The role of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS).

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) is a division of DPKO, and is the focal point for mine action in the United Nations system. It seeks to ensure an effective, proactive and coordinated United Nations response to landmine contamination through collaboration with United Nations departments, agencies, funds and programmes. 

Coordination: UNMAS chairs the IACG-MA and the SCMA at the working level, provides the secretariat for both bodies, and coordinates the preparation of the Secretary-General’s report to the General Assembly on assistance in mine action and represents the United Nations Secretariat during the General Assembly deliberations on the item. It coordinates the United Nations input to the Standing Committees of the APMBT and meetings of the CCW. It coordinates threat-monitoring and inter-agency assessment missions. UNMAS coordinates the development and monitoring of all United Nations mine action policy and strategy documents. UNMAS also ensures that mine action concerns are raised and addressed in all relevant United Nations fora. 

Programme management and project implementation: In specific peacekeeping, complex emergency and rapid response settings, UNMAS establishes and manages MACCs; conducts operational programming; undertakes strategic and operational planning, and resource mobilisation; oversees survey and clearance by operators, including the prioritisation of sites, planning and tasking, accreditation, technical safety standard-setting, MRE, public information and community liaison operations; supports victim assistance initiatives; manages the collection of information, including casualty data to inform mine action; provides technical advice on stockpile destruction and ERW removal; and conducts quality management and accident investigations. In such programmes, UNMAS programme managers report to the Senior United Nations Official in the field and coordinate periodic reportingto the IACG-MA.  In cooperation with the Department for Safety and Security, UNMAS implements the Landmine and ERW Safety Project to help protect United Nations, government and NGO personnel working in mine and ERW-affected environments. UNMAS conducts technical missions to mine-affected countries as required. 

Capacity development: In United Nations-managed programmes, UNMAS coordinates the planning for the transfer of programme management responsibilities to national authorities. In cooperation with other United Nations mine action team members, UNMAS may advise governments on the development of national and local mine action institutions and legislation and assist in the development of a capacity- and institution-building plan. 

Standards and quality management: The UNMAS coordinates the development and updating of IMAS, and actively promotes their dissemination and adoption. It undertakes quality assurance of landmine impact surveys, and chairs the certification committee for landmine impact surveys. UNMAS commissions external evaluations of its field programmes, sharing the results with all stakeholders and seeking to integrate lessons learned into future programming. 

Advocacy and information: The UNMAS coordinates United Nations advocacy in support of international legal instruments related to landmines and ERW and the human rights of persons affected by them. It undertakes public information on the mine/ERW problem and the global response to it, through its E-MINE website and publications. It promotes standardised data collection and appropriate information management tools, such as, IMSMA. It coordinates the collection of global casualty data, maintains the stockpile destruction database on the “e-mine” website and coordinates the input of the United Nations on issues relating to appropriate mine action technologies. 

Mainstreaming: The UNMAS ensures that mine action requirements are integrated into peacekeeping and humanitarian programmes, and supports the mainstreaming of mine action into development.

 Resource mobilisation and management. UNMAS coordinates United Nations support to the functioning of the MASG and Resource Mobilisation Contact Group, supports donor coordination mechanisms in the field, and coordinates the development and updating of the Portfolio of Mine Action Projects and mine action inputs to the Consolidated Appeal Process. UNMAS also manages the donor investments database on the “e-mine” website. UNMAS administers the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action