GICHD Training for Ukrainian Operators: Strengthening Those Who Clear Ukraine
During the course, the SGS team gained comprehensive knowledge of international grant funding mechanisms in the field of mine action. The program covered key aspects of grants management, including grant proposal development, project planning and structuring, budgeting, financial and programmatic reporting, donor communication, and participation in international competitive funding procedures.
Special attention was given to practical project management tools and to the requirements international partners place on transparency, efficiency, and accountability. For Ukrainian operators, such knowledge is critically important, as it helps strengthen institutional capacity, improve access to international support, and implement large-scale land clearance projects more effectively.
The training organized by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining - GICHD became another confirmation that the development of Ukraine’s humanitarian mine action sector requires systematic support and investment in local operators. Ukrainian companies and organizations are the ones working daily in difficult field conditions, clearing territories from explosive hazards and returning land to communities, farmers, and businesses.
At the same time, course participants highlighted an important issue: international donor support in humanitarian mine action is still predominantly directed toward non-profit organizations, while local commercial operators often remain outside the main funding mechanisms. Despite this, it is commercial operators who continue investing in modern equipment, personnel training, safety systems, and the development of operational capacities.
The SGS team sincerely thanks the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining - GICHD for creating a high-quality learning environment, fostering open professional dialogue, and supporting the development of Ukraine’s mine action sector.