Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD)

Swiss Foundation for Mine Action
Non-governmental organisation
Industry Landmine relief
Founded 1997
Headquarters Geneva, Switzerland
Area served
 Global
Key people
 Jürg Streuli - President,[1] Hansjoerg Eberle - Director General[2]
Website www.fsd.ch

The Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (Fondation Suisse de Déminage, FSD) is a Swiss non-governmental organization involved in mine action. FSD is politically, ideologically and religiously independent. FSD is based in Geneva, has national field offices in its countries of operation as well as a logistical and administrative support office in Manila.[3] From 2005 FSD was joined by its French partner FSD France, and from 2007 by CROSSTECH SA, a mine action company which is fully owned by the FSD.

Mission

FSD's focus is on locating and destroying landmines and unexploded ordnance to prevent accidents. FSD’s overarching aim is to alleviate and diminish the social, economic and environmental impacts of landmines and unexploded ordnance, thus creating favourable conditions for the reconstruction and development of war-torn countries.[4]

World-wide operation

In 2017, FSD is leading mine action operations in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Colombia, South Sudan, the Philippines, Central African Republic, Republic of Chad, Iraq and Ukraine. Previously, FSD has intervened in Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, Albania, Iraq, Pakistan, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and elsewhere.[5]

Sources of funds

Major sources of financing are public and private funds, but also multi-lateral organizations, like in Sudan where the programme is supported by UN MAO (United Nations Mine Action Organization) and Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) International. In 2007, FSD was also funded by ECHO for the clearance of cluster bombs in southern Lebanon. Other major donors include the United Nations Mine Action Service, the United Nations Development Programme, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, European Commission (EC), EuropeAid, UNICEF, the governments of Australia, United States, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Swiss cantons and cities, foundations and private donators.

As a foundation under Swiss law, the FSD operates under the supervision of the Swiss federal authorities. Its accounts are audited by BDO which took over from KPMG in 2015 and PricewaterhouseCoopers starting in 2007. The FSD has held the ZEWO quality label certifying its reliability since 2003 and FSD is an ISO 9001 certified.[6]

Association FSD France

In 2005, the FSD was joined by its French partner, the FSD France. This independent, neutral organization is subject to the French 1901 law on associations. The purpose of this new organization is to extend the humanitarian mine clearance activities already carried out by the FSD into other sectors such as Mine Risk Education and Victim Assistance. Implementing projects under the mandate of the European Commission and promoting mine action in the French-speaking part of the world are also among its aims.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ , FSD Website - Jürg Streuli
  2. ↑ , FSD Website - Hansjoerg Eberle
  3. ↑ , FSD Website - FSD Offices
  4. ↑ , FSD Website - About FSD
  5. ↑ , FSD Website - Country Operations
  6. 1 2 , FSD Website - 2007 Annual Report
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