2 million.
The Netherlands announced that it would provide €45 million ($49.7 million) from 2016–2020 to support mine action projects run by DanChurchAid, the HALO Trust, and Mines Advisory Group in 14 countries and territories.[2] Approximately one-fifth of this amount (€10 million/$11 million) will be earmarked for emergency response projects.[3] Since 2012, the Netherlands has been a strong advocate for a multiyear funding approach to mine action and has cited the improvement of administrative efficiency, the building of strategic partnerships, and the commitment to building national capacities as benefits of multiyear funding.[4]
In 2019, the Netherlands conducted an evaluation of its mine action policy. Among the main recommendations were to increase the focus on capacity-building and to facilitate synergy and integration between mine action and development activities. The evaluation served as a basis to elaborate the Netherlands’ new humanitarian mine action and cluster munitions support programme for 2020–2024, with a budget of €51 million ($57.1 million).[5]
Contributions by recipient: 2019[6]
|
Recipient |
Sector |
Amount (€) |
Amount (US$) |
|
Iraq |
Various |
3,551,794 |
3,975,878 |
|
Global |
Various |
3,367,236 |
3,769,284 |
|
Lebanon |
Clearance and risk education |
2,098,714 |
2,349,300 |
|
Yemen |
Clearance |
1,949,592 |
2,182,373 |
|
Afghanistan |
Clearance, risk education, and victim assistance |
1,031,732 |
1,154,921 |
|
Somalia |
Clearance and risk education |
539,905 |
604,370 |
|
South Sudan |
Clearance and risk education |
202,710 |
226,914 |
|
Syria |
Risk education and victim assistance |
202,450 |
226,623 |
|
Mali |
Risk education |
198,745 |
222,475 |
|
Kosovo |
Clearance |
90,126 |
100,887 |
|
Palestine |
Clearance |
55,808 |
62,471 |
|
Libya |
Clearance and risk education |
19,505 |
21,834 |
|
Total |
13,308,317 |
14,897,330 |
From 2015–2019, the contribution of the Netherlands totaled more than €90 million ($101.8 million), with its annual contribution averaging €18 million (some $20 million). In comparison, during the previous five-year period from 2010–2014, the Netherlands contributed €88.3 million ($117.5 million). This represents a 2% increase when expressed in national currency terms, but a 13% decrease after conversion into US dollars (a $15.7 million drop). This shows the impact of exchange rates fluctuations on the US dollar value of the country’s contributions.
Summary of contributions: 2015–2019[7]
|
Year |
Amount (€) |
Amount ($) |
% change from previous year ($) |
|
2019 |
13,308,317 |
14,897,330 |
-23 |
|
2018 |
16,377,903 |
19,353,767 |
+1 |
|
2017 |
16,964,186 |
19,171,227 |
-24 |
|
2016 |
23,750,694 |
26,296,768 |
+19 |
|
2015 |
19,880,000 |
22,058,848 |
-15 |
|
Total |
90,281,100 |
101,777,940 |
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] Government of the Netherlands, “Netherlands wants to eradicate landmines within 10 years,” 20 July 2016. Average exchange rate for July 2016: €1=US$1.1055. US Federal Reserve, “Foreign Exchange Rates (monthly),” 1 September 2016. The 14 countries and territories are: Afghanistan, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen, as well as the Palestinian territories.
[3] Government of the Netherlands, “Policy Framework Mine Action and Cluster Munitions 2016–2020,” 22 March 2016, p. 6.
[4] Government of the Netherlands, “How to Get More Value for Money in Humanitarian Mine Action? Benefits of Multi-year Funding: Different Perspectives, Common Interests,” paper presented at side event by the Netherlands at the Mine Ban Treaty Standing Committee Meetings in Geneva, 27–31 May 2013.
[5] Statement of the Netherlands, Fifth Annual Pledging Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty; Geneva, 25 February 2020.
[6] Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 2020.
[7] See previous Monitor reports. The figure for total support in 2016 has been rectified as a result of revised funding data reported in the Netherlands’ Article 7 report for calendar year 2019. Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 2020.