Italy announces grant competition for demining Ukrainian lands

The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) has launched a grant competition for clearing landmines and other remnants of war in frontline oblasts, with a total budget of €6 million.

Source: Interfax-Ukraine

Details: Individual projects can receive up to €1.8 million in financing. The publication on the website of Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy states that projects should focus on non-technical and/or technical surveys of affected areas and include public awareness campaigns on mine threats. Kharkiv Oblast has been identified as the priority region, with 55 of 56 hromadas affected by the war. [A hromada is an administrative entity that designates a village, a group of villages, or a town, as well as their surrounding regions - ed.].

"This is the first time that one of our partner countries is directly allocating funds for demining our lands, engaging Ukrainian demining operators in the process. 

I believe this cooperation will help accelerate the return of land to safe use, identify contaminated areas and strengthen collaboration not only at the institutional level but also between organisations and companies from our countries that seek to make Ukrainian land safer," said Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine.

Only non-profit organisations are eligible to apply for the competition, though they may partner with commercial demining operators for project implementation.

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