Decision Making to Prioritise Mine Clearance Projects

In 2003/2004, the Mine Action Information Centre (MAIC), James Madison University, was tasked by the US Department of State Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement with performing a cost-benefit analysis of two demining programs. This analysis was used to develop a model to analyse the quantitative impacts, expected results, and suggested prioritisation of mine clearance activities. Prioritisation was considered within the context of socio-economic development programmes. A theoretical cost-benefit model was built on the basis of a research phase. To further refine the developed model, two field researches were chosen, Thailand and Ethiopia.