THE OPERATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN DEMINING DEVLOPMENT CONCEPT By C. J. Pearce C.J Pearce is the International Humanitarian Demining Development Team Advisor for Planning and Coordination, and Director for Marketing & Plans, Mine-Tech

The International Humanitarian Demining Development (IHHD) concept did not evolve on a haphazard basis. The concept was born out of practical experience in Manica Province, Mozambique during the emergency relief phase between 1993 and 1995. Based on those experiences, and a serious concern that mine clearance was regarded as a purely technical activity with local involvement being relegated to by-stander status, GTZ and Mine-Tech held wide-ranging discussions over a lengthy period before defining the IHDD concept. Subsequently, with funding from the BMZ (German Ministry of Cooperation) two pilot projects were undertaken in Manica and Sofala Provinces, Mozambique. These pilot projects were aimed at proving the concept, drawing practical lessons and conclusions, and refining the process. In this they were successful. Following the pilot projects, additional BMZ funding was made available through GTZ for a fullscale IHDD project in Manica Province, which was extended through financing from the European Union.