» Why does MAG work in Cambodia?
Having been operational in Cambodia since 1992, MAG employs around 475 members of staff, working across six provinces: Battambang, Krong Pailin, Banteay Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Kampong Thom and Kampong Cham. Of these, 34 percent are female and nine percent are amputees.
There are currently 21 Mine Action Teams, five Explosive Ordnance Disposal Teams (for rapid response to reports of UXO); eight Community Liaison Teams; one Technical Survey Team; four Research and Development Teams (evaluating new technologies); six Mapping Teams (removing reclaimed land from the national atlas of contamination); nine Mechanical Support Teams; three Scrub-cutting Teams; and three Mine Detection Dog Teams (sub-contracted from the Cambodian Mine Action Centre).
MAG Cambodia has pioneered the locality demining approach, recruiting deminers from the poorest communities, and is working on innovative strategies for more targeted clearance across the whole country.
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MAG Cambodia recruits and trains deminers from the very same communities that are mined. |
Partnerships and Coordination
MAG’s operations in Cambodia are conducted in close association with the Cambodian Mine Action Authority, provincial mine action planning units and other operators. MAG works closely with development agencies to ensure all clearance work is linked with programmes utilising community land to alleviate the worst forms of poverty.
Currently, MAG works in partnership with a number of international partners, including CARE, World Vision, Church World Service (CWS) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). These partnerships ensure a high level of coordination in developing cleared land in the best possible way for recipient communities.
A more efficient and effective means of demining has been developed by MAG Cambodia in the locality model, which recruits and trains deminers from the very same communities that are mined. Working in partnership with development agencies, women and men are recruited from the most vulnerable households and trained in the core skills of demining. These teams are then deployed under the supervision of experienced staff. This approach enables poorer families to gain meaningful employment and has seen a rise in productivity whilst maintaining MAG’s excellent safety record.
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Working in partnership with development agencies, women and men are recruited from the most vulnerable households and trained in the core skills of demining. |
Beneficiaries
The beneficiaries of MAG in Cambodia are the most vulnerable households in mine-affected communities who require extension of agricultural land, schools, health clinics and temple construction, road access, clean water sources and improved resettlement opportunities.
Donor Partnership Opportunities
MAG Cambodia continues to develop innovative approaches to conflict recovery. Further to the development of a wider toolbox and of strategies to build on better community involvement, MAG hopes to further work in developing cost effective technologies, together with the US government, through innovation in research and development programmes.
Additionally, MAG Cambodia will further strengthen the understanding of gender analysis in targeting the most vulnerable in mine affected communities, and will work towards supporting the government in its progressive approach to the long-term goals of eliminating the impact of the remnants of conflict from the country.
MAG would like to express its thanks to the following current donors to its Cambodia operations: US Department of State/PM-OWRA/NVESD; Department for International Development (DFID); Japanese Government; Australian Government; Jersey Overseas Aid Commission; Care International; World Vision Cambodia; Church World Service; Lutheran World Federation; Isle of Man Government/Manx Landmine Action; Imperial Tobacco; Terra Renaissance; Kyoto East Lions Club; Cambodia Minesremove Campaign(CMC); Landmine Come To Zero Miyasaki.
June 2008
