ODA eligibility database

Many African countries are affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war. Some of these countries have requested advice and assistance through courses similar to those provided by Humanitarian Mine Action Programmes and Peacekeeping Operations in Africa. With the support of France, Benin has created a regionally-focused national school, specialising in the training of humanitarian demining. The school is better known by its acronym “CPADD” (Centre de Perfectionnement aux Actions post conflictuelles de Déminage et Dépollution/Centre for Humanitarian Demining Training).

The Belgian Defence Force contributes to this project by providing trainers three times a year.

Improving the expertise in humanitarian demining by helping the CPADD to fulfil its mission.

This activity is deemed not ODA-eligible to the extent that the training is for partner country military. If the training is for a mix of non-military and military actors, or non-military alone, the activity is considered partially or fully eligible respectively (see bullets below). The project will be beneficial for the civilian population; however, the Reporting Directives on the eligibility of activities in the field of peace and security give strict instructions in order to draw a clear line between ODA and non-ODA activities: training of partner country military personnel, under civilian oversight and with a clear developmental purpose for the benefit of civilians is limited to the areas listed in paragraph 97. Training in demining is not included in the list of eligible areas of training of partner country military. The rules in relation to demining can be summarised as follows: - Conduct of demining activities for civilian purposes by any actors can qualify as ODA (see paragraph 107); if conducted by military actors, additional costs only; - Training of civilians in demining qualifies as ODA (paragraph 107); if delivered by military or provider country police, additional costs only; - Training of military personnel in demining does not qualify as ODA (the section of the Reporting Directives on providing training to the military specifies limited areas of training which are reportable as ODA and does not include demining, paragraph 97).