CONCLUSION The 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide an opportunity for the mine action sector to participate in and influence national socio-economic development efforts, while enhancing the coordination and visibility of mine action contributions to sustainable development. By providing a comprehensive framework, the SDGs have the potential to support mine action in setting and monitoring the right objectives while promoting more efficient, effective and sustainable outcomes. Considering that the two countries studied, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Lao PDR, are in an advanced stage in terms of SDG nationalisation efforts, they serve as relevant cases to assess the benefits and challenges for the mine action sector stemming from the adoption of the 2030 Agenda five years ago. While mainstreaming efforts are still ongoing and more time and resources might be needed, the national mine action authorities (NMAAs) of both countries were able to identify and report existing benefits for mine action with regard to the nationalisation and the operationalisation of the 2030 Agenda, such as enhanced visibility, more effective resource mobilisation, and increased policy coherence. With regard to the nationalisation efforts, the study analysed different efforts and existing mechanisms for better linking, planning, and monitoring of mine action outcomes in terms of the SDGs. The research found that both countries aimed at integrating, to a different extent, mine action related targets and indicators in national strategic planning efforts, including the establishment of a distinct SDG 18 in the case of Lao PDR. While in global terms, mine action seems to be poorly integrated in the voluntary national reviews and with no major role in the follow-up and review mechanism, BiH and Lao PDR are two of the few countries that provided insights on the linkages of mine action and sustainable development, and positioned mine action efforts as an enabler and accelerator of the SDGs. Accordingly, it is acknowledged throughout this research that the SDGs serve as entry points for mine action stakeholders, allowing them to increase their substantive role in national socio-economic development planning processes as well as their visibility. In particular, Lao PDR reported that the 2030 Agenda positively impacted the unexploded ordnance (UXO) sector by contributing to raising awareness about the UXO problem both nationally and internationally, to mobilise more funds, as well as to increase coordination and collaboration with other sectors. Finally, when it comes to SDG mainstreaming and practical operationalisation examples within the cycle of mine action, using the SDG framework for survey and clearance can help operators, particularly in the prioritisation process. However, the study found that alignment is not complete and there are still challenges in this process. The main one is the lack of familiarity with all the 2030 Agenda processes and how its frameworks can be used. More support is required, particularly at the provincial and local levels. The study concluded that linking mine action and the 2030 Agenda has clearly benefitted fundraising efforts. In this context, the study also found that unfortunately there is a shared sentiment among NMAAs that COVID-19 will have a significant and long-term impact on their funding and in the resources available to strengthen their mainstreaming efforts. Therefore, the importance of fostering synergies and improved reporting of mine action contributions to broader sustainable development remains a crucial undertaking, to ensure the sustainability and relevance of the sector’s work.
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