Operations Management

Contaminated countries need a wide range of support to meet the challenges posed by explosive ordnance (EO), from capacity sharing across a range of topics, through to developing tailored solutions in the management of mine action operations.  

Mine action operations usually support of policy and strategy implementation and focus on the removal of EO in a safe, effective, and efficient manner. This includes responding to new types of contamination, such as the recent spread of improvised explosive devices (IED) being used on a large scale, or the introduction of new techniques, such as the use of surveys to reduce the effort in releasing land. 

The Operations Management (OM) Programme supports countries through two, long term initiatives. The first is a learning initiative, based on the development and implementation of learning opportunities, which are delivered either nationally, regionally, or globally.

The second, the Mine Action Management Systems project, provides platforms for management topics to be discussed and facilitates the exchange of solutions among the mine action community. 

The learning initiative provides the mine action sector with a range of opportunities to professionalise the sector and, as part of the initiatives to enhance capacities within the sector, strives to work towards improved management of mine action programmes, resulting in operations being implemented more safely, effectively, and efficiently. The development of these courses is driven by the needs observed in the field and is continually adapting and evolving. The topics range in scope and vision from the training of management professionals within the sector, through to the initiation of new trainers, who themselves go on to train others in the areas of quality management, risk management and operational analysis.  The courses are designed to be accessible to a wide range of mine action professionals, with the development of blended instructor-led and self-paced learning becoming a significant step forward. 

The Mine Action Management Systems project links various aspects of the mine action sector into coherent national plans. This project works towards framing national responses in up-to-date processes, which are enabled by information management. These range from supporting countries in addressing the complexities of liability in the mine action context, exploring and implementing IED responses, and plans to move into a residual phase of their mine action programmes. This project is rooted in understanding the needs of EO affected countries and driven by assessments of the needs.