ANNUAL REPORT 2019 1. INTRODUCTION 7 • Mission 8 • Strategic Pillars 8 • Guiding Principles 9 2. ITF MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 10 • Organization of ITF 11 • ITF Managing Board 12 • ITF Board of Advisors 12 • Relationships with Stakeholders 13 3. MANAGEMENT OF ITF FUNDS 15 • Financial Management and Internal Control 16 • External Audit 16 • Donations in 2019 16 • Donation Report 2019 17 • ITF Administration and Project Costs 25 4. ITF OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW BY REGIONS/COUNTRIES 26 SOUTH EAST EUROPE 27 • Albania 28 • Bosnia and Herzegovina 31 • Croatia 40 • Kosovo* 43 • Montenegro 44 • Serbia 46 • Regional Aspect of ITF Activities (SEE) 48 EASTERN EUROPE 49 • Belarus 50 • Ukraine 52 SOUTH CAUCASUS 55 • Georgia 56 CENTRAL ASIA 57 • Afghanistan 58 • Kyrgyz Republic 61 MIDDLE EAST 64 • Gaza strip 65 • Jordan 67 • Syria 70 • West Bank 73 AFRICA 74 • Libya 75 • Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) 77 5. OTHER ACTIVITIES 80 • Publications 81 • ITF HQ Updates ITF Contact Information 81 • ITF at United Nations in New York 81 • The Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Official Visit to Slovenia 82 • Lend Your Leg 2019 83 • #MinnieReports 84 • Five Mine Victims from Bosnia and Herzegovina Climbed Mt. Triglav 84 6. STATUTORY ANNUAL STATEMENTS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2019 87 We would like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported us during 22 years of our work. The invaluable assistance from our donors, national partners, implementing agencies and relevant authorities, enabled ITF to work diligently and tirelessly towards helping people and communities around the world. We firmly believe that with strong support and joint efforts, we can minimize the threats to human security, while providing fundamental element of human dignity to each and every individual. Thank you! Unfortunately, the times we live in demonstrate that we are increasingly in need of institutions such as ITF Enhancing Human Security. Time and again, we are amazed and saddened to recognize the limited potential of international organizations, the Convention on Human Rights and the Rights of the Child and other documents in preventing armed conflict, reducing war violence and ensuring the general security of people. The activities of humanitarian and development cooperation organizations, which include ITF, are often the only external source of protection and assistance to people affected by conflict. That is the reality, even though we are aware that the underlying causes for armed conflicts and violence should be eliminated instead. Unfortunately reality and logic, as well as common sense, are often on two opposing ends. ITF carries out activities that contribute to the protection of lives and physical integrity of people – this is primarily mine action. In addition, ITF develops and implements “soft” activities that help people recover from physical, mental, social and economic wounds and losses, manage difficult circumstances, develop mental resilience and the ability to normalize their lives. At present, humanitarian aid and development cooperation have received some justifiable criticism regarding the non-economic use of resources and low efficiency. Many of these problems and pitfalls are being avoided by good selection of local partner organizations and proper, respectful partnerships and networking with local stakeholders. These qualities are inherent to ITF. ITF is one of those organizations that are driven by reason, humanity, respect for the needs and resources, cultures and contexts of the areas and suffering of the people targeted. Dr. Anica Mikuš Kos, Slovenian consultant child psychiatrist, The effects of providing assistance to populations in areas of armed conflict are ensured by is an expert in child mental projects that establish synergies between “hard” and “soft” activities. Physical activities such as health protection in warzones mine clearance, the destruction of explosive remnants of war, physical rehabilitation, or equipping and a supporter of humanitar- the disabled with prosthetics are linked with “soft” activities aimed at strengthening the resilience ian actions through psycho- of individuals and communities that are recovering and coping with inflicted mental wounds, social aid. Since 1991 she has losses and traumas. One of the important qualities of ITF is that it combines both sides of the been designing and running spectrum- the “hard” and the “soft” in humanitarian and development action. community and school based psychosocial programs for The effects of the ITF operation are much broader than those measured and reported by the children affected by armed number of beneficiaries reached. Increasing security and promoting the physical, psychosocial conflict in the Western Bal- and economic recovery of individuals are intertwined with the recovery of communities, the kans, North Caucasus, Afghan- promotion of humanity and solidarity, and the peacebuilding process. istan, and Iraq. She has been working with ITF since 2007, I wish that ITF continues to develop and implement activities for the benefit of people and primarily in Gaza Strip. Cur- communities that are affected by armed conflict and to contribute to the good of our planet, in rently Dr. Mikuš Kos serves as which there is far too much bad and evil. the president of the Slovene Philanthropy. Dr. Anica Mikuš Kos 1 INTRODUCTION ITF Enhancing Human Security (ITF) is a humanitarian, non-profit methods to a broader set of activities and integrate mine action organization specializing in land mine clearance, eradication of into a broader framework of development and human security. explosive remnants of war and other impacts from conflict. Established by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia Humanitarian mine action and other forms of post-conflict in March 1998, ITF’s initial purpose was to help Bosnia and assistance are proven contributors to human security and Herzegovina in the implementation of the peace agreement and to development. However, there is an opportunity for translating provide assistance and support in post-conflict rehabilitation. Since the close relationship between assistance, reconstruction and its inception, ITF has been continuously developing and enhancing development efforts into more concrete inter-linked approaches its mission by expanding the scope of its activities and geographic and programs, broadening the areas of intervention. There is area. ITF’s mission is to address the problems of an ever-changing room for more and better all-encompassing coordination and human security environment, the needs of beneficiary countries, collaboration between not only humanitarian mine action and and the priorities of the donor community. In order to increase CWD stakeholders, but also with other relevant developmental the impact on wider human security, the European Commission governmental and civil society actors. This approach increases granted ITF the title of European Union Member States’ Specialized efficiency, effectiveness and most importantly, leaves a Agency (MSSA), which opens up the possibilities to cooperate positive impact on conflict-affected communities. This impact within humanitarian projects of the European Union. With this enhances safety, socio-economic development and community status, ITF joins 11 other MSSA agencies under the humanitarian empowerment, which further ensures the right to a peaceful activities of Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and dignified life. The human security approach is about altering and Humanitarian Aid Operations. the traditional, more technical mode of assistance thinking. It is about mainstreaming mine action and CWD issues into broader Since 2012, when ITF officially changed its name to “ITF Enhancing humanitarian, development and human rights issues with a holistic Human Security” to address a broader range of challenges and approach towards mine action and CWD more effectively with objectives, ITF has defined a new purpose, which encompasses development initiatives. many different aspects of human security and post-conflict rehabilitation including risk education, surplus arms reduction, and The human security approach creates a framework that mirrors capacity building. the complexity and challenges of humanitarian and development interventions while working to reach the goal of a mine free The 2015–2020 ITF strategy was introduced to recognize and country. It is a reminder of the pervasive impact of war on people implement the unique advantages, capabilities and experience and enables ITF to focus not only on saving lives and limbs, but of ITF across the spectrum of post-conflict recovery including building resilient and empowered communities affected by conflict. humanitarian mine action and conventional weapons destruction A people-centered perspective of human security demonstrates (CWD). The organization implements professional post-conflict that humanitarian mine action and CWD are not solely about recovery through transparent and cost-efficient management clearance of ERW, risk awareness, or stockpile destruction. and accounting, coordination and collaboration of different Rather, the impact of mines/ERW and deteriorating munitions stakeholders with a focus on capacity building, strengthening touches upon all aspects of human security – health, personal of national ownership and regional cooperation, and quality security, livelihood, peace and the environment. ITF continues procurement system. Donors’ demand for better development to expand the scope