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Restoring livelihoods and revitalizing rural communities affected by mines and explosive remnants of war


Humanitarian demining is one of the priorities of Swiss international cooperation program. The Federal Council decided that a total of CHF 100 million will be earmarked for humanitarian demining for 2024-2027. SDC will contribute to the restoration of agricultural livelihood activities in areas severely impacted by the war to reduce the need for external support for rural households, small-scale farmers and local producers in three focal oblasts: Kharkivska, Mykolaivska and Khersonska.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Ukraine
Conflict & fragility
Agriculture & food security
Removal of land mines
Food security policy
01.03.2024 - 31.12.2027
 CHF  10’000’000
The project in brief
Background According to the State Emergency Service, up to 25,000 km2 of agricultural land are estimated to be contaminated with mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), which has led thousands of farms and rural households to reduce or stop productive activities. As a result, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food (MAPF) estimates that this year’s sown areas will decrease by 24 percent compared to pre-war levels. Without urgent action, many households and small-scale farmers will miss the upcoming planting seasons, which will severely impact food availability, leading to larger and chronic humanitarian needs for rural communities and local producers.
Objectives The project aims to survey remotely (satellite imagery) 80 percent of potentially affected rural households and small-scale farmers in three targeted oblasts and clear around half of these actor’s agricultural land potentially contaminated with mines or explosive remnants of war (ERW).
Target groups Rural households, small-scale farmers and other food value chain actors. With the primary aim of impacting livelihoods, the project will focus on rural households and small-scale farmers with agricultural land of less than 300 hectares that are potentially contaminated.
Medium-term outcomes

In line with the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2024, the overall objective of the project is to mitigate the hazard from EO through survey and clearance activities to a level where people can live safely and in which economic, social, and health development can occur free from the constraints imposed by landmines and ERW contamination.

Outcome 1: Reduce the need for external support such as humanitarian assistance and social benefits and enable rural households and small-scale farmers and producers to return to self-sufficiency;

Outcome 2: Contribute to the successful restoration, stabilization and sustainability of Ukrainian food systems, and increase food security;

Outcome 3: Accelerate the recovery of agricultural production and critical value chains, including staple cereals, nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetable, meat and dairy produce.
Results

Expected results:   Output 1.1. Identification, mapping and prioritization of target areas
Output 2.1. Mine action assessment Non-technical survey (NTS) and risk education
Output 2.2. Land clearance and explosive ordnance disposal
Output 2.3. Soil Assessments
Output 3.1. Assistance to Rural Households and Small-scale Farmers
Output 3.2. Market Linkage


Results from previous phases:  

  • FAO contracted the Ukrainian Researchers Society and with their support have completed the soil cartography activity in all conflict-affected areas of Kharkiv Oblast.
  • 234,465 previously cultivated fields and 132,908 household plots were analysed remotely. Out of a total of 6,551km2 arable land identified, 4,928km2 was reported under cultivation and 1,623 km2, or 25%, is currently unused. Nearly 42,000 craters have been identified corresponding to 42.1 km2 of bombturbated soils and 1.32 million m3 of displaced soils.
  • WFP contracted the Fondation Suisse de Déminage (FSD), who has produced 316 Non-Technical Survey (NTS) reports covering 3,499 ha of land. Of that, only 431.15 ha (12%) were free of explosive ordnance. There is 2,587 ha of suspected hazardous area (75%) and 481.6 ha of confirmed hazardous areas (13%) which require further surveying and eventually, clearance.
Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Humanitarian aid
Project partners Contract partner
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • World Food Programme
  • in partnership with Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)


Coordination with other projects and actors

The proposed activities will be implemented in close coordination with the Government of Ukraine, food security and livelihood actors, mine action actors and local communities to ensure investments are complementary to existing demining efforts.

Swiss-funded projects on Humanitarian Demining will also be linked and coordinated to avoid overlapping and foster positive synergies.
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    10’000’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    2’500’000 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF   0 Budget inclusive project partner CHF   10’000’000
Project phases Phase 1 01.03.2024 - 31.12.2027   (Current phase)
  • Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
    OTHER MULTISECTOR
    Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation
    Removal of land mines and explosive remnants of war
    Food security policy
    Aid Type Project and programme contribution
    Project number

    7F11308

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Last update 03.01.2021