PROJECT NAME:

Kosovo Demining Action - Clearance of mines and cluster munitions

SECTOR:

Rule of Law

PROJECT VALUE:

3,900,000.00 EUR

DURATION:

Starting date: 08 December 2022 End date: 07 October 2025 (34 months)

IMPLEMENTING PARTNER:

The Republic of Kosovo

DIRECT BENEFICIARY:

Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) - Halo Trust Europe

COVERAGE/IMPACT:

The north of Kosovo, municipalities of Zubin Potok, Zvečan, Leposavić, Mitrovica South, Podujevo and Pristina

OVERALL OBJECTIVE:

The action aims to return land previously contaminated by cluster munitions and landmines in Kosovo back to local communities for their safe and productive use, thus protecting women and men civilians and securing their livelihoods and further enabling sustainable development and growth. The action will contribute to the Kosovo government’s pronounced goal of making Kosovo mine free.

ACTIVITIES:

 Land release of mine suspected and confirmed hazardous areas will achieve the projected output of 400,000 m2 of safe land returned to the communities. On successful completion of the task(s), as allocated by the KMAC, handover ceremonies will be conducted with local communities. A related assumption is that HALO can recruit, train, equip and deploy four mine clearance teams in a timely manner (in the COVID setting). NPA will engage all other staff required for the Activity to be conducted in accordance with NPA’s approved SOPs, NMAS, IMAS, and KMAC’s accreditation, such as quality management, community liaison/impact assessment, and information management staff, as well as required support staff. These functions are an integral part of the activity as per national and international standards and NPA SOPs. A related risk includes the time needed for procurement of key equipment including detectors. The planned output has significant outcomes in that 30% of the known remaining minefield area will be released, at the national level, there will be an improvement to livelihood (to be further defined through community liaison and impact assessment) and there will be improved feelings of safety (also to be captured by community liaison).  Land release of cluster munitions suspected and confirmed hazardous areas through survey and battle area clearance will be conducted in order to achieve the projected output of 3,600,000 m2 of safe land returned to the communities. On successful completion of the tasks, as allocated by the KMAC, handover ceremonies will be conducted with local communities. A related assumption is that NPA can recruit, train, equip and deploy four Battle Area Clearance teams in a timely manner (in the COVID setting). Likewise, NPA will engage all other staff required for the Activity to be conducted in accordance with NPA’s approved SOPs, NMAS, IMAS, and KMAC’s accreditation, such as quality management, community liaison/impact assessment, and information management staff, as well as required support staff. These functions are an integral part of the activity as per national and international standards and NPA SOPs. A related risk includes the time needed for procurement of key equipment including detectors. The planned output has significant outcomes in that approximately 30% of the known remaining hazardous area will be released, at the national level, there will be an improvement to livelihood (to be further defined through community liaison and impact assessment) and there will be improved feelings of safety (also to be captured by community liaison).

RESULTS:

 400,000 m2 of mine-affected land released and returned to the local communities for safe use.  Enhanced safety and resilience for women, men, and children in communities affected by ERW in Kosovo.