United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS)

What United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) does

United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) is the UN system's specialized service for mine action, established in 1997 by the UN General Assembly and operating under legislative mandates from both the General Assembly and the Security Council. Headquartered within the UN Department of Peace Operations in New York, UNMAS coordinates the entire UN mine action portfolio as Chair of the Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action (IACG-MA) and chairs the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) Review Board. It employs ~489 staff at its core headquarters and Geneva hub and funds approximately 3,000 personnel in field programmes across 19 countries and territories.

UNMAS delivers its mandate through five core service pillars: Clearance (humanitarian demining and removal of explosive remnants of war), Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), Victim Assistance, Advocacy, and Stockpile Destruction (weapons and ammunition management). Supporting services include the Threat Mitigation Advisory Team (TMAT) — an IED training capability based at the UN Regional Service Centre in Entebbe — and the UNMAS Standing Capacity in Brindisi, Italy, established February 2024 as a rapid-response mechanism. As of January 2026, UNMAS is an integrated component of seven peacekeeping missions, one support office, and one special political mission. Operations are guided by International Mine Action Standards (IMAS), of which UNMAS is the standards-setter.

UNMAS does not sell products or services commercially. It is funded through the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action (UN VTF), assessed contributions via peacekeeping mission budgets, pooled humanitarian funds (CERF, country-based pooled funds, multi-donor trust funds), and individual/corporate donations channelled through the UN Foundation. The top 10 disclosed donors in 2025 contributed approximately $66.4M, led by the EU, Canada, Denmark, and OCHA. Customers are not commercial buyers but rather conflict-affected civilian populations, UN peacekeeping missions, national mine action authorities in affected states, and humanitarian agencies that depend on UNMAS as the "provider of last resort" for mine action within the Global Protection Cluster led by UNHCR.

Name

United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS)

Legal name

United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS)

Website

https://unmas.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

UNMAS is the UN's specialized mine action service, coordinating UN-wide clearance, risk education, victim assistance, advocacy, and stockpile destruction across 19 countries. It operates under General Assembly and Security Council mandates, chairs IACG-MA and the IMAS Review Board, and is integrated into seven peacekeeping missions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Mine Action Services

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (928), International Affairs (928120), National Security (928110)

akta.pro primary industry

Mine Action & Explosive Ordnance Risk Reduction (EOD/ERW) (BPADAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA), Humanitarian Coordination & Disaster Risk Reduction IGOs (BPADAAAE), Humanitarian Coordination, Information Management & Needs Assessment (BPADADAL), Humanitarian Coordination, Information Management & Needs Assessment (BPAGAAAL)

Keywords

• Humanitarian mine action
• Explosive ordnance disposal
• Weapons ammunition management
• Explosive hazard awareness
• Victim assistance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action (UN VTF): UNMAS receives contributions through the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action, established by the General Assembly as an accountable and agile funding mechanism to fund activities across the mine action sector. Contributions support UNMAS's broadest humanitarian mandate to protect those most vulnerable from explosive ordnance threats, fulfill its global coordination role, and provide technical expertise.
2. Assessed Contributions (Peacekeeping Budgets): When UNMAS deploys in peacekeeping and special political mission settings under Security Council mandates, funding is provided through assessed contributions by United Nations Member States through appropriations made by the General Assembly.
3. Pooled Funding Mechanisms: UNMAS receives financing from pooled funding mechanisms used by the United Nations system, including country-based pooled funds, emergency relief funds (CERF), and Multi-Donor Trust Funds.
4. Individual and Corporate Donations: Individuals and the private sector support UNMAS work through tax-deductible contributions made through the UN Foundation.
5. In-Kind Expertise from Member States: UNMAS benefits greatly through in-kind expertise from Member States. High-level, mid-career professionals have been seconded to work for UNMAS at headquarters and field programmes, primarily in explosive ordnance disposal and removal.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

UNMAS coordinates and delivers humanitarian mine action across approximately 19 countries, providing clearance of mines and explosive remnants of war, explosive ordnance risk education, victim assistance, advocacy for treaty obligations, and weapons and ammunition management. It operates as the UN's mandated coordination lead, provider of last resort, and chair of the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) review board, while deploying rapid-response mobile capacities to support peacekeeping missions and national authorities.

Product overview

UNMAS operates as a humanitarian mine action coordination and operational service rather than a commercial product company. The organization delivers its mandate through five core service pillars: Clearance (humanitarian demining and explosive remnant removal), Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), Victim Assistance, Advocacy, and Stockpile Destruction/Weapons and Ammunition Management. Supporting services include the Threat Mitigation Advisory Team (TMAT) providing IED training to peacekeepers, and the UNMAS Standing Capacity for rapid emergency deployment. The organization operates field programmes across 19 countries and territories, integrating into UN peacekeeping missions and supporting humanitarian responses. No commercial software product, API, or SaaS platform is offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Humanitarian Mine and ERW Clearance Survey, mapping, and clearance of mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) from affected areas to enable safe humanitarian access and the return of populations. Delivered to national authorities, UN missions, and humanitarian partners in affected states.
• Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) Risk-education programming targeting civilians, particularly children and at-risk populations, to reduce injuries and deaths from mines and ERW. Delivered through national programmes and UN mission-supported operations.
• Victim Assistance Support to survivors of mine and ERW incidents and their families, including access to medical care, rehabilitation, psychosocial support, and socio-economic reintegration. Delivered in coordination with national health and social services systems.
• Advocacy for Treaty Obligations Advocacy and technical advisory support to Member States for compliance with the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, Convention on Cluster Munitions, CCW Protocol V, and related instruments.
• Weapons and Ammunition Management (WAM) Technical assistance for the safe management, storage, and destruction of national stockpiles of weapons and ammunition to prevent unplanned explosions and diversion to illicit markets.
• Threat Mitigation Advisory Team (TMAT) Specialised advisory capacity deployed to UN missions and Member States to assess explosive threats, support mission planning, and provide technical guidance on threat mitigation and ammunition management.
• UNMAS Standing Capacity Mobile deployment capacity providing rapid surge support to UN missions and national authorities facing acute mine action or ammunition management challenges, deployable within 72 hours of request.
• Coordination of National Mine Action Programmes UNMAS-led coordination of multi-agency national mine action programmes, including strategy development, donor coordination, and results reporting in affected states.

Quantifiable outcome

• 55+ million landmines destroyed since Mine Ban Treaty established
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• KarlssonwilkerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign partnership strengthening awareness, engagement, and support for mine action worldwide. Led by partner Vera Yuan, the collaboration brings visual branding and design strategy expertise to communicate UNMAS's humanitarian mission and connect with global audiences.
• NYU Tisch School of the Arts - Landmine GardenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerXR (extended reality) experience presenting demining operations through a multiplayer digital experience. Designed by graduate students to help audiences understand and embody the issue of landmines through an immersive AR project situated in a familiar backyard setting.
• Schonstedt Instrument Company / Schonstedt Humanitarian Demining Initiative (SHDI)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFor over a decade, combined efforts to supply equipment to deminers in developing countries, including Schonstedt Magnetic Locators. SHDI has helped UNMAS get more than 550 locators into the hands of demining teams in 28 conflict-countries including Croatia, DRC, Kenya, Laos, Libya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tajikistan, and Vietnam.
• Critical MassminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal digital design and marketing company that created a digital minefield installation in New York City allowing ordinary people to experience walking through a minefield. Grand opening at New Museum followed by transfer to UN Headquarters for over six weeks, raising awareness for eradication of landmines.
• Marco GrobcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEmmy Award-winning photographer and director who has spent over a decade traveling to UNMAS programmes photographing landmine survivors, clearance activities, and people regaining security and livelihood. Created short films including one about a female deminer in South Sudan and an explosive ordnance specialist in Mali.
• Brooklyn BrothersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal marketing agency that has worked with UNMAS since 1997 on creative communications and fundraising projects, including development of UNMAS's striking logo and production of a short film for children made entirely out of candy.
• Giles Duley / Legacy of War FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDocumentary photographer, writer, and storyteller who co-founded Legacy of War Foundation, a charity supporting communities and individuals rebuilding lives after conflict. UN Global Advocate for persons with disabilities in conflict and peacebuilding (2022-2025). Survivors of IED explosion in Afghanistan in 2011 who lost three limbs.
• UNA SwedenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCivil society organization with local chapters across Sweden active in grassroots fundraising and awareness-raising for UNMAS global strategy. Member of International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), co-laureate of 1997 Nobel Peace Prize.
• Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual co-convenor of International Meeting of Mine Action National Directors and UN Advisers (NDM-UN). Supports implementation and universalization of mine action treaties. Collaborates on Explosive Ordnance Risk Education Advisory Group.
• Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action (IACG-MA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNMAS chairs IACG-MA (confirmed by General Assembly A/RES/80/74 (2025) and Security Council SCR 2365 (2017)). Membership includes FAO, UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, OCHA, UNODA, OHCHR, UNOPS, UN Women, WFP, WHO, UNIDIR, and World Bank (observer). Coordinates UN system-wide mine action strategy.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint funding initiatives including generous contribution from Japan to restore agricultural livelihoods in conflict-affected areas in Syria. Collaborates on humanitarian mine action supporting food security and agricultural recovery.
• Global Protection ClustercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNMAS is the lead entity on mine action within the Global Protection Cluster led by UNHCR. UNMAS, through the GPC, works with national and international organizations to assess risks, protect affected communities, and advocate for mine action in humanitarian contexts.
• African Union / UNOAUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTMAT supports UN-AU partnership initiatives. In 2025, responded to request from African Union through UNOAU to conduct C-IED assessment of Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in N'Djamena, Chad, enhancing regional readiness in line with broader UN-AU strategic objectives.
• NATO Defence Capacity Building (DCB) InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTMAT harmonizes training provided to Troop/Police Contributing Countries through partnership with NATO DCB Initiative, coordinated with key bilateral partners including Australia, France, Germany, Kenya, Netherlands, UK, and USA.
• IPSTC (Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Peace Support Training Centre C-IED courses recognized by UN Integrated Training Service (ITS). TMAT supported IPSTC in establishing its own Mobile Training Team which has trained over 200 personnel, showcasing strong South-South cooperation model.
• CSIAP-GEN (Cameroon)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEHAT course recognized as first Francophone C-IED training centre recognized by UN Integrated Training Service.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mines Advisory Group (MAG): MAG is a leading humanitarian NGO specializing in mine action, weapons and ammunition management, and EORE in conflict-affected countries. It is directly comparable as both an operational peer to UNMAS and a member of the IACG-MA network that UNMAS chairs; UNMAS Colombia leadership previously came from MAG.
• HALO Trust: The HALO Trust is the world's largest humanitarian mine clearance organization, directly comparable to UNMAS as it operates in many of the same conflict-affected countries (Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, Sudan, Colombia, etc.) and has multiple former UNMAS senior staff in its leadership. UNMAS coordinates the sector while HALO executes most physical demining work.
• Norwegian People's Aid (NPA): NPA operates one of the world's largest humanitarian demining programmes, working in countries also served by UNMAS (including Sudan, Somalia, Southeast Asia, and the Balkans). Directly comparable as a delivery peer in humanitarian mine clearance and stockpile destruction.
• Humanity & Inclusion (HI): HI is a leading international NGO specializing in victim assistance for survivors of explosive ordnance, including rehabilitation and inclusion services that mirror UNMAS's victim-assistance pillar. Directly comparable as a delivery peer in victim assistance and EORE across conflict-affected countries.
• Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD): GICHD is the Geneva-based international centre that co-convenes the annual NDM-UN meeting with UNMAS and supports implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty and Convention on Cluster Munitions. Directly comparable as a sector-wide standards, policy, and coordination peer focused on the same mine action domain.
• Danish Demining Group (DDG): DDG is a humanitarian demining operator specializing in survey, clearance, and EORE, with operations in many of the same countries as UNMAS. Directly comparable as a technical mine action NGO and a frequent partner of UNMAS in field programmes (e.g., South Sudan).

Emerging players

• International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL): ICBL is the global civil society coalition that won the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for the Mine Ban Treaty and continues to advocate for universalization and compliance. Directly comparable as a mine action sector peer focused on advocacy and treaty implementation — a domain UNMAS also engages in.

Broad incumbents

• UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA): UNODA jointly leads the Secretary-General's Campaign on Humanitarian Disarmament and Mine Action (launched June 2025) with UNMAS/DPO and serves as the UN's substantive body on disarmament treaties. Directly comparable as a UN-system sibling working on the same Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and Cluster Munitions Convention.
• UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): OCHA manages country-based pooled funds (CBPFs) and CERF that UNMAS regularly draws from, and serves as the cluster system convener that integrates mine action into broader humanitarian responses. Directly comparable as a UN humanitarian coordination counterpart.
• UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): UNHCR leads the Global Protection Cluster, of which UNMAS is the 'provider of last resort' for mine action. Directly comparable as a UN entity with a humanitarian protection mandate that overlaps with UNMAS's work on returning displaced populations to cleared land.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@unmineaction
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-nations-mine-action-service

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS)