Mine Action Project in Ukraine

Project summary:

The UNDP in Ukraine is leading a comprehensive 5-year mine action programme to address the extensive contamination of Ukraine with landmines, cluster munition remnants (CMRs), improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and explosive remnants of war (ERW). These hazards pose a considerable and growing threat to the civilian population and significantly impede Ukraine's economic potential.

The project aids the government in conducting humanitarian mine action to boost national capacity, facilitate access to safe land, and improve livelihoods and basic services. It aims to reduce risks, enhance the quality of mine victims' lives, and support safe returns of people and recovery of areas through coordinating responses, advising on strategies, and providing technical assistance, expertise, and specialized equipment. It also leverages innovative technologies like satellite imagery, remote sensing, AI, and machine learning.

The project is funded by the governments of Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Project goals:

  • Strengthening nationally owned mine action capacity through improved governance, coordination and digital solutions.
  • Integration of mine action with humanitarian and development plans.
  • Enabling critical and social infrastructure restoration. 
  • Improvement of quality of life of explosive ordnance victims.
  • Promotion of explosive ordnance risk education in affected communities.
  • Accelerating the return of agricultural lands to productive use and minimizing the socio-economic impact of mines and unexploded ordnance.

Expected results:

  • National mine action authorities are strengthened through improved government coordination and international cooperation and exchange, and the development of the National Mine Action Strategy, Operational Planning, and National Mine Action Standards.
  • National authorities have timely and accurate access to required data and information managements systems for effective and efficient planning, prioritization, tasking and quality management systems for mine action.
  • Land is released back to affected communities for safe and productive use.
  • Local mine action implementers are strengthened through the provision of equipment and  training, as well as by research, development and use of innovative technologies, including remote sensors, animal detection systems, and underwater demining.
  • Victims of explosive ordnance and their families have improved quality of life and socio-economic outcomes via strengthened service delivery across local health and rehabilitation centres.
  • Risks from explosive ordnance are minimized through improved community awareness and protective behaviours.