The Portfolio of Mine Action Projects is an annual compilation of mine action project proposals, status reports on countries’ landmines and explosive remnants of war problems, and snapshots of past and future efforts to address these problems. It is a unique resource for donors, policymakers and service providers.
More stakeholders, better coordination
What was once a headquarters-driven process intended to consolidate the mine action efforts of a handful of UN entities is today a field-driven process to integrate all efforts by all stakeholders in each of the 27 or more countries, territories or peacekeeping missions that participate in the portfolio.
Each country has a Country Portfolio Coordinator, typically a representative of a UN organization or a senior official of a national mine action authority. This Coordinator brings all players together to agree on which mine action initiatives should be supported and to ensure that all efforts reinforce national mine action goals. UNMAS coordinates the Headquarters Portfolio Team (representing UNMAS, UNDP and UNICEF) that provides guidance to Country Portfolio Coordinators, vets submissions and orchestrates launches and dissemination.
Broad range of participation
Twenty-seven countries and territories chose to participate in the 2010 edition of the portfolio. A total of 95 appealing agencies submitted 277 project proposals, with combined budgets of $589 million and a combined funding shortfall of $565 million for 2010.
Results inform priorities
Throughout the year, UNMAS tracks the funding status of projects in the portfolio and uses the findings to inform many of the United Nations mine action activities.
What’s inside?
Each portfolio chapter contains a synopsis of the scope of the landmine and ERW problem, a description of how mine action is coordinated, and a snapshot of local mine action strategies. Many of the strategies complement or are integrated into broader development and humanitarian frameworks such as national development plans, the UN development assistance frameworks and national poverty reduction plans.
What’s in a typical project proposal?
Each project proposal includes a description of objectives, targeted beneficiaries, planned activities, expected outcomes, the name of the appealing agency, a list of implementing partners, the total budget and the amount of funding requested for the coming year(s).
2010 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects Highlights
27 countries, territories, missions
This 13th edition of the annual Portfolio of Mine Action Projects features overviews and project outlines for 27 countries, territories or missions affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war.
277 projects
There are 277 projects in the 2010 portfolio. Africa accounts for the largest number: 103.
95 appealing agencies; one in five projects from national NGOs
The 2010 portfolio continues to receive a high level of participation by an array of appealing agencies, including national authorities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations and UN agencies, funds and programmes. A total of 95 appealing agencies submitted proposals.
More than two-fifths of the projects were submitted by either international or national NGOs. National NGOs submitted about 20 percent of all projects for 2010, either individually or as a partner appealing agency. International NGOs alone or in partnership with other institutions account for about 25 percent of all projects.
Record shortfall
The combined budgets of all projects in the 2010 portfolio total US $589 million. So far, about US $24 million has been secured, leaving a record US $565 million shortfall as of November 2009. Asia has the largest shortfall at US $372 million. Africa ranks second, with a US $167 million shortfall.
Clearance activities account for 68 percent of the funding shortfall—US $384 million. Projects that cover more than one pillar of mine action (which are labeled as “multiple” and often address capacity building and coordination) account for about 20 percent of the overall funding shortfall.
Afghanistan has requested the largest amount of funds—US $244 million—in this year’s portfolio. The smallest amount requested—US $327,000—is for operations in Thailand.
Contact: Aaron J. Buckley, UN Mine Action Service, New York, at +1.917.328.4508, e-mail: buckleya@un.org.
