Mine action in Southern Africa: Instrument of development?

The report argues that mine action in Southern Africa should transition from being treated as a technical 'special initiative' to a core development activity. It recommends that national governments take greater political ownership, establish clear communication frameworks with donors, and utilize local technical expertise. The author emphasizes the need for socio-economic impact assessments to prioritize resources and suggests that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) play a more prominent political role in international forums to secure continued support for the region.

• Successful national mine action programs require transparent, regular communication between governments, donors, and affected communities to avoid the need for nationals to constantly 'reinvent the wheel' due to the rotation of foreign experts.
• There is a critical need for national governments to demonstrate political commitment beyond simply signing the Ottawa Convention, as some countries still view mine action as an externally driven intervention.
• Donors frequently categorize mine action as a 'special initiative' rather than a 'main activity' within overseas development aid (ODA) budgets, which limits its long-term impact and integration into development planning.
• The use of inappropriate foreign technology and the failure to recognize local expertise have contributed to the failure of some humanitarian interventions; the SADC region is noted as a leader in mine-resistant vehicles.
• Mine action should be guided by socio-economic impact assessments to 'optimize impact' once the emergency phase has passed, ensuring that resources are allocated based on development needs rather than just technical removal.
• The Southern African Development Community (SADC) should increase its political visibility in international forums and the Ottawa Convention meetings to advocate for the region's needs.
• Experience from Mozambique, specifically from the National Demining Institute (IND) and the Accelerated Demining Programme (ADP), offers valuable lessons that could be adapted for Angola, given their shared language and colonial history.

APA

Grobbelaar, N. (n.d.). Mine action in Southern Africa: Instrument of development? South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Mine_Action_Chptr5_Port.pdf

Chicago

Grobbelaar, Neuma. Mine action in Southern Africa: Instrument of development? South African Institute of International Affairs, n.d. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Mine_Action_Chptr5_Port.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Grobbelaar |first1=Neuma |title=Mine action in Southern Africa: Instrument of development? |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Mine_Action_Chptr5_Port.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{grobbelaarndmine, author = {Grobbelaar, Neuma}, title = {{Mine action in Southern Africa: Instrument of development?}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Mine_Action_Chptr5_Port.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }