Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA)

Collectively known as the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA), mine action implementers in Afghanistan form one of the largest mine action programmes in the world. Together, these agencies have a twenty year history of successfully delivering mine action in Afghanistan and have cleared over 18,000 hazard areas throughout the country. The MAPA was the first ‘humanitarian’ (i.e. non-military) mine action programme in the world and encompasses all pillars of mine action: advocacy, demining, stockpile destruction, mine risk education (MRE), and victim assistance (VA). Over 30 mine action organizations currently work in Afghanistan, employing over 14,000 personnel. These partners, which include national and international actors, both from the commercial and not for‐profit sector deliver a wide range of mine action services including manual demining, mechanically assisted clearance, mine dog detection assets, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), survey, MRE, victim assistance activities, and data collection.

About MACCA/DMC and Mine Action Coordination

In 2002 the Government of Afghanistan entrusted interim responsibility for mine action to the United Nations, via a coordination body managed by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS). In January 2008, through the modality of an Inter‐Ministerial Board (IMB) for Mine Action, the Government designated the Department of Mine Clearance (DMC) under the Afghan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) to work jointly with the UN coordination body, MACCA.

DMC and MACCA are jointly responsible for the coordination, with all stakeholders, of all mine action activities in Afghanistan. Meetings are held on a monthly basis with Implementing Partners to discuss planning, security, new technologies, and any other important issues arising.

Based on both the expressed desire of the Government of Afghanistan, and the United Nations’ strategic goal of assisting in the development of national institutions, MACCA is also responsible for supporting the development of national capacity for mine action management to the Government of Afghanistan.

The MACCA employs national personnel and international staff to coordinate and provide support to mine action operations through its headquarters in Kabul and Area Mine Action Centres (AMACs). AMACs, staffed entirely by Afghans, are located in Kabul, Herat, Kandahar, Mazar‐i‐Sharif, Kunduz, Gardez, and Jalalabad. They work directly with the impacted communities, government representatives, UN offices, and aid organizations in their areas of responsibility.