France
Support for Mine Action
In 2016, the French Republic contributed €2.9 million (US$3.2 million)[1] in mine action funding, nearly three-times as much as in 2015, when it provided €1 million ($1.1 million).
France’s largest contribution went to Iraq and Syria for clearance and risk education activities, representing 54% of its total support in 2016.
As in previous years, France also allocated a large part of its contribution, some $1.3 million (41%), to provide training to the West African Humanitarian Mine Action Training Center based in the Benin (Centre de perfectionnement aux actions post conflictuelles de déminage et de dépollution, CPADD), as well as in Cambodia, Lebanon, and Niger.
In addition to financial support, France provided in-kind assistance valued at €175,000 ($193,760) to support clearance operations in Ukraine.[2]
Contributions by recipient: 2015[3]
Recipient |
Sector |
Amount (€) |
Amount (US$) |
Iraq and Syria |
Clearance and risk education |
1,580,000 |
1,749,376 |
Global |
Capacity-building |
829,518 |
918,442 |
Benin |
Capacity-building |
373,950 |
414,037 |
Yemen |
Clearance and risk education |
140,000 |
155,008 |
Global |
Advocacy |
9,000 |
9,965 |
Total |
|
2,932,468 |
3,246,828 |
From 2012–2016, France’s contribution for mine action totaled more than €8.6 million ($10.6 million), with an annual contribution averaging €1.7 million ($2.1 million). This is about one-quarter less than the €11.3 million ($15.7 million) contributed during the previous five-year period from 2007–2011.[4]
Summary of contributions: 2012–2016[5]
Year |
Amount (€) |
Amount (US$) |
% change from previous years (US$) |
2016 |
2,932,468 |
3,246,828 |
+193 |
2015 |
1,000,000 |
1,109,600 |
-49 |
2014 |
1,625,785 |
2,161,806 |
+3 |
2013 |
1,578,050 |
2,095,808 |
+7 |
2012 |
1,528,750 |
1,965,819 |
+46 |
Total |
8,665,053 |
10,579,861 |
|
[1] Average exchange rate for 2016: €1=US$1.1072. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 4 January 2017.
[2] Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 15 May 2017.
[3] Ibid.