The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has been designated as a principal provider of mine action services within the United Nations system. In March 1998, UNOPS established a dedicated Mine Action Unit (MAU) with specific project management, technical and legal expertise. This unique combination of skills has enabled UNOPS to provide a focused capacity to support all aspects of the execution of mine action programmes. The MAU enables UNOPS to maximize its role as a service provider by implementing integrated mine action and capacity building programmes, principally on behalf of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Office of the Iraq Programme (UNOIP). The MAU plays a critical role in serving as a bridge from emergency initiatives to development projects.
The Mine Action Unit can:
- Manage the many resources required to carry out effective mine action;
- Identify and recruit international and national experts in mine action;
- Rapidly procure and deploy demining and other equipment to the field;
- Conduct tenders and draft contracts and agreements to suit any country;
- Provide technical backstopping on all aspects of mine action;
- Prepare grant agreements for support to victim assistance;
- Train nationals to ensure sustainability; and
- Facilitate the exchange of experience and best practices among programmes.
Through the provision of mine action services, UNOPS has been able to assist its partners to:
- Establish national mine action centres and develop national mine action policies and plans;
- Establish mine action information systems for priority setting and tasking, as well as for reporting information on the location and size of minefields, on the number of mines cleared, and on the number of mine incidents;
- Launch mine survey and clearance operations through the use of manual, mine detection dogs and mechanical systems in mine-affected areas;
- Prepare national mine awareness and advocacy campaigns to educate the population; and
- Strengthen medical, rehabilitation and vocational services for mine victims.
UNOPS has provided mine action services in eighteen mine-affected countries: Angola, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Chad, Croatia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea Bissau, Northern Iraq, Kosovo (FRY), Lebanon, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Yemen.
Last updated : 2 May 2002