Norwegian People's Aid Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Norwegian People's Aid Bosnia and Herzegovina

NPA in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been running its Mine Action Programme in BiH since 1996. Be free to explore our webpage http://www.npaid.org/

Bosnia and Herzegovina is heavily contaminated with landmines and other explosive remnants of war (ERW), including cluster munition remnants (CMR), as a result of the conflict that took place 1992–1995. Many years upon resolving war conflict, Bosnia and Herzegovina is still the most heavily landmine contaminated country in Europe. Most of the suspected hazardous areas are located between former co

nfrontation lines of all parties engaged during the conflict. Significant number of minefield records were reportedly never made or handed over, and many years after the end of the war overgrown vegetation at suspected areas pose additional challenges in implementation of demining activities. The Norwegian People’s Aid has been running its MAD Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1996. At the beginning, the Programme worked in the Tuzla area, in support of the NPA Reconstruction Programme. In 1998, the focus shifted to the Sarajevo Canton, and the majority of the NPA Mine Action assets worked in the Sarajevo Canton from 1998 to 2003. At present, the Programme works in both the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) and the Republika Srpska (RS) and Brcko District BiH. The Norwegian People's Aid MAD has been continuously active since 1996. It encompasses survey, marking, clearance, explosive ordnance risk education and Impact Assessment activities in the areas contaminated with mines and other explosive remnants of war, as well as destruction of explosive ordnances across Bosnia and Herzegovina. In parallel to these activities the project entitled “Support to Mine Action: Country Assessment of mine suspected areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2018-2019” was implemented jointly by the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), the Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Center (BHMAC) and the Armed Forces of BiH (AF BH), funded by the European Union through the European Union's Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP). The aim of the project was to increase the efficiency of Mine Action in Bosnia and Herzegovina through the implementation of an improved overall contamination assessment. This provided a new basis for planning of mine action in accordance with the Mine Action Strategy 2018-2025 and prepare a final request for fulfilling the obligations under Article 5 of the Ottawa Convention. Humanitarian demining in BiH is supported by numerous donors, the majority of funding coming from the governments of Norway, Germany and Switzerland through the Norwegian People's Aid Head Office in Oslo, Norway. The engagement of the Norwegian People's Aid in Bosnia and Herzegovina in humanitarian demining has been focused on resolving the issues important for post-war recovery and development of the country. NPA’s engagement and approach to Arms Management and Destruction has grown out of the engagement in protecting civilians from explosive weapons and grew out of the negotiations for the CCM and concerns raised about cluster munition stockpile destruction.

24/02/2026

📢 Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), with support from UNSCAR, proudly announces that last week training was successfully completed under a unique project in the Western Balkans – marking, labeling, and registration of weapons, and digitalizing the system for managing arms data within the Federal Police Administration.
✅ 11 FUP members trained
🔧 This week, implementation of the marking, labeling, and registration process has begun
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina – the only country in the region implementing these activities
📍 Already successfully implemented in Brčko District, Posavina Canton, and Canton 10 – next step: West Herzegovina Canton
🎯 Full implementation expected in June
These activities strengthen institutional capacities, increase transparency, and improve citizen security – with positive impact not only in BiH and the Western Balkans, but also on the security of the European Union, as concrete measures to combat the illicit arms trade.

📢 Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), uz podršku UNSCAR-a, sa ponosom objavljuje da je prošle sedmice uspješno završen trening u okviru jedinstvenog projekta obilježavanja, etiketiranja i registracije oružja, te digitalizacije sistema za vođenje podataka o službenom i ostalom oružju pod kontrolom Federalne uprave policije.
✅ Obučeno je 11 pripadnika FUP-a
🔧 Ove sedmice započeta je implementacija procesa obilježavanja, etiketiranja i registracije oružja
🇧🇦 Bosna i Hercegovina – jedina država u regionu koja provodi ove aktivnosti
📍 Projekat već uspješno implementiran u Brčko Distriktu, Posavskom kantonu i Kantonu 10 – naredni korak je Zapadnohercegovački kanton
🎯 Potpuna implementacija očekuje se u junu
Ove aktivnosti jačaju kapacitete institucija, povećavaju transparentnost i unapređuju sigurnost građana – s pozitivnim utjecajem ne samo u BiH i na Zapadnom Balkanu, već i na sigurnost Evropske unije, kroz konkretne mjere u borbi protiv ilegalne trgovine naoružanjem.

04/11/2025

On October 28, the Federal Police Administration (FUP) and Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize cooperation on small arms and light weapons (SALW) control in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Memorandum, signed by FUP Director Mr. Vahidin Munjić and NPA Country Director Ms. Valerie Warmington, marks the launch of a new project funded by the United Nations Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation (UNSCAR).
Building on successful activities implemented in Brčko District, Posavina Canton, and Canton 10, this initiative aims to enhance public safety through the digitalization of weapons management systems, and the marking, registration, and labeling of weapons under FUP jurisdiction.
The project focuses on:
• strengthening operational capacities,
• improving inter-institutional and international cooperation,
• raising awareness of the risks of illicit weapons, particularly in the context of domestic violence and femicide.
Planned activities include the digitalization of official and seized weapons records, as well as specialized training for FUP personnel. The initiative also reinforces cooperation with key security actors from the EU, UN, international community, and the region to build joint capacities in combating illicit arms and enhancing overall safety.
We thank FUP for their trust and partnership, and UNSCAR for their continued support. Together, we are working toward safer communities and contributing to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path toward European integration.

09/06/2025

💥Four landmine incidents in which people were killed or injured determined the Besirovic family’s orchard of plum trees was unused for decades. Thanks to generous funding from the 🇳🇴 Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 🇩🇪 German Federal Foreign Office, NPA cleared the area of landmines enabling the family to safely harvest the plums and to expand their vegetable production.

06/06/2025

NPA has reached a new generation of school children with explosive ordnance risk education’ in the Majevica region of Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦. A huge thank you 🙏 to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇳🇴 and the German Federal Foreign Office 🇩🇪 for helping to keep kids safe! 🕊️ 🤝

02/06/2025

NPA thanks 🙏 the governments of 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇩🇪 Germany and
🇨🇭 Switzerland for the support they have provided to NPA and for their important contributions to reducing landmine contamination💣 in beautiful 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina! 🤝

30/05/2025

In early 2025, NPA 🇧🇦 completed work on the last known landmine contaminated area in Brčko District! Many thanks to the 🇳🇴 Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affair and the 🇨🇭Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland and Swiss Development & Cooperation for helping to make Brčko District free of mines!

28/05/2025

NPA deminers head to work in a minefield in the Majevica region of
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina. With generous funding from the governments of 🇩🇪 Germany and Norway 🇳🇴 , NPA released 4,972,000 m2 of previously suspected and contaminated land between July 2022 and March 2025. People can once again safely use the land and local development can proceed with confidence.

Auswärtiges Amt 🇩🇪 , Njemačka Ambasada Sarajevo 🇩🇪 , 🇳🇴, Norwegian Embassy in Sarajevo 🇳🇴

23/05/2025

Dzemila Redzic harvests the last of the season’s tomatoes. Land in this area was made safe from landmines by NPA with generous funding from the the Federal Republic of Germany Auswärtiges Amt 🇩🇪 and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 🇳🇴 . Close to 5,000 people benefited directly from the land release enabled by the project “Mine Free Majevica” implemented between July 2022-March 2025.

🇳🇴 Norwegian Embassy in Sarajevo , 🇩🇪 Njemačka Ambasada Sarajevo 💚

19/02/2025

We are thrilled to have joined colleagues from 45 embassies, international organisations, schools, and local vendors at the Diplomatic Winter Bazaar 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣ handover ceremony! This year’s event raised an impressive 275,000 BAM in support of 27 organisations dedicated to empowering children and young people across Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The NPA 🇧🇦 and Norwegian People's Aid Global Training Centre for Detection Dogs is proud to have contributed to this remarkable initiative. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated and made this event a success.

Now, we’d love to hear from you: What was your most memorable moment from the bazaar? Share your experiences in the comments below!❓

19/12/2024

📢Another Successful Training Completed in Livno, Canton 10, Bosnia and Herzegovina!✅

From 9th to 13th December 2024, NPA 🇧🇦 conducted a comprehensive training on the marking and registration of small arms and light weapons at the MUP Hercegbosanske županije / Kantona 10, situated in the southwestern region of BiH.

This training is a vital component of the NPA 🇧🇦 project, which aims to enhance safety and security by improving the capacity to track and trace military weapon stockpiles.

The training saw the participation of 10 police officers, including 6 women and 4 men, showcasing a strong commitment to gender inclusion in building institutional capacities for SALW management.

A key emphasis of the training was on addressing the gendered impacts of diverted and illicit fi****ms. By incorporating gender considerations into all stages of small arms control, the project will consolidate the quality, impact, and long-term sustainability.
Through the implementation of the project, technical and procedural consistencies with relevant MOSAIC modules will be ensured, including 05.20 Stockpile management; 05.30 Marking and recordkeeping; and 06.10 Women, men and the gendered nature of SALW.

At the national level, this initiative supports BiH’s normative and political framework on arms control, including the BiH European Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina-coordinated Ammunition, Weapons, and Explosives (AWE) Master Plan and the government’s SALW Control Strategy.

Furthermore, the project directly contributes to the United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development (SDGs), particularly:
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, with a focus on:
o Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
o Target 16.4: By 2030, significantly reduce illicit arms flows.
o Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our donors, especially the United Nations Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation , for making this work possible. Our sincere thanks also go to our partners Ministarstvo odbrane i Oružane snage BiH/MoD&AF of BiH and European Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina - for their invaluable collaboration and unwavering support.

12/12/2024

🌿 Wrapping Up an Inspiring Workshop! 🌿

After three dynamic and impactful days, the workshop led by Ove Helfredsen Sparre-Enger, NPA Advisor, and Linsey Cottrell from The Conflict and Environment Observatory has come to a successful close!

Participants explored the Green Field Tool in-depth, engaging in hands-on training, group exercises, and thought-provoking discussions on environmental impact assessments.

📍 A major highlight was the field trip to NPA tasks, where theory met practice, showcasing real-world applications of the tool. The collaborative reflections brought fresh perspectives on integrating environmental considerations into mine action programmes.
💻 In addition, colleagues from other programmes joined the meeting online, contributing valuable insights and expanding the scope of the discussions.

A heartfelt thank you to all the participants for your passion, energy, and dedication to fostering positive change. Together, we are paving the way for more sustainable and innovative solutions! 👏🌍

Address

Krtelji Bb
Sarajevo
71210

Telephone

+38733436531

Website

http://www.npaid.org/, https://www.npaid.org/mine-action-and-disarmament/where-we-work/bosnia-and-herzegovina

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