Annual Report
2021

Our experts have helped to shape a safer world

FSD destroys mines and explosive remnants of war, clears sites contaminated by toxic pollutants and conducts humanitarian activities in countries affected by armed conflicts, whilst also contributing to peace and development.
Discover their stories

Thousands of children, women and men can now walk, grow crops, work and play in safety

Discover how FSD teams have contributed to a safer future.
Since the widening of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, our demining activities in the country have been suspended in favour of emergency humanitarian interventions. Click here for more details.
portrait

Oleksandr  

Clears remnants of war
_
COUNTRY
Ukraine
AGE
42
occupation
clearance team leader

"Deminers walk through the minefield slowly, though it is better not to walk faster than them"

Oleksandr and his team clear the land of mines and explosive remnants of war. "The only guarantee that each of the members of my team will return home to their families wholesome and alive is to meticulously adhere to the standards and rules", he says.
7803
5035
WITH OLEKSANDR’S HELP
LIVES SAVED
MINES AND UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE
WERE cleared BY FSD IN 2021

in the field

Extreme heat, cold winters, strong wind, or heavy rainfall

In all countries, our deminers have to adapt their activities to weather constrains. When snow covers the potential explosive remnants of war in the ground,
Oleksandr and his team cannot use their metal detectors and have to suspend clearance activities.

To prevent accidents, they fence hazardous areas previously identified by survey teams.
IN 2021, WE SECURED

8,532,652 m²

an area equivalent to more than half the city of Geneva

15cm at a time
The deminer's toolkit

What is the everyday equipment of a deminer?

Metal detector, personal protective equipment, medical kit... All these are of course essential to carry out demining activities. But did you know that simple tools such as trowels, shears or buckets are also indispensable to investigate detector signals? Click here for more details.
portrait

Merlene

Prevents accidents
_
country
Philippines
Age
40
occupation
COMMUNITY LIAISON Officer

“I’m fulfilled to be able to protect the people in the communities by teaching them what to do when faced with an explosive ordnance"

"Children in the conflict-affected areas regularly find unexploded ammunitions, and some play with them. As a result, almost one out of two victims of accidental explosions is a child."

To complement clearance activities, explosive ordnance risk education is crucial to prevent these tragic accidents.
EVERY DAY, Merlene AND Her COLLEAGUES go to

isolated villages in the Philippines

"Challenges arise sometimes in reaching areas located in interior part of Mindanao. On one occasion the team had to take a small boat to reach a vulnerable community and the boat capsized."
‍
‍To provide risk education to people exposed to the threat of mines and explosive ordnance, our teams have to take long journeys. In some areas, the only way to access villages is by boat or by walking for long hours.

Risk education

How to prevent accidents? By learning to recognise the different types of explosive ordnance present in the region, and remembering the right behaviours to stay safe when facing such items.
Digital risk education enables FSD to reach thousands of people through photos and videos posted on social media (FSD Mindanao Facebook page, 2020)

To disseminate prevention messages widely, our teams use flyers, posters and social media posts

IN 2021
148
,
942

people attended FSD risk education sessions

One third of them were children. To capture the attention of this specific audience and to help them remember the messages, education teams produce colouring books, make up stories featuring superheroes, invent games...
In Afghanistan, our teams assist

Survivors of accidents

In 2021, in the isolated region of Badakhshan, FSD continued to provide socio-economic support to mine survivors and their families. In addition, this year, as the humanitarian crisis grew in the country, FSD organised food distribution to help the most vulnerable get through the winter months.
portrait

Abbas

Provides first aid in case of an accident
_
Country
Iraq
Age
35
occupation
Senior Medic For FSD IRAQ

A medic and an ambulance accompany every demining team

Abbas has been working for FSD for six years. He is trained to provide first aid in case of an accident or for minor injuries, and to ensure the safety of deminers and visitors in the field each day. As a supervisor, he also helps to train and supervise other medics.

FSD supports local actors with

Capacity building

In colombia, iraq and the philippines

FSD advise local authorities in charge of mine action

Capacity building is an important aspect of mine action. The ultimate goal is for national authorities and local mine action operators to be able to handle demining activities independently. In Colombia, FSD provides expert advice to the national mine action authority, OACP-Descontamina Colombia.

INNOVATIVE
SOLUTIONS

In Iraq, teams are trained to the use of drones to assist survey activities in the search for explosive devices and to help map potentially contaminated areas.
‍
FSD is involved with FindMine, a pilot project looking at the use of drones in mine action, in collaboration with the Urs Endress Foundation.

Protection of the

Environment

FSD CLEARS LANDS contaminated BY

toxic pollutants

FSD has launched its first environmental project in 2016 in Tajikistan. In 2021, our teams continued to remediate soils contaminated by toxic pesticides and has started to work on a project in partnership with the UNEP to eliminate the problem of toxic pollutants for good.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT

SPECIFICATIONS

_
TREES
Conifers
Number planted
3 500 
surface covered
4 000 Square metres
Objective
prevent soil erosion

Soil remediation

To prevent soil erosion and limit the effects of climate change in Tajikistan, FSD has expanded its environmental project. In 2021, more than 3 500 trees were planted in the area surrounding the national toxic waste depository in Vakhsh to ensure the stability and security of the ground. 
portrait

Virginie

Supports local communities
_
country
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
age
45
occupation
COMMUNITY PROJECTS MANAGER

“Our priority is children and vulnerable women such as young mothers, disabled women, young girls who have dropped out of school"

In the Central African Republic, FSD supports the current peace process and the populations affected by war and instability. FSD takes advantage of its presence in the country to develop community based projects for vulnerable communities. Virginie is in charge of developing these projects: "Our interventions aim to promote social cohesion and to provide the beneficiaries with tools to become self-sufficient."
explore our programmes

Visit our YouTube channel

_
REPORTS
Mosul deminers
OPERATIONS
Access to water in CAR
Q&A
Deminers answer children's questions
Visit our YouTube channel
FSD creates

local jobs

More than 90% of FSD’s staff members are recruited directly in the field within local communities.
nadège
ewaz
simon
Jawid
otanko
sara
saman
yuliia
shavkat
oksana
Ako
Bakhtyar
jamal
victoria
salomé
raza
eduard
otanko
saman
Inna
sara
ali
Khurshid
Ako
oksana
2021

Financial transparency

FSD’s accounts are presented in full in our financial report, prepared in accordance with the Swiss norm GAAP RPC 21.
ONLY
6%

of our budget is allocated for administrative costs

In 2021, FSD implemented CHF 26 million worth of humanitarian projects. The organisation carefully manages its operating costs in order to maximise its impact for populations affected by war and instability.
portrait

Horiya

Supports FSD
_
Country
switzerland
age
62
occupation
fORMER INTERNATIONAL civil servant

"I am proud to make my modest contribution to demining"

Our quality labels ensure Horiya and other donors absolute transparency

FSD is subject to regular audits from different certification entities. The ZEWO label guarantees that donations are collected and managed with integrity and efficiency. The ISO label guarantees the quality of our work.
LIKE Horiya
4
'
954
PRIVATE DONORS guarantee our independance AND the SUSTAINABILITY of OUR ACTIONS
animated map of switzerlandanimated map of switzerland

The most demanding institutional donors also trust us

The most demanding institutional donors also trust us

FSD’s activities are also funded by various public institutions, international organisations and private foundations.

The most demanding institutional donors also trust us

FSD’s activities are also funded by various public institutions, international organisations and private foundations.
Institutional funding is crucial but

Only private donations guarantee our independence and allow us to act rapidly

where the needs are most urgent

In 2021 FSD was active in eight countries

Ces pays ont tous connu - ou connaissent encore - des conflits armés dont les traces menacent la survie et les moyens de subsistance de la population. La FSD élimine ces traces et se joint à des efforts collectifs pour que les communautés retrrouvent sécurité et stabilité.
Those countries have all known – or are still suffering from – armed conflict posing a threat to the lives and the livelihood of populations. FSD clears those remnants of war and joins collective efforts to help communities recover safety and stability.
Afghanistan
Central African Republic
Chad
Colombia
Iraq
Philippines
Tajikistan
Ukraine
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