In 2020, Japan contributed ¥4.3 billion (approximately US$39.4 million) in mine action funding to 20 countries, as well as to global activities.[1] In 2020, Japan was among the fifth largest donors to mine action.

The largest contribution went to Syria, which received more than ¥915 million ($8.6 million), representing 22% of Japan’s total funding.

Japan reported contributing some ¥965 million ($9 million)—or just under a quarter (23%) of its total mine action funding—through the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) to support mine action projects in Afghanistan, Nigeria, Palestine, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Syria, as well as some coordination/advocacy costs.

In 2020, Japan contributed $16.2 million to clearance activities in 10 affected countries (41% of its total contribution).[2] It allocated $1.1 million (or 3%) for risk education activities in three affected states, and $0.4 million was provided to capacity-building projects in two countries (1%). The remaining $22.1 million went to other “various” activities–including clearance, risk education, and victim assistance—which could not be disaggregated by sector (55%).

Contributions by recipient: 2020[3]

Mine action assistance approach

In May 2021, at the Mine Action Support Group meeting, Japan stated that is mine action assistance policy was threefold: providing support to seriously affected countries; promoting south-south and regional approached; and supporting mine victims.[4]

Japan regularly notes the importance of providing “comprehensive and sustainable assistance” to mine victims and survivors to “overcome the damages they suffered and restore their livelihood.”[5]

At the Annual Pledging Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty, held in Geneva in February 2020, Japan said that its mine action support was not only focusing on “mine clearance, but also on diverse domains including risk education, construction of schools and revitalization of economic activities, in order to promote stability and development.”[6]

COVID-19 and mine action support

Some projects supported by Japan combined mine action efforts with COVID-19 response activities in Afghanistan, Nigeria, Palestine, South Sudan, Sudan, and Syria.[7] As of May 2021, the disbursement of Japan’s mine action support had not been affected by the pandemic, but the implementation of some projects had been delayed.[8]

Five-year support to mine action

From 2016–2020, Japan contributed ¥20.4 billion (some $187.1 million) to mine action activities; this is a 20% decrease to its total contribution for the previous five-year period from 2011–2016, when it provided ¥25.4 billion, although after conversion into US dollars this represents a decrease of nearly 30% with $262.9 million provided. Since the end of 2012 until 2016, the decrease in the value of the yen has had a strong impact on the US dollar value of Japan’s contributions, as illustrated in the table below.

Summary of contributions: 2016–2020[9]

Note: N/A=not applicable.