Background
1. The United Nations policy on mine action stresses that the development of national capacity to plan, manage, and execute mine action strategies at country level is essential to deal with the mine problem in the long term. Developing management tools, providing in-service training, introducing sound administrative and financial policies and procedures, and enhancing strategic and policy-making skills are basic to the success of this task. In this regard, UNDP has over 40 years of experience to draw on in building national capacity and national institutions.
2. Other unique features of UNDP assistance in this sector are:
a. A field network of 137 country offices with the ability to respond to Government requests for mine-action assistance.
b. A multi-sectoral approach to development, which permits UNDP-sponsored mine action programmes to be coupled with other kinds of assistance (i.e., rural development, refugee re-integration programmes).
c. An inter-governmental character, which has permitted UNDP to arrange for the rapid establishment of trust funds and the secondment of international technical support staff in response to newly emerging mine-action requirements.
3. In its resolution A/52/173, the General Assembly welcomes the efforts made by the United Nations to foster the establishment of mine-clearance capacities in countries where mines constitute a serious threat to the safety, health and lives of the local population. The resolution emphasizes the importance of developing national mine-clearance capacities. The UNDP Executive Board fully endorses the responsibility of UNDP for capacity building in mine-action, as summarized in document DP/1997/CRP.10.
Policy .
4. As part of the UN reform process, DPKO was designated the focal point for mine action, and established the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS). Accordingly, UNMAS established an inter-agency consultative process, involving UNDP, OCHA, UNICEF, WHO, WFP, and others to establish a collective, comprehensive and coherent UN system policy on mine action. The policy, titled "Mine Action and Effective Coordination: The United Nations Policy," clarifies respective agency roles.
5. Within the UN system, it has been agreed that the United Nations Development Programme is "responsible for addressing the socio-economic consequences of landmine contamination and for supporting national/local capacity building to ensure the elimination of the obstacle they pose to the resumption of normal economic activity, reconstruction and development. When applicable, UNDP will have primary responsibility for the development of integrated, sustainable national/local mine action programmes in situations where the problem of landmines is not only a humanitarian emergency. It will work closely with UNMAS and share all relevant information."
6. This policy requires that the broader socio-economic consequences of landmine and unexploded ordnance contamination be reflected in development planning. The obstacles that mines pose to full resumption of normal economic activity, reintegration, reconstruction and sustainable development can be significant. To this end, UNDP will facilitate the elaboration and implementation of comprehensive mine action programmes by national authorities. UNDP will also work to ensure that the foundations are laid for the creation of a national mine action authority and the development of local management capacity. In all instances, UNDP will promote complementarity and synergy between mine action programmes with related rehabilitation and development activities.
UNDP Approach to Mine Action .
Process
7. The United Nations policy, formulated with the full participation of UNDP, states that:
"Without prejudice to agencies’ existing mandates and accountability, all requests for assistance will be reviewed in consultation with UNMAS. When justified by the circumstances, and as a first step of a United Nations response, UNMAS should, as soon as it is possible and in consultation with the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator, organize a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral assessment to define the scope and nature of the problem, to identify constraints and opportunities relating to the development of mine action initiatives, and to make recommendations for a comprehensive response including institutional arrangements for the coordination and implementation of mine action activities."
8. To assist UNDP in meeting this commitment effectively, country offices should inform UNDP’s Mine Action Team in ERD as soon as possible, of potential and actual activities in mine action. This does not substitute for the existing reporting and management line through the Regional Bureaux. It will, however, permit the Mine Action Team to fulfill UNDP’s obligations with regard to inter-agency coordination and to provide technical advice and assistance in resource mobilization at the earliest stages of a programme when they are most needed. For example, tools such as start-up kits for database and information management have been developed and links to other useful agencies can be provided. Country Offices should avail themselves of this headquarters resource early and often.
Principles
· UNDP mine-action initiatives are further guided by the following principles:
a. Responsibility of States. UNDP recognizes that each affected State is responsible for clearing mines and unexploded ordnance contaminating its land, and works with the representative authorities for the long-term building of self-sustaining local institutions to address mine-action, involving, as appropriate, the public and private sectors. Further, the initiatives are strictly based on a civilian management approach, with the clear aim of building local skills for the management and implementation of mine action
b. Department of Peacekeeping Operations as Focal Point. UNDP will work closely with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations as the United Nations system focal point for mine action; its role of coordination and its focus on the Emergency Mine Action Programme (EMAP). UNDP will not be involved in emergency mine action.
c. Comprehensive Approach to Mine Action. UNDP stresses a comprehensive approach required to address the impact of mines effectively and decisively, and utilizes available international as well as local capacities and expertise during programme design, planning and implementation. The process involves a multi-sectoral framework, including rural development, community development and reintegration programmes to create stable environments in the region. This framework is built around a start-up, catalytic investment of seed resources in order to generate longer-term financing.
d. Framework. UNDP strongly encourages the national institutions to develop their mine-action programmes within the context of a development framework.
e. Cooperation. UNDP recognizes the role of other United Nations programmes, Non-Governmental Organizations and other organizations, and the need to establish and maintain cooperative frameworks. In particular, UNDP recognizes the responsibilities delegated to UNICEF and WHO for mine awareness and victim assistance respectively. UNDP supports adherence to international standards and best practices for mine- action.
f. Support for the Ottawa Convention. UNDP supports the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines, and on their Destruction.
g. Resource Mobilization. UNDP will utilize existing resource mobilization mechanisms such as the Round Table process, Consolidated Appeals (CAPs) and Consultative Group meetings. Identifying and responding to needs for assistance are the responsibility of country offices, led by the Resident Representative, supported by the relevant regional bureau and ERD. UNDP also manages trust funds at both headquarters and at the country office level in support of programmes, maintaining transparency in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.
h. Security. UNDP facilitates and supports mine action in areas that are secure and under the control of the national authorities. UNDP will not provide support to capacity-building for military mine clearance.
i. Exit Strategy. UNDP will disengage from a programme as soon as a country has developed sufficient capacity to address the mine problem.
Conclusion
With the endorsement of its Executive Board and following the guidance of the Secretary General’s policy for mine action, UNDP is now prepared to contribute significantly to the global, anti-landmine effort. This will be achieved by drawing on its track record in capacity building and its recently established mine action expertise, to assist countries in establishing sustainable national capabilities to combat landmine contamination in the long term.
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