Ukraine Community Recovery Fund - Mine Action Window

Mine Action is a key pre-condition for all community-level reconstruction of housing, energy, social infrastructure and investments in local economic development. The Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has resulted in up to 30 per cent of the country suspected of contamination with unexploded ordnance, landmines, and cluster munitions. This makes survey and clearance a complex task requiring prioritization, technical expertise, innovative solutions, and a long-term commitment. 

Catalyzing mine action for community recovery and bringing stability to global food markets requires a consolidated effort from national and international partners in Ukraine. The Ukraine Community Recovery Fund’s Mine Action Window is a tool through which the UN will catalyze strategic mine action efforts, bridge gaps in needs in targeted communities, and pilot innovative mine action initiatives. It mirrors the success of the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF), overseen by the Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator, to ensure a joint approach among UN entities, maximize efficiencies and leverage comparative advantages.

According to the third Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA3), a minimum investment of $300 million per year over the next 5 years ($1.5 billion) is needed to survey and clear explosive ordnance that is causing civilian casualties and hindering the recovery of Ukrainian communities. To sustain this level of financial commitment, national and international partners will need to work together to ensure the maximum efficiency of traditional mine action approaches while incorporating cost-effective, high-impact solutions, and considering private partnerships as a way forward. The Mine Action Window of the Fund is aligned with the National Mine Action Strategy of the Government of Ukraine and targets its three pillars of clearance, explosive ordnance risk education and victim assistance. 

The Fund is based on the extensive experience of the UN system in establishing and managing multi-partner trust funds in large-scale recovery contexts. This includes robust risk management and monitoring systems in a Fund Secretariat hosted by the Resident Coordinator Office, to ensure transparency and accountability. It leverages the UN’s track record in implementation, monitoring, and consolidated reporting with a view to strengthening the capacity of key government bodies and local communities to smoothly shift from humanitarian assistance to a human rights-based and people-centred approach to recovery and sustainable development.