UNMAS Iraq Grants to National Non-Governmental Organizations

UNMAS Iraq Grants to National Non-Governmental Organizations is sponsored by United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

United Nations Mine Action Service A woman deminer, from implementing partner Shareteah Humanitarian Organization (SHO), conducts clearance operations in Mosul, Ninewa Governorate. UNMAS / Shareteah Humanitarian Organization (SHO) Iraq is one of the most explosive affected (EO) contaminated countries in the world.

It has approximately 2,5831 square kilometers of recorded contaminated areas, including extensive and complex contamination in areas retaken from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Continued clearance of residential and agricultural areas is an important contributor and enabler for sustainable returns and development and supports broader humanitarian objectives.

The UNMAS Iraq programme takes a programmatic approach to the assistance provided to the Government of Iraq (GoI) in leading and coordinating a national mine action response supported by multi-donor contributions. As per its Country Programme Strategy 2023-2025, UNMAS Iraq provides technical and advisory support to the Iraqi national authorities to lead, manage and implement the national mine action response.

In parallel, UNMAS will continue to enhance the capacity of national operators to effectively carry out survey, clearance and Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) to maintain a consistent mine action response in Iraq. Simultaneously, UNMAS Iraq will continue to advocate for enabling environment to humanitarian mine action and clearance in particular.

From 1 January to 31 December 2025 Removed 19,172 explosive remnants of war (ERW), and 677 improvised explosive devices (IED) in Ninewa Governorate. Conducted 27 clearance tasks enabling rehabilitation and resumption of livelihood activities, and humanitarian actors to move forward with urgent lifesaving interventions. In addition, 90 spot tasks were conducted in response to community reporting, removing 234 EO items.

387 police officers, including 78 women, were trained to identify, mark and report EO threats. This includes; four Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) / Drone training courses, two Global Positioning System (GPS) training course, four Awareness on the Dangers of Explosives (UXO - Mines - IEDs) courses, two IED Disposal training, three Training of Trainers (T3) Awareness Courses, one T3 Drone training and one T3 EOD/IEDD course.

Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) sessions were delivered to 22,190 people in affected communities near areas with ongoing clearance operations.

UNMAS Iraq supports the development of a sustainable, well-coordinated national mine action sector and reduces the threat of EO to civilians through three pillars of work: Technical Support to the Government of Iraq The GoI coordinates, manages, and allocates national financial resources to an efficient, well-coordinated, and well-prioritized Mine Action sector.

UNMAS Iraq provides technical support that aims to enable national mine action authorities to effectively lead and coordinate mine action in Iraq. This support is intended to help build streamlined sustainable processes for improved coordination mechanisms across all relevant GoI institutions.

This includes a focus on technical assistance toward capacity development, technical enhancement, governance, and effective systems and processes for GoI entities to deliver a coordinated mine action response effectively.

UNMAS Iraq advocates for sustainable government funding to humanitarian mine action activities through the National Mine Action Authorities to reduce the risks of IEDs, landmines, cluster munitions, and other ERW and to comply with the various disarmament treaties and instruments to which Iraq is a signatory.

Capacity Enhancement of National Mine Action Organizations National NGOs implement mine action priority tasks effectively and efficiently with funds from the GoI and international donors. Since 2020, UNMAS Iraq has supported capacity building of national operators through the “Partnership model’.

Under this model, international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) were partnered with national non-governmental organizations (NNGOs) to provide training, and transfer skills and experience for three years. UNMAS Iraq successfully concluded the Partnership model by the end of 2023 with two NNGOs who are now fully accredited to implement EO clearance operations.

From 2024 onwards and with the kind assistance of multiple donors, UNMAS Iraq will directly award grants to the NNGOs. Through the current grants, the NNGOs will continue to operate independently building on the experience and knowledge derived from the Partnership Model. The direct grant contributes to the sustainable capacity of the NNGOs to respond to the humanitarian mine action needs in the country.

Explosive Hazard Management Land is released for safe return of displaced persons and development activities and people are able to mitigate the risks from EO. UNMAS Iraq conducts survey and clearance operations, as well as EORE activities in the most devastated areas of Iraq.

Clearance will involve the identification, neutralization, and removal of EO from buildings, critical infrastructure, and their immediate surroundings, as well as open/rural areas with minefield-like defensive lines of IEDs. The teams will provide EORE to the affected communities to raise awareness and promote safe behavior when confronted with EO in their daily lives.

UNMAS in Iraq is solely funded through contributions to the UN Voluntary Trust Fund. The donors who supported UNMAS Iraq activities in 2025 include Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, New Zealand, Slovakia, and Sweden. For the year 2025, UNMAS Iraq seeks USD 6 million to fully implement the planned activities.

UNMAS Iraq is making consistent efforts to raise additional funds to respond to the needs for technical support, EORE and survey and clearance, to better support the humanitarian response. Sumar SULAIMAN, OiC Chief Mine Action Programme, UNMAS Iraq, sumers@unops.

org In collaboration with the Iraqi Ministry of Interior (MoI), UNMAS trains police on using drone to detect explosive remnants of war at the MoI base in Salman Pak, located on the outskirts of Baghdad. An UNMAS team in war-torn Mosul, Iraq, searches for, and clears, explosives in the rubble. Items hidden could be undetonated bombs, booby traps or suicide vests.

Slow and dangerous work. UNMAS Iraq mixed-gender teams partake in field training exercises in Mosul, Iraq. Delivering risk education to refugees and those internally displaced is an essential step to ensure their safe return to their cities and communities.

Children leaving a risk education session in Salamiyah IDP camp south east of Mosul, Iraq. A woman deminer, from implementing partner Shareteah Humanitarian Organization (SHO), conducts clearance operations in Mosul, Ninewa Governorate.

UNMAS / Shareteah Humanitarian Organization (SHO) Explosive Ordnance (EO) Removed 723,812 items (including 3,374 improvised explosive devices) Explosive Ordnance Risk Education Reached UNMAS Iraq Fact Sheet 1 January - 31 March 2026 UNMAS Iraq Programme Report 2025 Case Study #1 - High Standard of Clearance Operations: Safety Restored in Makhmour Case Study #2 - Ongoing Battle: Unwavering Mine Action Endeavors in Tal Kaif Case Study #3 - Gradual return: Reclaiming land and rebuilding lives in Ain Talawi Case Study #4 - Building ‘New’ Basra City: Mine Action as Enabler eBook: My Sinjar Reflections Safe Home - An Iraqi TV Series on Women in Mine Action Wednesday, June 10, 2026 - 08:47 UNMAS Iraq convened the Fourth Local Mine Action Support Group meeting in collaboration with the Embassy of Australia in Iraq UNMAS Iraq convened the Fourth Local Mine Action Support Group meeting in collaboration with the Embassy of Australia in Iraq عربي (Arabic) Baghdad, 26 November 2025 – The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Iraq held the fourth Local Mine Action Support Group (LMASG), hosted and co-chaired by the Australian Embassy, Iraq.

The meeting… UNMAS welcomes a new contribution from the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund – Peace and Security Sub-Fund in support of the Iraqi mine action sector UNMAS welcomes a new contribution from the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund – Peace and Security Sub-Fund in support of the Iraqi mine action sector Arabic The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Iraq welcomes a generous contribution from the People's Republic of China through the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund – Peace and Security Sub-Fund… UNMAS Welcomes a New Contribution from the Government of Denmark in Support of the Iraqi Mine Action Sector UNMAS Welcomes a New Contribution from the Government of Denmark in Support of the Iraqi Mine Action Sector عربي (Arabic) Baghdad, 25 July 2025 – The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Iraq welcomes a generous contribution of DKK 22,000,000 (approximately US$3.

4 million) from the Government of Denmark. This funding will… Recovering from Da’esh: Women at the Front Lines - Short Doc Film Recovering from Da’esh: Women at the Front Lines - Short Doc Film In 2014, Da’esh captured and controlled significant territory including Ninewa governorate, committing atrocities that resulted in the loss of lives and displacement of thousands of families.

Men, women, and children were… United Nations Mine Action Service The United Nations Mine Action Service works to protect civilians, enable humanitarian access, and support peace and development by coordinating and delivering mine action responses.