The role of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has central to its mandate the protection and promotion of the rights of children affected by armed conflict. In collaboration with its partners (government, other United Nations agencies and funds, international, regional and nongovernmental organisations), UNICEF principally supports the development and implementation of MRE projects and associated humanitarian activities. 

Coordination: The UNICEF is actively involved and represented in the different coordination mechanisms established by UNMAS, governments, donors and other partners at the global and national levels, such as the MACCs, IACGMA , SCMA and MASG. In addition, UNICEF with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines co-convenes theInternational Mine Risk Education Working Group. UNICEF’s participation in global mine action efforts is coordinated by its Office of Emergency Programmes. UNICEF country offices coordinate and undertake its mine action efforts at the country level, while UNICEF regional offices coordinate and undertake UNICEF’s regional mine action work.

Programme management and project implementation: Consistent with its capacities and priorities at country level, UNICEF focuses on the development and implementation of MRE projects and associated activities. In situations of emergency, UNICEF may support the national coordination of MRE with UNMAS, and in the absence of UNMAS or the UNDP, UNICEF may accept responsibility as the United Nations focal point for mine action in any given country. Such arrangements are to be determined by the UNCT and coordinated with the IACG-MA. Generally speaking, following the identification of humanitarian needs, UNICEF supports the following types of activities with its partners: 

• Developing landmine injury surveys and surveillance systems. 

• Monitoring and evaluating United Nations-led MRE programmes and projects. 

• Monitoring the humanitarian impact of landmines and ERW.

• Developing and implementing public information campaigns, education and training projects, and community liaison projects. 

• Survivor assistance projects, integrated in public health and social services programmes. 

• Supporting hazardous area marking projects.

 • In exceptional circumstances, supporting the implementation of quick response mine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal activities. 

Capacity development: In all its work UNICEF seeks to build the capacity of its local and international partners to undertake effective mine action projects. Consistent with its main focus of work, UNICEF works to develop effective mechanisms to coordinate MRE projects, such as establishing national MRE working groups, undertakes MRE and associated training activities for practitioners, in addition to providing direct technical assistance to government and other national partners. 

Standards and quality management: To promote best practice, UNICEF supports the development of national and international MRE policy, tools and techniques, guidelines and standards. Through outreach activities, UNICEF disseminates and promotes the adoption of the practices identified in the standards, policies and guidelines, and undertakes periodic evaluations of their effect. 

Advocacy and information management: UNICEF is an active advocate for the promotion of a total ban on anti-personnel landmines, the elimination of weapons that have indiscriminate effects, the development of legal instruments in relation to ERW and the protection and promotion of the rights of women and children affected by armed conflict. In addition UNICEF is a strong advocate for the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities, and the integration of victim assistance activities in public health, social services, education and other development programmes. 

Mainstreaming: The UNICEF works with national governments to integrate MRE into school curricula, emergency education programmes and life-skills training. UNICEF in collaboration with WHO, ICRC and other partners ensures the integration of landmine survivors in its broader public health, education and other development programmes, and advocates for similar inclusive strategies by other organisations.

Resource mobilisation and management: The UNICEF participates in the development of the Portfolio of Mine Action Projects, and participates in the Resource Mobilisation Contact Group, the MASG and other donor coordination mechanisms at the national level. Principally, UNICEF raises its resources through its Humanitarian Action Reports, through Consolidated Appeals, through National Committees and bilateral contributions made to Headquarters, country and regional offices. UNICEF focuses on the mobilisation of resources for MRE, victim and survivor assistance and associated activities. Funds and other resources are managed and dispersed by UNICEF country offices through partnership and service agreements identified in the Country Plan of Action