Afghanistan

Support for Mine Action

Last updated: 24 November 2021

In 2020, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan received nearly US$42.7 million from 15 donors, a decrease of 28% compared to 2019 (almost $16.3 million less).[1]

The United States (US) provided the largest contribution with $20 million to clearance, risk education, and victim assistance activities, representing 47% of the total international mine action assistance to Afghanistan in 2020.

2020 total does not include Denmark support to Danish Refugee Council (DRC) operations in Afghanistan as it was part of a multisectoral humanitarian and resilience assistance programme, for which the specific amount going toward demining was not available, and as such could not be included in the Monitor support database.[2]

The Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA) is largely funded through international assistance, although in the past, the government of Afghanistan has reported contributing to some specific projects. For instance, in 2015, the Afghan government contributed $1.5 million for clearance operations in Logar province, while in 2013, it contributed $2.6 million for clearance of the Aynak copper mine.[3] No information on any national contribution was available for 2014 or during 2016–2018 nor 2020. In 2019, Afghanistan approved a budget of AFN20 million ($260,538) for demining activities in Khost province. However, it was reported that the contribution could not be delivered as planned, but was expected to be disbursed in 2020.[4]

International contributions: 2020[5]

Donor	Sector	Amount (national currency)	Amount (US$)
US	Clearance, risk education, and victim assistance	US$20,000,000	20,000,000
Germany	Capacity-building, clearance, and victim assistance	€10,750,000	12,265,750
Japan	Clearance and risk education	¥215,048,662	2,014,028
Sweden	Various	SEK15,530,000	1,684,985
European Union	Various	€1,300,000	1,483,300
Norway	Victim assistance	NOK9,150,000	970,482
Finland	Clearance and risk education	€810,000	924,210
Italy	Victim assistance	€750,000	855,750
Netherlands	Clearance and risk education	€698,641	797,149
Canada	Various	C$1,000,000	745,045
Ireland	Clearance	€362,500	413,613
Australia	Clearance	A$400,000	275,960
Denmark	Clearance and risk education	DKK1,000,000	152,835
South Korea	Clearance and risk education	N/R	60,000
Slovenia	Victim assistance	N/R	38,619
Total		N/A	42,681,726

Note: N/A=not applicable; N/R=not reported.

Since 2016, Afghanistan has received approximately $273 million in total international assistance for mine action. In 2010–2020, a downward trend in international mine action assistance to Afghanistan had been apparent with a continuous decline in international assistance that dropped from a high of some $102 million in 2010 to a low of $42 million in 2020. However, Afghanistan remained the second largest recipient of mine action over the period.

Summary of contributions: 2016–2020[6]

Year	Amount (US$)	% change from previous year ($)
2020	42,681,726	-28
2019	58,958,349	-18
2018	71,773,325	+70
2017	42,320,790	-26
2016	57,257,467	+11
Total	272,991,657	N/A

Note: N/A=not applicable.

[1] Australia: Australia Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2020), Form I; and Australia Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2020), Form J. Canada: Canada Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2020), Form J. Denmark: Response to Monitor questionnaire by Kristine Dyregaard Nielsen, Head of Section, Denmark Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defence, 15 October 2021. EU: Email from Carole Ory, Senior Expert, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Arms Export Control, European External Action Service (EEAS), 29 June 2021. Finland: Response to Monitor questionnaire by Ilkka Rentoia, Deputy Director, Unit for Arms Control, Finland Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 26 September 2021; and Finland Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 9 April 2021. Germany: Response to Monitor questionnaire by Sandrina Köbinger, Desk Officer, Conventional Arms Division, Germany Federal Foreign Office (GFFO), 27 May 2021; Germany Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2020), Form I; and Germany Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2020), Form J. Ireland: Ireland Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 30 April 2021. Italy: Italy Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 3 May 2021; and Italy Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 3 May 2021. Japan: Email from Ishida Tatsuya, Conventional arms division/ Arms control and disarmament division, Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 31 May 2021. Netherlands: Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 2020; and response to Monitor questionnaire by Lucas Daalhuisen, Policy Officer, Stabilisation and Humanitarian Aid Department, Netherlands Minister of Foreign Affairs, 2 June 2021. Norway: Email from Camilla Dannevig, Senior Adviser, Section for Humanitarian Affairs, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 23 September 2021. Slovenia: ITF Enhancing Human Security, “Annual Report 2020,” 2021, p. 14. South Korea: ITF Enhancing Human Security, “Annual Report 2020,” 2021, p. 14; and UNMAS, "Annual Report 2020," April 2021, pp. 50–51. Sweden: Sweden Convention on Cluster Munition Article 7 Report, Form I, April 2021; and email from Erik Pettersson, Senior Programme Manager, Peace and Human Security Unit, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), 28 September 2021. US: US Department of State Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA), “To Walk the Earth in Safety 2021,” 5 April 2021.

[2] Denmark total support to DRC humanitarian operations in Afghanistan in 2020 totaled DKK7,104,000 ($1,085,740), and included a demining and risk education element. Average exchange rates for 2020: DKK6.543=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 4 January 2021. Response to Monitor questionnaire by Kristine Dyregaard Nielsen, Head of Section, Denmark Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defence, 15 October 2021.

[3] Mine Action Coordination Centre of Afghanistan (MACCA), “MAPA Annual Report 1394,” September 2016, pp. 40–41; and MACCA, “Fast Facts: Mine Action Coordination Centre of Afghanistan,” December 2013.

[4] Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 2020, p. 35. Average exchange rate for 2019: AFN76.7642=US$1. Oanda.

[5] Average exchange rate for 2020: A$1=US$0.6899; C$1.3422=US$1; DKK6.543 =US$1; €1=US$1.141; ¥106.78=US$1; NOK9.4283=US$1; SEK9.2167=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 4 January 2021.

[6] See previous Monitor reports.