THE UNITED NATIONS FOCAL POINT FOR MINE ACTION
UNMAS was created in 1997 as the focal point for mine action within the United Nations system. UNMAS coordinates United Nations mine action entities to ensure a coherent and effective approach to reducing the impact of explosive remnants of war (ERW). UNMAS works with partners at field and headquarters level to ensure that humanitarian priorities are upheld and duplication of effort is avoided through effective coordination and dialogue.
As the focal point, UNMAS chairs the United Nations Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action (IACG-MA), comprising 12 United Nations entities1 that work together on issues related to mine action. The IACG-MA meets monthly at working level and as required at Principals level.
When the IACG-MA adopted the Strategy of the United Nations on Mine Action 2013-2018, Principals emphasized the importance for United Nations entities to monitor progress made against the Strategy. This would enable the United Nations to demonstrate accountability and transparency, and advance evidence-based policymaking and results-based management. UNMAS was designated by the IACG-MA to lead the development and management of the M&E Mechanism. Funding was provided by Australia, Denmark and the Kingdom of the Netherlands has been critical to the success of the design, pilot and launch phases of the M&E Mechanism.
During the year, overseen by the IACG-MA, the UNMAS M&E team held over 45 bilateral meetings with stakeholders, monthly interagency review meetings and on five occasions UNMAS and the IACG-MA briefed external stakeholders as part of broader consultations to reinforce transparency. In developing the M&E Mechanism, a total of 24 United Nations mine action programmes engaged in the consultation process. A four-month pilot of the M&E Mechanism was conducted from January to April 2014. Lessons learned from the pilot phase further informed the survey instrument.
The M&E Mechanism was officially launched in July 2014. By the end of the first round of data collection in late 2014, the survey had been distributed to 38 mine-affected countries with 14 United Nations programmes participating. Agencies coordinated with relevant counterparts on the ground as well as with national authorities.
UNMAS coordinated the drafting process and delivered statements on behalf of the IACGMA at all relevant international humanitarian law meetings of States Parties including the Third Review Conference of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) in Maputo,
Mozambique, the Fifth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) in San José, Costa Rica and the Meeting of Experts and the Meeting of High Contracting Parties of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Each year, UNMAS organises the International Meeting of Mine Action National Directors and United Nations Advisers, which is co-hosted with the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD). UNMAS collaborated with IACG-MA members and GICHD to develop a substantive agenda of relevance to the hundreds of delegates who attended, including national directors, United Nations entities, implementing partners, donors and research bodies. In 2014, “Monitoring and Evaluation” was chosen as the theme of the meeting, providing an opportunity to formally introduce the M&E Mechanism as well as share lessons learned and best practices in M&E. Furthermore, the meeting of the United Nations NGO Forum, chaired by UNMAS, held during this week provided an opportunity for focused dialogue between United Nations and civil society partners working in mine action.
On behalf of the sector, UNMAS coordinated the process of creating and publishing the Portfolio of Mine Action Projects for 2015, which presents the mine action needs of more than 20 mineaffected countries. Country portfolios were prepared through consultations at local level, and approved by UNDP, UNICEF and UNMAS in a joint process at the headquarters level. As part of the Portfolio development, UNMAS also managed the transition to new software and a redesigned website to offer stakeholders a more accessible presentation of mine action needs.
UNMAS role as United Nations focal point for mine action is also reflected through its lead of the mine action Area of Responsibility (AoR) within the Global Protection Cluster. This mechanism, overseen by the UNMAS office in Geneva, strives to ensure a predictable, accountable and effective mine action response in emergencies. Through the AoR, UNMAS ensured mine action was considered a key protection issue in humanitarian emergencies, either in situations of conflict or natural disasters in affected states. Consequently, mine action has increasingly been included in a range of humanitarian response plans. UNMAS leads field level mine action AoRs or sub-clusters in Afghanistan, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, occupied Palestinian territory, Somalia, and South Sudan.