Finland
Support for Mine Action
In 2021, the Republic of Finland contributed €3.1 million (US$3.7 million) in mine action funding to five countries and for global activities.[1]
As in previous years, Finland’s support focused on projects in “fragile states” as identified in its humanitarian mine action policy—Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria, and Ukraine—and implemented by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), Danish Refugee Council, the HALO Trust, Mines Advisory Group (MAG), and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD).
Contributions by recipient: 2021[2]
|
Recipient |
Sector |
Amount (€) |
Amount (US$) |
|
Iraq and Syria |
Clearance and risk education |
845,000 |
999,635 |
|
Afghanistan |
Clearance and risk education |
840,000 |
993,720 |
|
Syria |
Clearance, risk education, and victim assistance |
675,000 |
798,525 |
|
Somalia |
Clearance and risk education |
380,000 |
449,540 |
|
Ukraine |
Clearance, risk education, and victim assistance |
310,000 |
366,730 |
|
Global |
Advocacy |
95,000 |
112,385 |
|
Total |
3,145,000 |
3,720,535 |
Mine action assistance approach
Finland has explained that its mine action assistance is directed at “fragile states and environments where mines pose a major problem and which need urgent support to tackle it.”[3] Since 2016, Finland has contributed to mine action projects in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria, and Ukraine, while funding to Angola and Cambodia was phased out.[4]
In February 2020, Finland announced that it would provide €15 million ($16.4 million) from 2021–2025 to support mine action activities.[5]
COVID-19 and mine action support
In February and May 2021, Finland confirmed that its mine action budget for 2021–2025 had been secured to the €15 million level previously announced, and had not been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
Five-year support to mine action
From 2017–2021, Finland’s contribution to mine action totaled €14.7 million ($16.9 million). This total is 40% less than the $28.4 million recorded during the previous five-year period from 2012–2016. This decrease in Finland’s support for mine action was the result of budgetary cuts in its development cooperation appropriations.[7]
Whereas Finland budgeted funding for mine action in 2016, it was reported that payments could not be executed due to changes in the administration, and the prolongation of tender processes. As a result, Finland’s 2017 total included some of the funding initially budgeted for 2016.
Summary of contributions: 2017–2021[8]
|
Year |
Amount (€) |
Amount (US$) |
% change from previous year (US$) |
|
2021 |
3,145,000 |
3,720,535 |
+13 |
|
2020 |
2,880,000 |
3,286,080 |
-2 |
|
2019 |
3,010,000 |
3,369,394 |
+4 |
|
2018 |
2,740,000 |
3,237,858 |
-2 |
|
2017 |
2,912,000 |
3,290,851 |
N/A |
|
Total |
14,687,000 |
16,904,718 |
N/A |
Note: N/A=not applicable.
[1] Average exchange rate for 2021: €1=US$1.1830. United States (US) Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2022.
[2] Response to Monitor questionnaire, Unit for Arms Control, Finland Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 3 October 2022.
[3] Statement of Finland, Mine Ban Treaty Nineteenth Meeting of States Parties, The Hague, 17 November 2021.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Statement of Finland, Fifth International Pledging Conference for the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, Geneva, 25 February 2020; and email from Anni Mäkeläinen, Unit for Arms Control, Finland Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 13 July 2020.
[6] Statement of Finland, Sixth International Pledging Conference for the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, Geneva, 23 February 2021; and Mine Action Support Group (MASG) meeting, held virtually, Minutes, 28 May 2021.
[7] Finland Ministry for Foreign Affairs, “Finland’s Humanitarian Mine Action Concept for 2016–2020,” June 2016.
[8] See previous Monitor reports.