Context

In mid-2006 the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) was asked to assess the possibility of acting as an implementing partner on behalf of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) for a project called "Integrated Support to the regional office in Beira of the National Institute for Demining (IND)". Based on a desk study and a field visit to Mozambique in November 2006, the FSD established a positive agreement with ADA and consequently signed a contract to serve as its implementing partner. The project will be carried out over the course of two years, starting in January 2007.

Mines and Unexploded Ordnance

Mozambique suffers from a large, widespread landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) problem. Landmines were laid over an extended period of time starting during the war of independence some 30 years ago and continuing through subsequent years of civil conflict and border incursions from neighbouring countries. Although most areas of the country are not heavily mined, the presence, or perceived presence, of landmines and UXO remains a significant obstacle to development and reconstruction in rural areas. Furthermore, broader development activities associated with the government’s National Program for Reduction of Absolute Poverty (known by the Portuguese acronym PARPA) have been hampered by the presence of landmines.

Our programme

Our programme aims to support the IND regional office in Beira in two crucial areas:

1) To strengthen its capacity to fulfil its role of providing overall leadership in all areas of mine action, including: clearance, victim assistance, mine risk education, and surveys/marking in the provinces of Tete, Manica and Sofala.

2) To continue the ongoing support and development of IND Regional Office Quality Assurance and Quality Control Capacity activities in order to ensure that all clearance operations carried out in the province meet the requirements set forth in national and international Mine Action Standards.

This project is part of an overall strategy aimed at reinforcing Mozambique’s national mine clearance capacity while helping to decentralise the management and control of all mine action activities.

Support