The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) established its Innovative Finance Secretariat in September 2025 to explore whether Innovative Finance tools could responsibly support mine action outcomes, and under what conditions. Innovative Finance mechanisms are complementary approaches to mobilizing and deploying resources alongside traditional Official Development Assistance (ODA). Their purpose is not to replace grant funding, but to improve the timing, scale, and predictability of resources available for humanitarian and development outcomes.
In sectors characterized by long-term, cumulative needs—such as mine action—Innovative Finance tools can help align financing structures with operational realities, enabling earlier delivery, greater continuity, and improved planning.
Over the past five years global landmine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) contamination has expanded significantlydriven by renewed use of antipersonnel landmines and explosive ordnance in active conflicts. At the same time, the growing scale and duration of mine action needs have highlighted the limits of predominantly annual and project-based funding approaches. In 2024, at least 6,279 people were killed or injured by landmines and ERW, the highest number recorded since 2020. Civilians accounted for approximately 86% of casualties, with children representing nearly half of civilian victims.
Beyond their humanitarian impact, landmines and ERW represent structural barriers to recovery and development. Contaminated land cannot be safely used for agriculture, housing, or infrastructure. All different pillars of mine action have been affected by funding instability, despite their critical role in preventing casualties and enabling safe movement and livelihoods.
Innovative Finance approaches are therefore being explored to:
Make funding available at scale, when needs are most acute
Improve predictability, supporting multi-year operational planning
Complement grants, while remaining anchored in humanitarian principles and national ownership.
Upcoming events
NDM 29 -Outcome based finance in Humanitarian Mine Action: Putting Theory into Practice
Geneva International Conference Center, Switzerland
Time: 11:30 - 12:30
NDM 29 - Reframing our Approach: Addressing the “Cost” of Mine Action Responses (human, financial, recovery)
Geneva International Conference Center, Switzerland
Time: 15:00 - 16:15
We recognize the importance of innovative financial mechanisms to secure sustainable funding for humanitarian mine action and invite both international financial institutions and private capital for accelerating the recovery projects.
Ukraine Mine Action Conference 2025 Outcome Document
Innovative Finance Team
María Merchán Rocamora
Advisor, Innovative Finance