Mine Action Support Group (MASG)

The Mine Action Support Group (MASG), established in 1998, endeavors to coordinate international humanitarian mine action programs funded by the world’s major donor states, harmonize the prioritization of their respective mine action programs, and increase donor support for mine action where it is most needed. The United States is currently serving as the Chair of the MASG for 2018–2019. Chairmanship of the MASG rotates every two years.

Composed of over 30 donor states, the MASG serves as a forum for the exchange of information as well as the coordination of financial support and resources. It meets twice a year and adheres to the Chatham House Rule. In this informal setting donor states engage in a frank exchange aimed at effectively and efficiently supporting humanitarian mine action amidst shrinking resources, increased demand generated by recent and on-going conflicts, and varying national priorities.

Observer organizations include members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Coordination Group for Mine Action (IACG-MA), the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), the Organization of American States (OAS), the International Trust Fund (ITF) and James Madison University’s Center for International Stabilization and Recovery (JMU/CISR). PM/WRA funds a small Secretariat that collects information, provides reports, organizes meetings, and facilitates visits to certain mineaffected countries as agreed to by the MASG members.

The UN Mine Action Gateway website posts MASG notices, minutes, and presentations at http://www.mineaction.org/resources/documents/masg.

Stan Brown (seated on the right in white shirt), Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA), chairs the first MASG meeting of 2018 held in Geneva, Switzerland.

Photo courtesy of the Department of State.