The Directorate of Mine Action Coordination (DMAC) of the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) is a regulatory body for humanitarian Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA). Through its headquarters in Kabul and its seven regional offices, DMAC manages, coordinates and oversees the humanitarian mine action activities that are implemented by national and international non-governmental organizations and commercial companies. Mine Action has five pillars including Demining (survey, mapping, marking and clearance), Mine Risk Education, Stockpile Destruction, Victim Assistance and Advocacy. DMAC is being supported by the GIRoA and International Donors.

What they do

The Directorate of Mine Action Coordination (DMAC) is a directorate of of the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA). ANDMA is the secretariat and the operational section of the National Disaster Management Committee (NDMC). DMAC operates as the National Mine Action Centre in Afghanistan, the NDMC also serves as the National Mine Action Authority in Afghanistan. H.E Wais Ahmad Barmak the State Minister for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs is the chairman of ANDMA. DMAC is technically supported by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS).

The U.S. Department of State, Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA) provides financial contributions to DMAC in support of DMAC’s capacity development and promotion of mine action national ownership. PMRWA’s contributions to DMAC is made through a Slovenian organization, the International Trust Fund (ITF) – Enhancing Human Security. The ITF – Enhancing Human Security commenced its activities in Afghanistan since April 2014 based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with ANDMA.

The activities carried out by DMAC include but are not limited to the following:

 

• Coordinates, monitors, oversees and regulates the work of the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA)
• Serves as a mine action point of contact within the Government system and for the international mine action stakeholders
• In partnership with UNMAS, leads the mine action planning and priority setting process
• In partnership with UNMAS, mobilizes resources for mine action at national and international levels
• Reports on the implementation of Mine Action related conventions to which Afghanistan a signatory, including the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty (APMBC) and Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM)
• Ensures that the quality of mine action works in Afghanistan is in line with the national mine action standards
• Final certifies the technical work accreditation certificates that are issued to all Mine Action Operators working in Afghanistan
• Final certifies the minefields’ and battlefields’ demining completion reports
• Leads implementation of the Post Demining Impact Assessment and Landmine & Livelihood Surveys for measurement of mine action impact to the lives of beneficiaries
• Facilitates connections and communications of mine action operators with Governmental related departments
• Advocates for banning the use of landmines and cluster munitions and for promoting the rights and persons with disabilities
• Represent the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan in the mine action related meetings, conferences and symposiums at national and international levels
• Owns the National Mine Action Database – (Information Management System for Mine Action – IMSMA)