Switzerland
Support for Mine Action
In 2014, the Swiss Confederation contributed CHF16,527,355 (US$18,068,606)[1] in mine action funding to 10 countries and one other area, as well as to the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), Geneva Call, and the ICBL-CMC. The largest contribution went to the GICHD, which received 53% (CHF8.7 million/$9.5 million) of Switzerland’s total contribution for the year.[2]
In addition to financial support, Switzerland provided in-kind assistance valued at CHF2,436,623 ($2,633,742) through UNMAS and UNOPS to support clearance operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, as well as in Somaliland and Western Sahara.[3]
In February 2012, Switzerland released its 2012–2015 Mine Action Strategic Plan. The strategy reaffirms Switzerland’s commitment to the Mine Ban Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Switzerland will continue providing its support to GICHD and the Implementation Support Unit on the issues of gender in mine action and accessibility for survivors to development projects, as well as to the development of national capacity and ownership in mine action programs.[4] In releasing its strategy, Switzerland stated it expected to contribute approximately CHF16 million ($17 million) per year.[5]
Contributions by recipient: 2014[6]
|
Recipient |
Sector |
Amount (CHF) |
Amount ($) |
|
GICHD |
Various |
8,710,000 |
9,522,248 |
|
Myanmar |
Risk education and victim assistance |
2,633,000 |
2,878,540 |
|
Cambodia |
Clearance |
1,740,000 |
1,902,263 |
|
Lao PDR |
Clearance |
1,300,550 |
1,421,832 |
|
Global |
Advocacy |
738,000 |
806,821 |
|
Libya |
Clearance |
409,834 |
448,053 |
|
Palestine |
Clearance |
320,000 |
349,841 |
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Clearance |
260,000 |
284,246 |
|
Kosovo |
Clearance |
205,000 |
224,117 |
|
Colombia |
Various |
78,251 |
85,548 |
|
Burundi |
Clearance |
64,220 |
70,209 |
|
Philippines |
Clearance |
43,500 |
47,557 |
|
South Sudan |
Clearance |
25,000 |
27,331 |
|
Total |
16,527,355 |
18,068,606 |
Aside from the 53% that Switzerland allocated to the GICHD, other contributions to mine action support included 26% for clearance and 5% for advocacy, with victim assistance and risk education received the remaining 16%. The ICRC was the only recipient of victim assistance funding.[7]
Contributions by sector: 2014
|
Sector |
Amount (CHF) |
Amount ($) |
% of total contribution |
|
Various |
8,788,251 |
9,607,796 |
53 |
|
Clearance |
4,368,104 |
4,775,449 |
26 |
|
Victim assistance |
2,500,000 |
2,733,137 |
15 |
|
Advocacy |
738,000 |
806,821 |
5 |
|
RE |
133,000 |
145,403 |
1 |
|
Total |
16,527,355 |
18,068,606 |
100 |
Since 2010, Switzerland has consistently contributed approximately CHF16 million each year (an average of $17.6 million), with the majority of its funding going to the GICHD.
Summary of contributions: 2010–2014[8]
|
Year |
Amount (CHF) |
Amount ($) |
% change from previous year ($) |
|
2014 |
16,527,355 |
18,068,606 |
-1 |
|
2013 |
16,875,296 |
18,206,167 |
-1 |
|
2012 |
17,257,952 |
18,404,555 |
5 |
|
2011 |
15,534,954 |
17,529,851 |
12 |
|
2010 |
16,375,420 |
15,697,297 |
5 |
|
Total |
82,570,977 |
87,906,476 |
N/A |
Note: N/A=not applicable
[1] Average exchange rate for 2014: US$1=CHF0.9147. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 2 January 2015.
[2] Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 29 April 2015.
[3] Ibid.
[4] “Mine Action Strategy of the Swiss Federation 2012 - 2015,” Berne, April 2012, pp. 16–18.
[5] Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, “Federal government demining strategy, 2012 to 2015,” Press Release, Berne, 4 April 2012.
[6] Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 29 April 2015.
[7] Ibid.
[8] See previous Monitor reports.