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Mine Action and Cluster Munitions Programme 2020-2024

The Netherlands sustains its support for a world free of the threat of mines and explosive remnants of war. Even years after the end of armed conflict, landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war pose a great physical safety threat to people. Furthermore, the presence of landmines often forms a major obstruction for stability, reconstruction and inclusive social-economic development in already fragile contexts.

Working towards a mine free world

With its Mine Action and Cluster Munitions Programme, the Netherlands actively contributes to the international ambition to reach a mine free world by 2025. Many countries have stopped using and producing landmines, but around 59 countries still face problems with land mines or other explosive remnants of war. Around 10 people every day are killed or injured by land mines. In 2019, this average even rose to 15 casualties per day. The vast majority of the victims—70 percent—are civilians, with 5 out of 10 children.

The use of (improvised) land mines by non-state actors and armed groups has recently caused a rise in casualties. The Dutch Programme aims to enlarge the physical security of people as well as their ability to use their land free of fear to lose a limb or their lives or loved ones. To clear land from mines and other explosives has a significant impact on livelihoods. It enables people to use their land, grow crops, sell them on the market and use this income to send their children to school. It also contributes to the safe return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes after conflict. Since 2012, Dutch mine action funding has enabled 96 km2 of land to be released back safely to communities.

Funding for Mine Action 2020 - 2024

The Mine Action and Cluster Munitions (MACM) Programme 2020-2024 runs from September 2020 until August 2024. Through the programme, mine action organisations receive a total of EUR 41 mln in funding, with projects being delivered across nine countries:

  • Afghanistan;
  • Iraq;
  • Lebanon;
  • Libya;
  • Syria;
  • Ukraine;
  • Laos;
  • Somalia;
  • South Sudan.

 The partner organisations under the current grant include:

The following activities are funded under this grant:

  • survey to map contamination;
  • clearing mines and other explosives remnants of war;
  • destroying stockpiles;
  • educating people on the risks of mines and unexploded ordnance in their surroundings;
  • providing assistance to mine victims;
  • strengthening the capacity of mine-affected countries to address the threat (through national mine action authorities and local organisations);
  • supporting the development of international standards;
  • strategic policy influencing.

In addition to our multi-annual funding, € 10 million is reserved for partners as contingency funding, which can be used to fund activities in situations that arise unexpectedly (such as humanitarian crises).

Support mine action activities and guidance mine action sector

In order to work towards a mine free world the Netherlands also supports the United Nation Mine Action Service (UNMAS). UNMAS has an important role in coordinating and conducting (through its partners) mine action activities, as well as the development of policies and standards that guide the mine action sector.

Support elimination anti-personnel mines

The Netherlands is signatory to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC), also known as the Ottawa treaty. APMBC  aims at eliminating anti-personnel mines around the world.  In 2021, the Netherlands is the President of the APMBC. As such, the Netherlands will host the 19th Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention, 29/11 to 3/12 2021 at Noordwijk, where progress in achieving a world free of land mines will be discussed with countries and NGOs.

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