The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Activity 29162 - HALO Humanitarian Mine Action and Cluster Ammunition Activities 2016-2020 Annual Report Afghanistan 1 September 2016 - 31 December 2017 Total grant: USD 6,135,442

Table of Contents

Table of Contents ...... 1 Executive Summary ...... 2 Inputs ...... 3 Personnel ...... 3 Equipment...... 3 Country Context ...... 3 Outputs and Outcomes ...... 5 Outputs & Outcomes table ...... 8 Impact ...... 9 Sustainability of Outcomes ...... 10 Gender Equality ...... 11 Coordination with National Authorities and Local Partners ...... 12 Innovation ...... 13 Risks ...... 13 Political/Security ...... 13 Security/Operations ...... 14 Conclusion ...... 14 Annex A: Case Study ...... 15 History of Mine Laying ...... 15 Haji Sartor’s Story ...... 15 HALO and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs ...... 17 Annex B: Theory of Change ...... 18 Annex C: Metrics Table with Outputs as reported in IATI ...... 19

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Executive Summary

Through the mine clearance activities funded by the Netherlands, HALO has been able to provide immediate physical protection to Afghanistan’s most vulnerable communities, promote a culture of peace and stability, assist victims of mine accidents and improve rural livelihoods. This progress report covers all activities funded by the Netherlands from 1 September 2016 to 31 December 2017. During this period, HALO conducted manual and mechanical clearance, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), survey, mine risk education (MRE), and impact monitoring. In cooperation with local partner organization, Accessibility Organization for Afghan Disabled (AOAD), victims of mine and ERW accidents were provided with vocational training to enhance their position in society and improve access to employment opportunities.

HALO’s activities were conducted predominately by staff recruited from mine-impacted communities, providing employment on a long-term basis to the rural poor and facilitating security for their communities. Funding by the Netherlands supported the deployment of 18 manual mine demining teams, one mechanical demining team, one community outreach risk education (CORE) team and one weapons and ammunition disposal (WAD) team. These teams achieved the following results:

 273.3 ha of land cleared and released to rural communities

 409 anti-personnel (AP) and 22 anti-tank (AT) mines found and destroyed

 93 items of unexploded ordnance (UXO) found and destroyed

 9,461 men, women, boys and girls benefited directly from clearance

 26,339 men, women, boys and girls benefited indirectly from clearance

 300 MRE sessions providing life-saving information to 6,305 attendees

 Victim assistance provided by AOAD to 47 mine/ERW survivors and/or their direct family members

The land released by mine clearance funded by the Netherlands enabled safe access to productive resources and provided new sources of income for rural mine-impacted communities. The majority of land cleared this year is used for grazing, foraging, and crop cultivation. Improved household income derived through employment as deminers as well as access to safe grazing and agricultural land contributed to increased human security by enhancing resilience to economic and natural shocks and reducing the likelihood that men of the targeted communities will participate in armed conflict, narcotics trafficking and insurgency, contributing directly to NL Policy Framework sub-goals 1.1 and 1.3.

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Inputs

Personnel

To date, funding by the Netherlands provided employment for 162 qualified Afghan staff. This reporting period, 18 manual clearance teams of six people (a total of 108 people) and one mechanical demining team of six people were deployed for 16 months. Additionally, one CORE team with EOD capacity of five people was deployed for nine months and one WAD team of seven people for 12 months. 21 support staff and 11 senior operational staff supported these teams from the start of the NL funded mechanical clearance in Laghman province, Afghanistan – contract up to now. September 2017 Out of the 108 manual deminers, 71 were newly recruited from mine-impacted communities and underwent a basic demining training course during the first month of the project. Additionally, training was provided to the newly recruited members of the CORE team, of which two are female. No problems occurred in the deployment of teams during the reporting period.

Equipment

As a result of existing program equipment stocks, there was little requirement to purchase high value capital equipment. The only major purchase with a value exceeding 5,000 USD were 233 visors. Other vital demining equipment such as body armor and detectors currently used by NL funded demining teams were purchased on previous contracts.

Country Context

Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most fragile countries as chronic humanitarian needs persist throughout much of its territory and ongoing clashes between armed opposition groups (AOGs) and the government continue to destabilize the country. In a report released by the UN Secretary-General in August 2017 on the strategic review of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), it was stated Table illustrating the number of armed clashes per year. Source: 2018 Humanitarian Needs Overview, UNOCHA.

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“Afghanistan is not in a post conflict situation […] but a country undergoing a conflict that shows few signs of abating”. The statement is based on an increase in armed attacks. The table above extracted from the 2018 Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) produced by UNOCHA depicts the rise in frequency of armed clashes over the past decade. Additionally, this reporting period, Kabul witnessed one of the deadliest attacks in years when a truck bomb exploded in a crowded intersection of the green zone near the German embassy on 31 May 2017, killing over 150 and injuring more than 400. Despite deterioration of security, no incidents involving HALO staff or equipment occurred during the project period. HALO’s senior management continue to closely monitor the situation in coordination with national authorities and local community elders to ensure safety and security of staff and equipment, as well as to retain access and operational safety within the communities HALO is working in.

Persistent fighting between AOGs and the government continues to displace thousands of people across the country. Since the beginning of 2017, 202,109 people fled their homes in search of safety. There is also a large influx of refugees returning to Afghanistan from Pakistan and Iran. According to the 2018 HNO, the intensification of conflict in many parts of the country has caused returnees to become secondarily displaced or forced to settle in areas other than their place of origin. Families fleeing conflict and returnees are particularly vulnerable to mines/ERW, as they often have no knowledge of where contaminated areas are found and may be forced into using dangerous land to generate livelihoods and address immediate water and food needs. MRE provided by the Netherlands funded CORE team ensures susceptible communities, IDPs and returnees are aware of risks posed by mines and other ERW.

Over the past five years, livelihood security for many rural households throughout the country has decreased due to recurrent droughts, ongoing conflict, and fluctuating food prices. Food insecurity in Afghanistan is escalating, with almost 6% (1.6 million) of Afghans severely food insecure and another 34% (9.7 million) moderately food insecure at the national level1. Population growth and movement are placing greater pressure on available agricultural land, often forcing the population to utilize land that may be contaminated by mines or ERW.

As such, Afghan civilian lives continue to be risked by the high number of mines and ERW, a legacy predominantly of Soviet occupation. Clearance is a crucial element in creating stability and alleviating suffering. In December 2012, Afghanistan obtained an extension to meet its obligations under the Mine Ban Treaty and is now required to clear all remaining mines in its territory by March 2023. Funding provided by the Netherlands allows HALO to continue supporting the Government of Afghanistan in meeting its obligations.

1 FSAC Response Plan Afghanistan 2017, Food Security Afghanistan Cluster, http://fscluster.org/sites/default/files/documents/fsac_response_strategy_2017_for_afghanistan.pdf

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Outputs and Outcomes

The Theory of Change submitted with the project proposal and the underlying assumptions continue to reflect the current situation in Afghanistan. While the security situation remains unstable across many parts of the country, HALO maintained access to targeted communities and project activities proceeded as planned. Likewise, the link between the project outputs and outcomes remain relevant.

The following paragraphs outline how funding by the Netherlands to HALO contributed to the Sustainable Development Goals and subsequently the Ministries’ Human Security Sub-Goals as described in the Grant policy framework for the Mine Action and Cluster Munitions Program 2016-2020.2

Outcome 1: Security and stability is enhanced, risk of death and injury to individuals and communities reduced

During the project period, manual and mechanical deminers funded by the Netherlands successfully cleared 1,795,325m2 of minefields across 35 tasks. Mine clearance activities occurred in seven provinces: Kabul, Baghlan, Samangan, Khost, Parwan, Laghman and Balkh. The deminers achieved 99.7% of the overall mine clearance target set for the first year, in which 100% of the available team months was used. While it was initially the plan to clear 1,800,841m2 across 29 tasks during the first project year, due to heightened security risks in Khaki Jabbar district of Kabul province, several tasks in this region were exchanged with better accessible and more secure tasks in Laghman province. As the size of the minefields in Laghman province are smaller than those in Khaki Jabbar, the number of tasks was increased to ensure the annual clearance target would be achieved.

The manual demining team funded by the Netherlands also completed 938,150m2 of surface battle area clearance in Khaki Jabbar district of Kabul province. Additionally, during the reporting period, 643,005m2 of land was released through non-technical survey. As a result, funding from the Netherlands allowed HALO to return a total of 3,376,480m2 of land back to the community to be put into productive use.

NL manual and mechanical deminers found and destroyed 409 anti-personnel (AP) mines, 22 anti-tank (AT) mine, 93 items of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and 35 items of small arms ammunition. The clearance of 35 tasks and the removal of these ERW provided immediate physical protection to vulnerable communities through reducing their risk of mine/ERW accidents. By clearing land of mines and other ERW, residents of previous mine-impacted communities are finally able to move freely and utilize the land without risking severe injuries or their lives.

During the project period, the CORE team funded by the Netherlands visited 74 communities in Kabul, Khost, Laghman and Parwan provinces. They conducted a total of 300 MRE sessions attended by 6,305 men, women, boys and girls. The sessions guarantee susceptible communities are aware of risks posed

2 https://www.government.nl/topics/grant-programmes/mine-action-and-cluster-munitions-programme-2016-2020

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by mines and other ERW. The team collected MRE data from 742 attendees through pre and post surveys. The results reveal that 90% of the direct beneficiaries surveyed demonstrated increased knowledge of mines/ERW after the session. Additionally, 87% of those surveyed are likely to engage in safe behavior based on correctly answering action and behavior-based questions. NL funded CORE team providing local women in Khaki Jabbar district of The lifesaving information provided Kabul Province with MRE – April 2017 during the session not only aims to prevent the immediate consequences of a mine/ERW accident, but also the long-term impact an accident has on the victim’s household. Victims are often perceived as a caring burden to the family, as their ability to generate an income and support household needs is considerably reduced while simultaneously producing high medical costs. Households affected by accidents may be unable to meet their basic needs and food security, nutrition, and educational status may suffer.

Understanding the challenges faced by people with disabilities and the families of mine/ERW victims, HALO collaborated with AOAD to provide accident victims with vocational training to enable them to participate more fully in the local labor market and civic life. During the project period, a total of 47 victims and/or their direct family members from Khaki Jabbar district of Kabul province participated in vocational training provided by AOAD. 19 men and 25 women participated in a six-month tailoring course and four women participated in poultry training.

Outcome 2: Enhanced resilience of vulnerable groups through improved access to resources, livelihoods and socioeconomic reconstruction

The presence of mines and ERW of land prevents areas from being safely and productively used, limiting agricultural output, minimizing the size of livestock flocks, reducing areas for foraging and suppressing vital livelihood opportunities. Clearance unblocks agricultural and grazing land, leading to the prevention of animal accidents as well as the promotion of livelihood resilience through increased access to resources and income.

The land released this reporting period will be used for grazing and foraging (77.2%), residential areas (11.9%), agriculture and crop cultivation (10%) and the construction of a road (1%). The clearance of grazing and agricultural land makes a vital contribution to the human rights of beneficiaries living in mine- impacted communities by providing new sources of natural resources, food and income. Many rural families rely on flocks of sheep and goats, and with village populations growing there is increasing pressure on grazing land. Some families are forced to graze livestock in dangerous areas, risking

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economically devastating losses of animals. Beneficiaries will also use this land for gathering firewood and wild herbs, which can be used for heating in the winter months or sold to supplement family livelihoods.

9,461 men, women, boys and girls benefited directly and 26,339 men, women, boys and girls benefited indirectly from the land released by deminers funded by the Netherlands. The number of indirect beneficiaries is significantly higher than initially anticipated, particularly as the total project target for the number of indirect beneficiaries has been surpassed in solely the first year. The beneficiary numbers used for the target are based on minefield data collected several years prior to mine clearance when survey was conducted. During the time gap between survey and clearance, the number of beneficiaries increased as a result of general population growth, the return of refugees and settlement of IDPs, causing the data that the targets are based on to be outdated. This is expected to be the case throughout the course of the project as beneficiary numbers are recounted and updated only once mine clearance activities in the targeted community take place.

The project also contributed to increased household incomes in target communities by providing secure employment to Afghan deminers. By recruiting 71 deminers from mine-impacted communities, HALO provides men of fighting age with a sustainable and alternative source of income as well as skills development that increases prospects for future/other employment. Under a contract with Irish Aid, 50 deminers were surveyed from August-October 2017 to determine the impact employment with HALO has on their livelihoods and wellbeing. Results show that 90% of deminers report an increase in household income since working with HALO. Additionally, 94% of the deminers state that they can better afford for their children to attend school and 98% said that it is easier to access healthcare. According to UNICEF, an estimated 3.7 million children in Afghanistan are not enrolled in school, of which the majority live in the country’s poorest and most remote areas. As such, new sources of income for deminers recruited from rural villages improve their children’s access to education. It is expected that deminers under this contract are experiencing comparable benefits.

In December 2017, the CORE team funded by the Netherlands conducted surveys with victim assistance beneficiaries. In the surveys, 93% of the victims reported improved livelihoods and household income after receiving training from AOAD. Interestingly, how the household benefitted from the training differed between female and male participants. While men who underwent the tailoring training reported their income had increased by selling garments Dresses made by female participants of AOAD’s victim assistance tailoring course – November 2016 made on the local market or opening a tailoring shop, women generally reported that their household’s income increased by no longer needing to purchase clothing for their families, allowing this money to be used for other necessities.

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Outputs & Outcomes table

Numerical Outputs Per Target Year Activity Unit of Outcomes SRoL Sub-Goal Alignment Output 2016- ‘16 ‘17 ‘18 ‘19 ‘20 2017 - Increased safety and security in 24 target communities; 1.1: Physical security threat reduced by clearance of reduction of fear for community members landmines/UXO

- 444.5 ha of safe land available for grazing, foraging, 1.3: Communities contribute to human security by undertaking

Manual and agriculture, development the work themselves # hectares mechanical mine

cleared 180 - 30,532 people directly benefit from clearance

45.90 92.86

clearance 134.82 103.92 107.02 - 23,250 people indirectly benefit from clearance - 444.5 ha of land removed from Afghanistan’s IMSMA database assisting government in meeting Ottawa Treaty obligations 1.3: Communities contribute to human security by undertaking Employment of the work themselves; employment of working-age men Afghans from # of staff - Increased income, socioeconomic participation, and well-being contributes to culture of non-violence

mine-impacted employed 125 180 162 165 118 118 for 125 staff and families 1.1: Physical security threats (malnutrition, poor health) communities generated by low income alleviated 1.4: Unemployment as driver of conflict reduced - Increased security and safety in 1 target community 1.1: Physical security threat reduced by removal of ERW/UXO Destruction of - 30 tonnes reduction in explosives/ ammunition available to 1.3: Communities contribute to human security by undertaking

mines, ERW, # tonnes of AOGs and criminal groups the work themselves

UXO through explosives - - - - 30 38 - National authorities supported in disposing of confiscated 1.4: Decrease in explosives and arms translates to lower amount WAD excavation destroyed ammunition/ weapons of conflict commodities for AOGs and call-outs* 1.2: National security forces assisted in effectively disposing of dangerous weapons/ammunition - Increased livelihoods opportunities for 144 victims

Assistance to 1.1: Threats to physical well-being (inability to access healthcare # of victims victims and for complex needs, ill-fitting prosthetics, lack of employment) assisted 45 11 36 36 36 36 - Increased well-being leading to better human security for families* reduced victims

# of Educating local sessions populations held 300 240 240 240 - Increased awareness of mine/ERW threats and safe behavior 1.1: Risk-taking behavior leading to accidents is reduced

about risk of # of people - for 2,880 people amongst session attendees mines/UXO/ERW reached

960 960 96

6,305 4,800 4,800 4,800

1.1: Physical security threat reduced by removal of mines/ERW

EOD call-outs # of call-

1 - Increased physical security in 120 communities conducted outs 24 18 30 30 20 1.3: Communities contribute to human security by reporting ERW/UXO

Community # of - NGO interventions are appropriate, realistic, and based on 1.3: Communities contribute to own security through

Assessments 9 2 3 assessments 10 14 60 clearly identified needs participatory needs assessments conducted

# hectares - 40 ha of land removed from Afghanistan’s IMSMA database

Area cancelled 0 9

11 10 10

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Impact

The objective of this project is to increase human security for rural communities and vulnerable groups in mine-impacted communities, and enhance the resilience of these groups by improving access to resources, livelihoods and socio-economic opportunities and facilitate inclusive economic and social development. This intervention is aligned with the national strategy towards a mine free Afghanistan by 2023 as part of the government’s obligation to the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty. Funding provided by the Netherlands is directly contributing to reaching this goal.

The activities carried out during this reporting period increase security and resilience in rural communities and amongst vulnerable groups including women and girls, returning refugees and the internally displaced. HALO Afghanistan is committed to supporting IDPs and returnees through emergency mine risk education, spot explosive ordnance disposal and clearance. IDPs arrive already vulnerable and desperately unequipped to face legacy mines or new contamination from recent conflicts in unfamiliar areas. HALO has over thirty years’ experience of responding quickly and increasing resilience for these vulnerable groups already facing a myriad of crises and disasters in rural Afghanistan.

The presence of mines and ERW prevents areas from being safely and productively used, limiting agricultural output, minimizing the size of sheep and goat flocks, reducing areas for foraging and suppressing vital livelihood opportunities. Assets of the rural poor are inherently limited by mines and the loss of a goat or the inability to cultivate part of their land immediately hinders potential income from selling at local markets. Clearance unblocks agricultural and grazing land, leading to the prevention of animal accidents as well as the promotion of livelihood resilience through increased access to resources and income. This ensures targeted communities are better able to cope and recover when further economic shocks or food insecurities arise. Clearance additionally facilitates the access of other humanitarian actors. Mine-impacted villages are often excluded from NGO and governmental development projects due to fears over staff safety, a lack of usable agricultural land for rural development projects, and the difficulty of implementing infrastructure projects such as irrigation canals or electricity projects across land contaminated by mines. This causes further marginalization for villages already marked by a history of conflict and struggling with the legacy of landmines. After clearance is complete, government and non-governmental development organizations will be able to access the targeted villages to conduct thorough needs assessments and develop projects using the cleared land.

The recruitment of Afghan staff under this project also increases resilience and promotes conditions for human security. By recruiting deminers from all parts of the country, HALO provides men of fighting age with a sustainable source of income as well as skill development that increases prospects for future/other employment. As a result, men are less likely to resort to illegal activities such as narcotic trafficking or insurgency to sustain their household needs. Likewise, by providing national staff with sustainable sources of income, there is a reduced need for them to migrate and search for work elsewhere. Migration is often driven by a complex combination of poor security and lack of livelihoods opportunities, both of which can be addressed through large-scale humanitarian mine action projects.

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The WAD team funded by the Netherlands contributed directly to civil protection by disposing of ERW and destroying ammunition and weapon stockpiles that could be used by insurgent groups. According to the 2018 HNO, the first ten months of 2017 registered a 20 percent increase in improvised explosive device (IED) incidents. Also, civilian accident data recorded in the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) database reveals that between January and October 2017, 851 civilians were injured or killed in ERW accidents and 847 people harmed in pressure-plate improvised explosive device (PPIED) accidents. The explosives used to create PPIEDs as well as bombs are often harvested from old ammunition found at buried Soviet caches. Ammunition and weaponry are thus an attractive source of valuable conflict commodities, which fuel the ongoing insurgency, destabilize the Afghan government, and adversely impact human security across the region. EOD call-outs and weapons ammunition disposal conducted under this contract play an important role in reducing such conflict commodities.

Finally, survey and victim assistance activities under this contract facilitate inclusive development. The use of a mixed-gender CORE team enables women and girls to participate in the community-led, inclusive process that takes place to define and assess mined areas before clearance begins. When an all-male CORE team is used to conduct the pre-clearance survey, women’s voices are rarely heard and they are therefore typically excluded from the process of task prioritization and planning. Similarly, victim assistance improves the position of mine/ERW survivors and their family member’s position in society. Survivors and their families are generally among the furthest left behind in mine-affected communities. By providing victims with new skills and knowledge, they are able to more fully participate on the labor market and play a more active role in society.

Sustainability of Outcomes

A shift in focus on bringing livelihood activities to beneficiaries of mine-impacted communities within the same project has emerged in light of new contracts under British and German funding. Under recent contracts, HALO partnered with development organizations Afghanaid and DACAAR, who are focused on agriculture, grazing and small infrastructure projects in Afghanistan. Sharing results frameworks and socio-economic data with these partners enhances coordination and harmonization across sectors. This echoes HALO’s stance on cluster coordination and wider strategic goals such as the sustainable development goals (SDGs), which lead to long-term coordinated strategies within the humanitarian and development field.

Through the Citizens Charter, HALO continues to look for development activities on or near HALO cleared land. The Citizens Charter (CC) is the Government’s replacement for the nationwide National Solidarity Program (NSP) with the intention to deliver basic services in 117 districts. Over 8.5 million people are expected to be reached in the first phase covering the period 2016-2020, increasing trust and satisfaction with the government and improvement to quality of services across rural communities. The implementation of development projects on land cleared by HALO promotes sustainable development of marginalized communities beyond humanitarian mine clearance.

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Likewise, through cooperation with local victim assistance organizations such as AOAD, HALO is able to contribute to the livelihoods and general wellbeing of landmine and ERW survivors and their direct family members. People with disabilities in rural communities are often marginalized and discriminated against, as they are perceived as unable to contribute fully to society or to their household. Survivors are often excluded from social discourse and are more likely to experience extreme poverty and unemployment. The vocational training offered under the scope of this project facilitates social and economic rehabilitation and progressive integration into the local community, allowing for lasting improvement in the quality of life of victims and their families.

Gender Equality

Human security for many women and girls in Afghanistan continues to be poor. Women are disproportionately affected by poverty and violence, and are less likely to be educated or employed. Cultural perceptions of gender roles in Afghanistan discourage female employment, particularly in field positions. Consequently, unlike in the other countries where HALO operates, it has not been possible to recruit women as Female member of CORE team visiting mine impacted communities and accident deminers. victims to conduct mine risk education and household surveys.

To compensate for the difficulty of hiring female deminers, innovative ways are sought to ensure gender mainstreaming is incorporated into HALO’s activities. Under this project as well as in those funded by other donors, HALO recruits and trains women to work as members of CORE teams. As Afghan culture and values discourage women from travelling without being accompanied by a male relative, HALO recruits couples to work under a ‘mahram structure’, in which all women in CORE teams work side-by- side with a member of their family, usually a brother or husband.

The CORE team funded by the Netherlands has two female staff members. The inclusion of women in this team provides new employment opportunities they may otherwise have been excluded from, and allows women to generate sustainable sources of income and improve the human security of their households. The gender balanced teams also have positive impacts on female beneficiaries in mine-impacted communities. Due to socio-cultural norms constraining mixed gender interaction, all-male MRE teams struggle to reach female populations, causing women and girls to be excluded from MRE sessions and being denied the right of access to life-saving information. HALO’s mixed gender teams reported that women provide less precise information on the history of conflict in the area, details of mine/ERW-related

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accidents, and the economic assets the household possesses. Women in rural areas claim they are poorly informed about the outside world. A confirmation of this is their anxiety levels related to contamination by mines/ERW, which is higher than the men’s, and often stay higher even after a mine action is complete. This information is key for the operational efficiency of mine action activities, as it indicates that women need to be approached directly or through an effective communication channel to ensure that they receive and share information. The inclusion of female personnel facilitates such contact with women and girls, permitting teams to provide MRE and accurate information to all gender groups residing in proximity to hazardous areas. During the reporting period, 3,193 women and girls attended MRE sessions. Without the female staff they may otherwise have been excluded. Additionally, 4,389 females directly and 11,821 indirectly benefitted from mine clearance activities.

HALO continues to be involved in national initiatives to promote gender mainstreaming in humanitarian mine action, including participation in the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA) Gender Mainstreaming Strategy. As part of this process, HALO’s male and female gender focal points attend regular DMAC/UNMAS gender mainstreaming meetings. HALO’s gender focal point team implements the program’s gender strategy. In 2017, HALO hosted the director of the GMAP, who reviewed our gender strategy, held focal group discussions (FGDs) with our staff and met with MAPA stakeholders.

Gender-sensitivity is also incorporated in the victim assistance vocational training offered by AOAD. After conducting a needs assessment, AOAD provided 19 men and 28 women with disabilities and their direct family members with courses. The training took into account the differing vulnerabilities experienced by men and women. The tailoring and poultry training were explicitly designed for women to provide them with the skills necessary to progress prospects of improving their livelihoods.

Coordination with National Authorities and Local Partners

Throughout the contract period, HALO continued close collaboration with the Directorate of Mine Action Coordination (DMAC) and Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) to support progress towards Afghanistan’s Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty obligations, and strengthen coordination between national authorities and implementing partners. As the operational arm and sectoral department of the Afghan mine action authority, DMAC is responsible for leadership and coordination of implementing partners, managing the IMSMA database, monitoring and evaluation of all mine action activities in Afghanistan and adherence to national standards. By supporting DMAC in its work, HALO enables it to complete the process of taking full ownership of mine action in Afghanistan. With British funding, HALO contributes to national capacity building and expertise through providing local staff with quality management workshop and the sharing of knowledge on topics such as most effective methods to target AT contamination and whether IEDs can and should be included in humanitarian mine action.

Monthly stakeholder meetings held by DMAC bring together implementing partners and donors to discuss achievements, challenges, access, security and other relevant events or funding opportunities.

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Throughout the reporting period HALO’s senior staff attended 66 stakeholder meetings. DMAC also carry out quality assurance checks on HALO’s mine clearance activities. DMAC conducted 40 quality assurance checks during this period. Additionally, HALO shared all relevant operations data with DMAC to support their coordination and records of contaminated areas.

HALO also works closely with development partners such as DACAAR, Afghanaid, ACTED, Norwegian Refugee Council, Solidarites International and MADERA to support development after hand-over of cleared land. By linking demining with development, rural community resilience is enhanced and previously neglected groups are able to receive much needed assistance more quickly.

Innovation

The project is innovative in its reliance on female members of the CORE team deployed using funding provided by the Netherlands. In the Afghan context, employment of female staff and their involvement in mine clearance activities remains extremely unusual; whilst some operators have used mixed-gender MRE teams in the past, this is infrequent and it is rare to find female members of staff involved in pre- clearance survey activities. Interaction with women and girls when conducting pre- and post-clearance assessments, allows females to participate in the clearance process and guarantees their voices are heard, thereby ensuring female needs are incorporated in the humanitarian mine clearance sector.

HALO is at the fore front of implementing technical innovation in the humanitarian mine action sector. Pioneering technology is used in mine clearance operations with the deployment of dual sensor detectors and rotary mine combs, in data management and visualization with Fulcrum software and interactive maps, in environmental measure through the usage of solar power rather than diesel generators to power demining camps, and by working directly with manufacturers to develop bespoke engineering solutions in a range of areas including personal protective equipment for deminers and ancillaries for mechanical assets.

Risks

Political/Security

No major risks materialized. The Taliban and increasingly IS have remained active over the contract period but have not directly impacted HALO’s operations. HALO continues to prioritize community liaison to mitigate against insecurities affecting mine clearance. In response to higher security threats and protests following recent attacks, HALO reviewed expatriate accommodation and movement around Kabul to ensure appropriate measure are in place.

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Security/Operations

HALO operations staff have continued to obtain permissions from community leaders maintaining respect for presence of HALO personnel and equipment. Clearance work plans are flexible and operations agile to allow teams to be redeployed elsewhere.

Conclusion

Activities funded by the Netherlands during the reporting period directly contributed to improved human security in rural communities of Afghanistan. Mine clearance and EOD activities prevented further loss of life and ensured the amount of ammunition available to AOGs to use against the government or civilians is reduced. The life-saving messages conveyed in MRE sessions guaranteed human security has improved by promoting safe behavior, reducing ERW accidents and allowing communities to feel safer. The land released through survey and clearance this year enhances the resilience of marginalized communities by offering improved sources of livelihoods as well as employment opportunities. Similarly, vocational training provided to mine/ERW victims as well as HALO employment provides vulnerable groups in targeted communities with new sources of income. The release of cleared land and employment opportunities contributes to alleviating poverty, facilitates resettlement and social and economic development in rural areas and improves the ability of targeted communities to cope with natural and economic shocks.

Demining is an activity that strengthens the nexus between humanitarian response and development: responding to protect civilians from legacy mines and ERW also creates space for development to commence. Linkages between mine action and development partnerships promote maximized impact for beneficiaries and sustainability of community livelihoods. A partnership approach is currently being rolled out in other donor contracts, and may be a next step consideration for future contracts/proposals to the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Report submitted by: Valon Kumnova Date: 24 April 2018

The HALO Trust Carronfoot Thornhill Dumfries DG3 5BF United Kingdom

Contact Phone No: +44 (0) 1848 1848 331100 Contact E-mail: [email protected]

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Annex A: Case Study

History of Mine Laying

Shergar and Omarzai villages are situated in center of Mihtarlam district, the capital of Laghman province. The region is the only large urban settlement in the province. The district borders with Kabul province to the north and Qarghayi district to the east and south, in close proximity to the Pakistani border. As a result, many people fled to the bordering country during the decades of warfare that plagued Afghanistan. Today, Mitarlam district hosts several Afghan returnees, internally displaced persons and refugees, with the number increasing daily. Displaced and returning refugees are often forced to settle on marginalized land contaminated by mines and other ERW. HALO received a request from the head of the Returnees Department for Mihtarlam District to clear the land surrounding the villages, an area settled by returning refugees in the Bad Pakh and Galoch camps.

Shergar and Omarzai villages were heavily contaminated with landmines during the Soviet-Afgan war. As the Mihtarlam district lies between Kabul and the Pakistani border, between 1984 and 1985 Soviet troops used the villages as a military base to prevent easy transit of Muhjadeen from the Pakistan to Kabul and vice versa. To limit the movement of Soviet tanks and armored vehicles, Muhjadeen planted anti-tank (AT) mines in the areas surrounding the Russian military base. Today, the roads, residential areas, grazing and agricultural land are contaminated by mines and ERW.

Haji Sartor’s Story

“My name is Haji Abdullah Son of Sidal but everyone refers to me as Haji Sartor. I am 57 years old and live in Omarzai village in Mihtarlam district of Laghman province. The village is located immediately next to Shergar village, where HALO conducted mine clearance activities. My family, consisting of myself, my wife, six sons, four daughters, two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren live in Omarzai village for more than thirty years now. We are originally from Shergar village, but as our family was growing in size when my Above: Haji Sartor’s grandchildren in Omarzai village, Laghman province, March 2018. brothers and I got married, we did not enough have enough space for everyone. We built a house outside the village, where we continue to live comfortably today.

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I am head of our household and support my family by chairing the local council of Omarzai and Shergar villages. I was elected as head of the council by the maliks in charge of the two villages. I additionally work as a teacher in the local school. My three sons also contribute to our family’s needs, two of my sons own grocery shops in Laghman city and one works as a teacher at a school in the city. My sons sell the crops that we cultivate on our land in their grocery shops. We are very fortunate to own irrigated land, allowing us to feed our family and Above: Haji Sartor and his son cultivating their land in close proximity to HALO generate a sustainable source income. mechanical clearance operations.

Not everyone living in and around the village is as fortunate. Many people have mines in close proximity to their houses and are unable to cultivate their land. The area is heavily contaminated with anti-tank (AT) mines. We found mines on the roads connecting nearby villages, residential areas and even in our graveyard. A few years ago, when attending a funeral, we found a mine when digging a grave. Additionally, on the road connecting to the cemetery, a vehicle drove over an AT mine on their way to a funeral service; all passengers lost their lives. I can recall at least fourteen more mine incidents that occurred in our community. Unfortunately, many of them involved children.

In recent years, the community’s population has grown significantly, particularly as people who fled the country during the war are returning to Afghanistan. The government placed many returnees in the IDP camps located near our village. We see the number of families in the village increase daily. The enhanced demand for land has resulted in more than fifty families constructing houses in hazardous areas. This makes mine accidents inevitable. Many people Above: Residents of Omarzai and Shergar villages placing stones of HALO cleared land to construct houses.

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brought heavy stones to create shelters on the minefields. This was not only very dangerous, but also slowed down HALO’s activities as they had to remove the rocks during the mine clearance process.

We are grateful for the mine clearance operations conducted by HALO, as it considerably improved the lives of our community! We feel much safer knowing that the land is now mine impact free. We are no longer afraid to attend funeral services. Also, HALO ploughed the land they cleared, making it much easier for the community to cultivate. Many of the villagers have started vegetable Above: Children playing cricket on land cleared by NL funded deminers. gardens to feed their families. Returnees are able to construct houses on safe land and no longer need to risk their lives. Finally, our children are able to play outside without us fearing for their wellbeing, they use the cleared land for a game of cricket every day! HALO’s activities have had a positive impact on our quality of life, we are very thankful for this!”

HALO and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs

With NL funding, HALO contributed to the safety and wellbeing of the communities in and surrounding Omarzai and Shergar villages. Manual and mechanical deminers cleared a total of 410,374m2 across two tasks, of which one is still ongoing. The teams also responded to four EOD call-outs. 22 anti-tank (AT) mines, seven items of unexploded ordinance (UXO) and one cluster munition were removed. As illustrated by the case study, the land is utilized by the village for Above: AT mine found by NL funded mechanical demining team at Task H/9559 agriculture and housing. A total of in Shergar village, Laghman province, September 2017. 334 families consisting of 2,471 women, men, girls and boys directly benefit from the mine free land. Thanks funding by the Netherlands, Haji Sartor, his family and the wider community can cultivate the land to provide for their households and restore livelihoods without jeopardizing their safety.

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Annex B: Theory of Change

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Annex C: Metrics Table with Outputs as reported in IATI

NL METRICS TABLE Grantee: The HALO Trust Country: Afghanistan Project Title: Mine Action and Cluster Munition Programme 2016 - 2020 NL Activity No: 29162 Total Dollar Amount of Grant: 6,135,442 Total Grant Period of Performance: 1 September 2016 - 31 August 2020 Reporting Period: 1 September 2016 - 31 December 2017

Total Output Actual 2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2017 Actual 2017 Actual 2017 Target 2017 Contract Total Q1 (Sep - 31 Q2 (Jan - 31 Q3 (Apr - 30 Q4 (Jul - 30 Q5 (Oct - 31 (inc. Sep - Target 2016-17 Dec, 2016) Mar, 2017) Jun, 2017) Sep, 2017) Dec, 2017) 31 Dec 2016) CAPACITY LAND CLEARED MINECLEARANCE Land Cleared (m2) 4,415,000 1,795,325 450,901 283,981 357,031 391,568 311,844 1,800,841

64 35 16 4 3 5 7 29 Areas Cleared (#) BAC

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Subsurface Battle Area Cleared (m2) 0 938,150 938,150 0 0 0 0 Surface Battle Area Cleared (m2) Areas Cleared (#) 0 1 1 0 0 0 0

TOTAL LAND CLEARED 1,800,841 2,733,475 1,389,051 283,981 357,031 391,568 311,844 1,800,841

0 213,071 34,585 0 36,747 116,778 24,961 Mechanical Ground Preparation (m2) Ground Processed (m3) 0 101,358 8,182 16,059 38,462 21,665 16,990 LAND REDUCED

400,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 Land Reduced by Technical Survey (m2) Areas Reduced (#) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 LAND RETURNED

4,415,000 1,795,325 450,901 283,981 357,031 391,568 311,844 1,800,841 Land returned to the community (m2)

64 35 16 4 3 5 7 29 Areas returned to the community (#) LAND CANCELED Tasks Resurveyed by NTS(#) 0 30 29 1 0 0 0 Area Resurveyed by NTS(m2) 0 2,186,845 2,074,545 112,300 0 0 0 Tasks Canceled by NTS(#) 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 Area Canceled NTS (m2) 0 152,400 0 152,400 0 0 0 Tasks remaining after NTS(#) 0 4 4 0 0 0 0 Area remaining after NTS(m2) 0 106,048 106,048 0 0 0 0 MUNITIONS DESTROYED AP Mines (#) 0 409 119 83 82 74 51 AT Mines (#) 0 22 4 4 6 5 3 UXO (#) 0 93 33 6 19 17 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Abandoned Explosive Ordnance ≥20mm (#) 0 35 35 0 0 0 0 Small Arms Ammunition <20mm (#)

TOTAL TONNAGE OF ABOVE MUNITIONS 30 38 0 0 0 30 8 30

120 19 1 0 0 10 8 24 EOD Call-outs (#) BENEFICIARIES Direct Male Beneficiaries (#) 8,319 1,979 1,090 390 178 21 300 2,148 Direct Female Beneficiaries (#) 5,213 1,811 877 390 218 24 302 1,591

10,000 3,093 1,197 913 335 46 602 3,270 Direct Male Child Beneficiaries (17 or younger)

7,000 2,578 752 829 298 38 661 2,670 Direct Female Child Beneficiaries (17 or younger) Indirect Male Beneficiaries (#) 5,580 6,428 3,138 844 750 1,364 332 2,148 Indirect Female Beneficiaries (#) 3,720 5,099 2,130 663 630 1,348 328 1,591 Indirect Male Child Beneficiaries (17 or younger) 8,370 8,090 3,135 1,743 1,446 1,420 346 3,270 5,580 6,722 2,158 1,342 1,227 1,403 592 2,670 Indirect Female Child Beneficiaries (17 or younger) NON-CLEARANCE ACTIVITIES

288 300 0 11 107 135 47 96

MRE Sessions (#)

752 1,344 0 70 139 1,119 16 240 Male MRE Recipients (#)

400 1,425 0 132 223 943 127 240 Female MRE Recipients (#)

1,728 3,536 0 376 2,169 367 624 240 Child MRE Recipients (#)

72 19 7 6 6 0 0 23 Male Survivors Benefitting from assistance (#)

72 28 4 6 7 5 6 22 Female Survivors Benefitting from assistance (#) www.halotrust.org 19