FSD Logo - White

Our history

FSD implemented its first demining project in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1998. Since then, our deminers have cleared more than 1.4 million explosive devices. Read about our key moments here!

Here-an-FSD-expert-marks-areas-that-are-potentially-contaminated-by-explosive-devices-(Ukraine,-2020)

Mapping is a crucial part of the demining process. Here, an FSD expert marks areas potentially contaminated by explosive devices. (Ukraine, 2020)

Timeline

Key milestones

Since its creation in 1997, FSD has worked in around 30 countries on four continents. Our teams have secured an area equivalent to 12,000 football pitches.

2023

FSD expanded its mine action programme in Ukraine and resumed mine clearance activities in Tajikistan. The organisation became an accredited implementing partner of the Swiss Solidarity foundation.

FSD deminers taking a practical demining exam before being deployed to the minefield.
FSD clearance teams marking potentially hazardous areas on a former battlefield in Ukraine

2022

Due to the armed conflict in Ukraine, FSD drastically increased its staff, acquired several machines, and operated in the provinces of Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Mykolaiv. A large-scale collaboration with the United Nations was implemented to demine agricultural areas.

2021

As part of a local capacity building project and after eight months of training, the Iraqi NGO SHO has become the first Iraqi organisation accredited to clear landmines. Subsequently, FSD successfully transferred six demining and explosive ordnance risk education teams to SHO.

FSD team leader conducting a site safety brief before clearance can begin in Iraq
Rehabilitation project in the Central African Republic

2020

In the Central African Republic, a major infrastructure rehabilitation project is ongoing. The aim is to rebuild the country’s stability through the deployment of security forces and the reintegration of former rebel combatants.

2018

FSD deploys its first female demining teams In Iraq. Demining capacities in Ukraine are considerably increased.

Noor, Team Leader of a clearance team, updates the board with the key information on the current task
A deminer delimits an area potentially contaminated.

2015

FSD restarts its mine action programme in Iraq. In the Central African Republic, FSD initiates a security sector reform project and conducts risk education sessions.

2014

FSD starts a new mine action programme in Ukraine. The organisation obtains its first ISO 9001 certification.

Ukrainian deminer marking an area after getting a sound with the detector.
Controlled explosion from an obsolete ammunition stock in Tajikistan

2013

Initiation of an assessment of the Malian army’s capacity to manage stocks of weapons and ammunition, followed by a series of training sessions. In addition, in Mali, the training of mine risk education instructors is carried out.

2012

Launch of a national demining capacity building programme in Armenia. End of FSD’s operation in Sri Lanka, which involved over a thousand deminers.

A deminer in Sri Lanka conducts quality control
Assessment of pollution from mining in Kyrgyzstan

2011

FSD begins assessing former extractive mining sites in Kyrgyzstan and deploys its first demining teams to Libya and South Sudan.

2010

First experience in the deployment of drones in Libya. Launch of an environmental project to rehabilitate former uranium production sites in Tajikistan.

First FSD drone tests in Tajikistan.
Establishment of a new program for the destruction of obsolete weapons and ammunition stocks in Tajikistan

2008

Implementation of a new programme for the destruction of obsolete weapons and ammunition stockpiles in Tajikistan.

2007

Start of FSD’s involvement in mine action in Angola. FSD is mandated by the Angolan government to assess the demining capacities in the country. The company Crosstech S.A, fully owned by FSD, is established.

FSD expert in Angola
Manila Team of FSD in 2020

2006

Launch of a national demining capacity building programme in Mozambique. Establishment of an office in Manila, Philippines, to handle the accounting, logistics and administrative management of FSD’s programmes.

2005

Deminers in Sri Lanka suspend their demining operations for several months to focus on helping tsunami survivors. FSD creates a sister organisation in neighbouring France, l’Association FSD France.
support operation after the tsunami in Sri Lanka.
FSD erhält als eine der ersten NGOs in der Westschweiz die ZEWO-Zertifizierung

2004

FSD is one of the first NGOs in French-speaking Switzerland to obtain the ZEWO certification. Mine action programmes are initiated in Burundi and Laos.

2003

New demining operations are implemented in support to the World Food Programme in Iraq. Mine action programmes are launched in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Launch of mine action programs in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo
Launch of a large-scale demining operation

2002

Launch of a large-scale demining operation in Sri Lanka. An agreement is signed with the government of Tajikistan, followed by the deployment of several demining teams in the country.

2001

FSD signs a cooperation agreement with the World Food Programme and deploys demining teams to Afghanistan allowing the humanitarian agency to access potentially mined areas. The demining programme in Lebanon begins.

FSD signs cooperation agreement with World Food Programme and deploys demining teams to Afghanistan to allow the humanitarian agency access to potentially mined areas
FSD deminer in Albania

2000

A major demining operation begins in Albania along the border with Kosovo. An assessment mission is conducted in northwest Pakistan.

1999

Implementation of a mine risk education campaign in primary schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Puppet shows and role-playing techniques are used during those sessions. Reactivation of UNHCR demining teams in the country.

FSD in Kosovo
A man holding 3 kids and the other two man standing at his left and right

1998

FSD’s first mine action project is launched in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It involves the demining of a part of the Olympic village of Dobrinja, where the front line used to be located. Another demining project begins near a school in Croatia.

1997

A group of Swiss citizens working in the humanitarian sector and concerned about the problem of mines, found the Fédération suisse de déminage. An appeal is launched via the Swiss radio to offer demining training to Kosovar refugees so that they can contribute to the demining of their country.

First FSD logo in 1997
Our operations

Our current programmes

MV UA

Ukraine

Mine clearance · Explosive ordnance risk education · Capacity building

Clearance IQ

Iraq

Mine clearance · Explosive ordnance risk education · Capacity building

EORE PH

The Philippines

Mine clearance · Explosive ordnance risk education · Capacity building

Clearance AFG

Afghanistan

Mine clearance · Explosive ordnance risk education · Mine victim assistance

Victim assistance CL

Colombia

Capacity building · Mine victim assistance

Local employee learning how to safely use an metal detector during basic training in Tajikistan

Tajikistan

Environmental remediation · Mine clearance

Socio-economic support CAR

Central African Republic

Support to the peace process · Disarmament and reintegration · Socio-economic support to communities