29th International Meeting of Mine Action National Directors & UN Advisers

Question 1

Opening Session

Question 2

Plenary Session 1

Answer

Enabled Sectors - Mine Action as a Foundation for Sustainable Development

Purpose of the session:
This plenary will demonstrate to the sector at large how mine action – anchored in national ownership – forms a critical backbone for sustainable development processes. It will showcase outcomes beyond clearance, such as restored agricultural production, access to essential services, building community resilience and renewed economic activity. This plenary will promote cross-sectoral partnerships and reinforce the message that mine action is a strategic investment in stability and human development, reinforcing the meeting theme of ‘one humanity’.

Moderator
- UN Assistant Secretary General and Director of the UNDP Crisis Bureau, Ms. Shoko Noda

Speakers:
- Social cohesion/border community resilience – Colonel Cletus Maregere, Director, Zimbabwe Minr Action Centre
- Forced displacement – TBC - Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Geneva
- Environmental Health – Mrs Karen Galokale, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, Government of the Solomon Islands and Dr Stacey Pizzino, University of Queensland
- Food security and productive ecosystems – Mr Dominique Burgeon, Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations in Geneva

Answer

Purpose of the session:
This plenary will demonstrate to the sector at large how mine action – anchored in national ownership – forms a critical backbone for sustainable development processes. It will showcase outcomes beyond clearance, such as restored agricultural production, access to essential services, building community resilience and renewed economic activity. This plenary will promote cross-sectoral partnerships and reinforce the message that mine action is a strategic investment in stability and human development, reinforcing the meeting theme of ‘one humanity’.

Moderator
- UN Assistant Secretary General and Director of the UNDP Crisis Bureau, Ms. Shoko Noda

Speakers:
- Social cohesion/border community resilience – Colonel Cletus Maregere, Director, Zimbabwe Minr Action Centre
- Forced displacement – TBC - Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Geneva
- Environmental Health – Mrs Karen Galokale, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, Government of the Solomon Islands and Dr Stacey Pizzino, University of Queensland
- Food security and productive ecosystems – Mr Dominique Burgeon, Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations in Geneva

Question 3

Side Events

Answer

- Lessons and expectations for the next CCM Action Plan

- From crisis to recovery: strengthening victim assistance for survivors of EWIPA and explosive ordnance

- Protecting civilians in Libya: The Skirat explosion response. Bridging Information and Operations (UNMAS Libya / GICHD

- Integrated, Environmentally Responsible Mine Action and Ammunition Management: Türkiye’s National Model for One Humanity

Room F

This side event presents an integrated approach to mine action and ammunition management, combining safety, environmental responsibility, and innovation. It will showcase national capabilities in safe modular storage, inspection and life-cycle management, environmentally responsible disposal, and mechanical mine clearance. The session aims to promote international cooperation and share best practices. It targets States Parties, international organisations, donors, and technical experts working in humanitarian mine action and ammunition management.

Participating organizations:

Republic of Türkiye Ministry of National Defence (MoND)
Turkish Permanent Mission to UNOG
Turkish Mine Action Centre (TURMAC)
ASFAT – Military Factory and Shipyard Management Inc.

Answer

Room F

This side event presents an integrated approach to mine action and ammunition management, combining safety, environmental responsibility, and innovation. It will showcase national capabilities in safe modular storage, inspection and life-cycle management, environmentally responsible disposal, and mechanical mine clearance. The session aims to promote international cooperation and share best practices. It targets States Parties, international organisations, donors, and technical experts working in humanitarian mine action and ammunition management.

Participating organizations:

Republic of Türkiye Ministry of National Defence (MoND)
Turkish Permanent Mission to UNOG
Turkish Mine Action Centre (TURMAC)
ASFAT – Military Factory and Shipyard Management Inc.

Question 4

Side Events

Answer

- From Hazard to Human Outcomes: Ukraine’s Explainable, Data-Driven Prioritisation with GRIT (RC Office Ukraine)

- Support livelihoods systems: Investing in safe land: practical pathways to support livelihood systems in the Horn of Africa

- Briefing from Mine Action Review on global progress in landmine and cluster munition remnant clearance and lessons learnt

- Assessing Global Progress and Field Realities in the Operationalization of IMAS 13.10 on Victim Assistance (HI)

Question 5

Plenary Session 2

Answer

Emergency Risk Education (EO and EWIPA)

Question 6

Side Events

Answer

- Mine Action and the Climate Question: What Responsibility Looks Like in Practice (MAG)

- Mine Action as a Peace Building Tool: The Colombia Transitional-Restorative Approach (Colombia)

- Partnerships for greater impact (UNOPS / Censcope)

- From Lausanne to Vientiane: Strengthening Gender Considerations and Diversity of Populations in the Cluster Munitions Convention

Room F

In the latest Action Plan of the Cluster Munitions Convention, adopted in Lausanne, States Parties committed to practical steps that integrate gender perspectives and the diversity of populations into all aspects of mine action and programming. As the Action Plan enters its final year of implementation, this event will take stock of progress and discuss ideas to inform the next Action Plan, to be adopted by the Third Review Conference of the CCM, in Vientiane.

Participating organizations:

Austria
Cameroon
United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)

Answer

Room F

In the latest Action Plan of the Cluster Munitions Convention, adopted in Lausanne, States Parties committed to practical steps that integrate gender perspectives and the diversity of populations into all aspects of mine action and programming. As the Action Plan enters its final year of implementation, this event will take stock of progress and discuss ideas to inform the next Action Plan, to be adopted by the Third Review Conference of the CCM, in Vientiane.

Participating organizations:

Austria
Cameroon
United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)

Question 7

Reception

Question 8

Side Events

Answer

- Localising Gender in Humanitarian Mine Action: The Ukraine Experience (UN Women / Urkaine Deminers Association)

- Re-framing Innovation in mine action: From global agendas to national leadership (MAG/Serbia)

- From Contamination to Recovery: Managing Explosive Hazards in Cities—Lessons from Iraq, Sudan and Gaza, with Insights from Other Urban Contexts (UNMAS Sudan)

- Cultural Heritage Protection in Mine Action (BlueShield)

Question 9

Plenary Session 3

Answer

From standard to practice: implementing the new IMAS land release framework

Question 10

Side Events

Answer

- One year on: mine action in Syria after the change in context – progress, gaps, and the road ahead (Syria MA AOR)

- From Guidance to Action: Emerging Frameworks and Global Coordination for EORE and CPP (NPA/EORE AG)

- Justifying and embedding environmental responsibility and long-term climate considerations into mine action programmes

Room E

To highlight how explosive ordnance contamination constrains early recovery in contexts where the full scope of mine action cannot yet be implemented, and to present adaptive solutions applied in Gaza under severe operational constraints. The event will showcase coordinated and integrated approaches combining enabling EOD, EORE–CPP, and victim assistance, demonstrating how these pillars work together to support humanitarian access, protect civilians, and enable early recovery efforts in a highly complex operational environment.

Participating organizations:

United Nations Mine Action Service
Humanity & Inclusion
The HALO Trust
Norwegian People’s Aid

- Stories of Resilience - Ukraine (WFP)

Watch session here

Mine-affected countries require tailored support across different phases of their mine action efforts, from emergency response to long-term development. This side event, organized by JICA with the support of MOFA Japan, with key speakers from CMAC and UNMAS, explores strategies to enhance national capacity through the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) nexus. Drawing from experiences in Africa, this session highlights best practices and discusses a roadmap for sustainable capacity-building and international cooperation. Japanese ambassador, Zambian ambassador and UNMAS Director will deliver their remarks.

JICA / CMAC / UNMAS / EMAO

Answer

Room E

To highlight how explosive ordnance contamination constrains early recovery in contexts where the full scope of mine action cannot yet be implemented, and to present adaptive solutions applied in Gaza under severe operational constraints. The event will showcase coordinated and integrated approaches combining enabling EOD, EORE–CPP, and victim assistance, demonstrating how these pillars work together to support humanitarian access, protect civilians, and enable early recovery efforts in a highly complex operational environment.

Participating organizations:

United Nations Mine Action Service
Humanity & Inclusion
The HALO Trust
Norwegian People’s Aid

Answer

Watch session here

Mine-affected countries require tailored support across different phases of their mine action efforts, from emergency response to long-term development. This side event, organized by JICA with the support of MOFA Japan, with key speakers from CMAC and UNMAS, explores strategies to enhance national capacity through the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) nexus. Drawing from experiences in Africa, this session highlights best practices and discusses a roadmap for sustainable capacity-building and international cooperation. Japanese ambassador, Zambian ambassador and UNMAS Director will deliver their remarks.

JICA / CMAC / UNMAS / EMAO

Question 11

Workshops

Question 12

Workshops

Question 13

Side Events

Answer

- Ensuring safe and credible land release: Sri Lanka’s completion survey process and lessons learnt

Room B

The Sri Lanka Completion Survey Process (SLCSP) is a nationally led, evidence-based approach to verify that previously mined or explosive-contaminated areas are safe for civilian use. Launched in 2023, it systematically assesses around 1,400 Grama Niladhari divisions using GIS-based mapping, quality assurance, and community engagement. The process ensures credible, transparent land release, supports APMBC Article 5 compliance, identifies residual hazards, and contributes to safe resettlement, livelihoods, and sustainable development offering practical insights for other mine action programmes.

Participating organizations:

National Mine Action Center (NMAC), Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, Sri Lanka
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
MAG International

- Beyond Algorithms: Ethics, Accountability, and the Moral Limits of Marketing AI for Landmine Detection (Subsphere)

- From Contamination to Recovery: Mine Action as the Foundation for Reconstruction

Room E

This side event highlights how mine action supports reconstruction and recovery in post-conflict settings, emphasizing coordination between mine action, development, and urban recovery actors. It aims to enhance understanding of mine action as a key enabler of reconstruction, promote the exchange of practical experiences, strengthen cooperation between institutions and partners, and increase recognition of its role within broader recovery and development frameworks.

Participating organizations:

The Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA);
ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC);
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD);
Mine Action Review/Norwegian People’s Aid;
ITF Enhancing Human Security

- Advances in Animal Detection Systems (ADS): Technology, Management, and Updated IMAS Guidance (Apopo)

Answer

Room B

The Sri Lanka Completion Survey Process (SLCSP) is a nationally led, evidence-based approach to verify that previously mined or explosive-contaminated areas are safe for civilian use. Launched in 2023, it systematically assesses around 1,400 Grama Niladhari divisions using GIS-based mapping, quality assurance, and community engagement. The process ensures credible, transparent land release, supports APMBC Article 5 compliance, identifies residual hazards, and contributes to safe resettlement, livelihoods, and sustainable development offering practical insights for other mine action programmes.

Participating organizations:

National Mine Action Center (NMAC), Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, Sri Lanka
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
MAG International

Answer

Room E

This side event highlights how mine action supports reconstruction and recovery in post-conflict settings, emphasizing coordination between mine action, development, and urban recovery actors. It aims to enhance understanding of mine action as a key enabler of reconstruction, promote the exchange of practical experiences, strengthen cooperation between institutions and partners, and increase recognition of its role within broader recovery and development frameworks.

Participating organizations:

The Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA);
ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC);
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD);
Mine Action Review/Norwegian People’s Aid;
ITF Enhancing Human Security

Question 14

Side Events

Answer

- Are we behind the curve - Drone-delivered explosive ordnance and mine action?

Room B
In a few short years, drones of all kinds have revolutionised how wars are fought. Mine Action has yet to catch up with the latest developments, especially when it comes to classification, reporting and training. The objective of this side event is to initiate a sector-wide discussion and garner suggestions about the best way to address the rapidly evolving challenges posed by drone-delivered explosive ordnance.

Participating organizations:

United Nations Development Programme (organiser)
Ukraine National Mine Action Centre
United Nations Mine Action Service
United Nations Office for Project Services
Global Clearance Solutions

- Addressing the Remaining Mine Contamination: Practical Lessons learned from Non-Technical Survey in the Republic of Serbia (Serbia)

- Mine action and IED threat mitigation: comprehensive and adaptive responses (GICHD)

- Humanitarian Mine Action in Emergencies (HI)

Answer

Room B
In a few short years, drones of all kinds have revolutionised how wars are fought. Mine Action has yet to catch up with the latest developments, especially when it comes to classification, reporting and training. The objective of this side event is to initiate a sector-wide discussion and garner suggestions about the best way to address the rapidly evolving challenges posed by drone-delivered explosive ordnance.

Participating organizations:

United Nations Development Programme (organiser)
Ukraine National Mine Action Centre
United Nations Mine Action Service
United Nations Office for Project Services
Global Clearance Solutions

Question 15

Side Events

Answer

- Unsafe to Recover: Mine Action, Livelihoods, and the Cost of Short-Term Funding in Syria or Humanitarian Mine Action enabling recovery and resilience (DRC)

- Outcome based finance in HMA: Putting Theory into Practice (UK)

- Integrating Sustainable Development with Mine Action: The Case of the Korea-Vietnam Peace Village Project. (VNMAC / GICHD)

- Navigating the minefield: data and strategies for protecting civilians and humanitarians from explosive hazards (AOAV / Humanitarian Outcomes)

Question 16

Side Events

Answer

- Gaza: Explosive Hazards in Early Recovery – Coordinated and Integrated Mine Action

Room B

To highlight how explosive ordnance contamination constrains early recovery in contexts where the full scope of mine action cannot yet be implemented and to present adaptive solutions applied in Gaza under severe operational constraints. The event will showcase coordinated and integrated approaches combining explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) – conflict preparedness and protection (CPP) – and victim assistance, demonstrating how these pillars work together to support humanitarian access, protect civilians, and enable early recovery efforts in a highly complex operational environment.

Participating organizations:

Handicap International - Humanity & Inclusion
United Nations Mine Action Service
The HALO Trust
Norwegian People’s Aid

- Underwater explosives – past, present and future (GEOMAR)

- Protecting Children from Explosive Weapons: Explosive Ordnance Risk Education and Mine Action in the Central African Republic (UNICEF)

- From Shared Contamination to Shared Solutions: Cambodia–Lao PDR–Viet Nam Cooperation to Accelerate Cluster Munition Survey and Clearance (JICA)

Answer

Room B

To highlight how explosive ordnance contamination constrains early recovery in contexts where the full scope of mine action cannot yet be implemented and to present adaptive solutions applied in Gaza under severe operational constraints. The event will showcase coordinated and integrated approaches combining explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) – conflict preparedness and protection (CPP) – and victim assistance, demonstrating how these pillars work together to support humanitarian access, protect civilians, and enable early recovery efforts in a highly complex operational environment.

Participating organizations:

Handicap International - Humanity & Inclusion
United Nations Mine Action Service
The HALO Trust
Norwegian People’s Aid

Question 17

Plenary Session 4

Answer

Reframing our Approach: Addressing the “Cost” of Mine Action Responses (human, financial, recovery)

Question 18

Closing Session

Answer

- Kazumi Ogawa, Director, UNMAS
- Amb. Tobias Privitelli, Director, GICHD

29th International Meeting of Mine Action National Directors & UN Advisers

22 - 24 April 2026

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Programme

Wednesday 22 April 2026

Thursday 23 April 2026

Friday 24 April 2026

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