Clearing For Results - Phase II

Purpose of Project

The Clearing for results Phase II Project intends to bring the national body, the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), to a higher level. The project will effectively support the CMAA to lead the implementation of the National Mine Action Strategy (NMAS) resulting in resources being allocated to the royal government of Cambodia’s national and local development priorities. The resources will also be used in the enactment of policy frameworks that support increased levels of land released to communities for rural development thereby improving access to economic opportunities and growth. The CMAA’s capacity at the institutional and individual levels in key functional and technical areas will need to be built further, as identified in the 2010 capacity development plan. The CMAA will also take a leading role in the management of the project’s resources for demining, thereby gaining not only ownership of the project, but also increased leadership in the sector.

Main Activities

In order to achieve this output, the project will adopt a three-pronged approach.

• Firstly, it will support the overall coordination of the sector through empowering the CMAA to promote and implement the NMAS (2010-2019). It will support other international instruments, such as the Anti Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) and development strategies at national and sub-national levels.
• Secondly, it will support developing the capacity of the CMAA to manage, regulate, coordinate and monitor the sector efficiently and effectively.
• Lastly, the project will continue to play an active role in surveying and clearing areas contaminated by mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) with an emphasis on promoting efficiency and transparency to achieve increased releases of contaminated land to support poverty reduction and economic growth.

Key Results

This project is shared with key stakeholders through the Mine Action Technical Working Group (TWG) in line with the Royal Government of Cambodia’s principles on aid effectiveness to increase transparency and harmonization of the resources allocated to the sector. The key deliverables for the project are as follows:

1. The mine action policy and strategic frameworks ensure all resources are effectively allocated to national priorities as defined by local planning processes and maximize the land available for local development.
2. The CMAA is equipped with the technical and functional capacities required to manage, coordinate, regulate and monitor the sector within an evolving environment.
3. At least 35 sq km of contaminated land is mapped, cleared and released for productive use through local planning which promotes efficiency and transparency.

The hand-over of the project to the CMAA to lead, own and implement the project accompanied by distinct and measured capacity development initiatives, shall give the CMAA increased stewardship to manage the resources allocated to the sector in support of national and local development goals. Ultimately, by the end of the project, the CMAA shall be able to assess gaps in the management of the sector and identify solutions in terms of activities, partnerships or resources required to address these gaps with limited or no assistance from UNDP.

Background

After nearly three decades of war and internal conflict, Cambodia remains severely affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war. In 2003 Cambodia has adopted a special ninth Millennium Development goal to clear all affected land, reduce the casualty rate to zero, and improve survivor assistance by 2015. The government estimated in 2009 that some 649 sq km of mines contaminated land required clearance over the next 10 to 13 years. The baseline survey being conducted over 2009-2012 will establish more precisely the extent and location of areas remaining to be cleared, setting the agenda for mine action in Cambodia for the decade to 2019.