Reducing risk of accidents from Victim Operated Improvised Explosive Devices: conducting non-technical survey and marking of contaminated areas and targeted risk education, in conjunction with two implementation partners to build national capacity and save more lives. This project will be implemented by The HALO Trust as the lead partner and by the Demining Agency for Afghanistan (DAFA), and Mine Clearance Planning Agency (MCPA) as the sub-grantee partners. All three agencies are experienced demining agencies that have worked in Afghanistan for the past three decades, conducting manual and mechanized mine clearance, survey, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), and explosive ordnance risk education (EORE).

As the only implementation partner accredited to conduct Victim Operated Improvised Explosive Device (VOIED) clearance in Afghanistan, HALO Trust will work with DAFA and MCPA to build the capacity of MAPA surveyors in non-technical survey (NTS) of Abandoned improvised Mines (AIMs) (also referred to as VOIEDs). The project will use a team structure that pairs experienced HALO staff with MAPA surveyors to give on-the-job training while conducting survey of hazardous areas and providing risk education to affected populations. The teams will be jointly staffed resulting in a balance of personnel on every survey team. Each team will include HALO AIM NTS team leaders and one deminer-medic, while the AIM NTS assistant team leaders and one deminer-medic will be provided by DAFA or MCPA. Where mixed gender teams are used, the HALO deminer-medic position will be filled by a female MRE assessor. 

Current security assessments suggest that this project could support 2 mixed-gender survey teams. These teams will be deployed in accessible districts, and will include male-female couples (either husband-and-wife or brother-and-sister), and will allow the project to provide stronger returns from this project. These stronger returns are likely to be realised through more complete survey, as gender-roles mean that females in a community may identify different risk areas for survey than males, and through improved provision of risk education to local communities. 


These specially formed teams will 
-	conduct non technical survey (NTS) of hazardous areas identifying land contaminated by AIM/VOIEDs 
-	Collect accurate information on mine/ERW/VOID contamination in the planned districts as well as victim information. 
-	Marking of hazardous areas identified during survey to deter civilian entrance and reduce risk of accidents.
-	Provide Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) for at-risk populations in the planned districts to raise awareness of the risks and provide critical information on safe behaviour that can reduce the likelihood of accidents.
-	Deliver thorough and robust community liaison, hiring eight community mobilisers to fully integrate with affected communities. Teams will document the process in line with Afghan National Mine Action Standards (AMAS) 

The above activities will inform at-risk populations of hazardous areas and of safe behaviours when living with the threat of explosive ordnance, enabling them to avoid accidents and to stay safe. The capacity development element will increase the ability of MAPA to survey and mark AIM/VOIDs hazardous areas in accordance with HALO’s accredited standard operating procedures, therefore increasing MAPA ability to save more lives