GICHD Outlook Report 2024

UKRAINE

Ukraine is one of the countries most affected by explosive ordnance in the world. Since February 2022 contamination has increased significantly across large parts of the country, notably in the east. This is further undermining the lives and livelihoods of people living in Ukraine. The GICHD’s Ukraine country programme, through its 2023–2026 Strategy, is necessarily ambitious, as the Centre assessed that the ever-increasing scale and scope of the explosive ordnance contamination necessitates a significant push to further expand, strengthen, and professionalise existing national capacities. The Ukraine country programme team includes Ukrainian experts. Some members of the team are based in Kyiv and supported by Geneva-based international advisors. Their efforts focus on training and mentoring of national authorities, including relevant stakeholders. In 2024, the GICHD will continue to focus its support on areas prioritised by the Ukrainian government. One such area is land release. As non-technical survey and quality management remain an integral part of the Ukraine Mine Action Programme’s efforts, the GICHD will also develop and deliver ‘Training of Trainers’ initiatives for both thematic areas. This initiative includes cooperating with Ukrainian counterparts to design training courses that are tailored to the Ukrainian context. The Centre will also be focusing on an EORE mapping of key stakeholders while gender, diversity, equality, and inclusion will continue to be at the centre of all GICHD interventions.

Ukraine’s Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) will be further strengthened in 2024 to enable clear data flows and dashboard environments that present up-to-date information and knowledge and make it available for effective decision-making. The GICHD will support Ukraine in the development of its NMAS around the themes of land release, non-technical survey, mechanical demining and a mine action glossary. These efforts will focus on ensuring that the NMAS are tailored to reflect the Ukrainian context and that they are fit for purpose in a rapidly changing environment.

Finally, the GICHD will facilitate and further strengthen working relationships between the national mine action authority and the international community, by organising liaison visits and donor coordination events. Such initiatives will provide opportunities for donors, national and international partners, and operators to take coordinated steps towards supporting Ukraine to address the challenges stemming from explosive ordnance contamination in a co-operative, needs-driven and evidence-based manner. Furthermore, support will be provided to the Government of Ukraine in developing and implementing a national mine action strategy to create a consolidated, and long-term vision of mine action policy.

GICHD OUTLOOK REPORT 2024