What Is Adopt-A-Minefield?
Adopt-A-Minefield is a campaign of the United Nations Association of the USA, whch engages individuals, community groups, and businesses in the United Nations effort to resolve the global landmine crisis. The Campaign helps save lives by raising funds for mine clearance and survivor assistance and by raising awareness about the landmine problem.

The Campaign seeks national and international sponsors to adopt minefields that the United Nations has identified as being in urgent need of clearance. Sponsors raise funds in their communities to clear their adopted minefields and return land to productive use. Every dollar raised for Adopt-A-Minefield is earmarked for mine clearance projects.

Adopt-A-Minefield is the leading NGO funder for mine action in our 6 main program countries: Afghanistan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Cambodia, Croatia, Mozambique and Vietnam. We work with and provide funding to every leading mine action organization working in our program countries, and are recognized by the mine action community, the US government and governments around the world as a leader in the global fight against landmines.

Why Is It Necessary to Have a Campaign to Clear Minefields?
The global landmine crisis is one of the most pervasive problems facing the world today. It is estimated that there are between 45 and 50 million landmines in the ground in at least 70 countries. Landmines reportedly maim or kill 10,000 civilians every year. Those who survive endure a lifetime of physical, psychological, and economic hardship.

Tragically, local communities in mine-affected countries often do not have the resources to clear their own land and to provide adequate care for their landmine survivors. They depend primarily upon financial assistance from governments and international and nongovernmental organizations. Adopt-A-Minefield is a grassroots effort to provide this aid and help revive communities.

Economic development is a key issue in the fight against landmines, because as mined land is cleared, farmers can return the land to productive use, roads and irrigation systems can be built or rebuilt, development projects including housing, schools and workplaces can be constructed, and people can be trained or retrained to be productive contributors to their societies.

How Does Adopt-A-Minefield Work?
The Campaign seeks national and international sponsors to adopt minefields that the United Nations and our partners in the field have identified as being in urgent need of clearance. The cost of clearing selected minefields ranges from thousands to millions of dollars, depending on the size and type of minefield and the complexity of the demining task. Sponsors may adopt entire minefields or contribute smaller amounts, which are pooled with other contributions. Sponsors raise funds in their communities to clear their adopted minefields and return land to productive use. Every dollar raised is forwarded to the United Nations and our partners in the field for mine action.

What Is Unique about Adopt-A-Minefield?
Adopt-A-Minefield is designed to move beyond the political and policy debates typically associated with banning the use of landmines. It is a grassroots effort to provide aid to mine-affected countries that do not have the resources to clear their own land and care for their landmine survivors. The Campaign enables people at a local level to make a difference internationally and to establish long-lasting bonds with the mine-affected communities that will benefit directly from their efforts.

The Adopt-A-Minefield Campaign's website, www.landmines.org, reaches millions of potential sponsors in their homes, businesses, schools, and other venues. The website provides comprehensive information on the global landmine crisis, as well as detailed information for individuals and groups interested in initiating local campaigns. The website also provides a way for supporters to adopt minefields and make contributions online.

Who Coordinates the Adopt-A-Minefield Campaign?
Adopt-A-Minefield is formalized by an exclusive agreement between the United Nations Association of the USA, the Better World Fund, and the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP). UNDP has overall management responsibilities for the Adopt-A-Minefield program within the United Nations system and works closely with the United Nations Office for Project Services, to whom it has subcontracted the coordination of all Adopt-A-Minefield demining activities.

How is Paul McCartney involved with AAM?
Paul McCartney joined forces with the United Nations Association of the USA and the Adopt-A-Minefield campaign in 2001, helping to form Adopt-A-Minefield (UK). Since then, as Goodwill Ambassador and Patron of AAM worldwide, Paul has been instrumental in keeping AAM and the landmine issue in the press and before the public. Through fundraising events, media interviews, and direct appeals to governments and the public, Paul McCartney has been a key to our success. 

What Organizations Does Adopt-A-Minefield Work With?
Adopt-A-Minefield is a program of the United Nations Association of the USA and the Better World Fund, in partnership with the following organizations:

CLICK HERE to learn about AAM's Mine Action Partners in the field.

CLICK HERE to learn about AAM's Survivor Assistance Partners in the field.

Does Adopt-A-Minefield Have An International Network of Campaigns?
Adopt-A-Minefield has established three partner campaigns - Adopt-A-Minefield (Canada)™, Adopt-A-Minefield (UK)™ and Adopt-A-Minefield (Sweden)™ - to bring the landmine message to communities outside the United States and to raise funds for mine clearance and survivor assistance projects on a more global scale. The Adopt-A-Minefield (Canada)™ Campaign is a partnership between UNA-USA, BWF, and the Canadian Landmine Foundation. The Adopt-A-Minefield (UK)™ Campaign is a partnership between UNA-USA, BWF, and the No More Landmines Trust.  Adopt-A-Minefield (Sweden)™ is a partnership between the United Nations Association of Sweden and UNA-USA, with strong support from the Swedish government due in part to their commitment to the Mine Ban Treaty.