EOKHUB Faces
Markus Schindler
Dear Markus,
Thank you for your time and for giving us the opportunity to discuss your work and insights with our EOKHUB community.
Personal Background & Journey
Can you tell us about your path into the mine action sector? What initially drew you to this field?During university I was eager to learn about humanitarian work and conflict-related issues such as political violence and its drivers and consequences. When I came across mine action during an internship in the Philippines, I realised that this sector works on many of the topics that I want to explore further, so I was delighted when I landed my first job with FSD.
You've been with FSD (Fondation suisse de déminage) for more than 10 years. Can you tell us more about the organization and your role within it?FSD is a Geneva-based mine action organisation that has implemented many amazing and impactful programmes around the globe. I had the privilege to contribute to some of these programmes in a variety of roles, starting as Project Manager for an EORE project in the Philippines, to leading digitalisation efforts throughout FSD, managing various projects in Afghanistan and Tajikistan, before taking the lead on a capacity development project with a local partner NGO in Iraq. After this I moved to Ukraine, first as Programme Manager in Kharkiv and now as Strategic Development and Innovation Manager at our country HQ in Kyiv.
As Strategic Development and Innovation Manager, what are your key responsibilities, and how do you envision the future of FSD?My roles include the building of partnerships with key stakeholders in the mine action sector, the designing of projects and the accompanying high-quality concept notes and proposals, as well as overseeing the implementation of a number of such projects, including on capacity development for local partners and innovative approaches. I am hopeful that FSD will be able to continue doing such projects in Ukraine in the future, together with our main focus – the release of safe land to affected communities.
More successful approaches often focus on adjusting existing technology to bring incremental improvements, rather than chasing overly complex solutions.
Innovation & Technology
Innovation is a topic everyone discusses in our sector. How do you perceive innovation's role in mine action today?New technology is emerging at an ever-increasing rate, and ignoring it will be to one’s detriment. At the same time, we have to be economical with our limited resources. Jumping onto every wagon that promises a “silver bullet” will exhaust us. When observing the development and field application of innovative solutions in mine action, it appears to me that the more successful approaches often focus on leveraging or adjusting existing technology to bring about incremental improvements in mine action, particularly to increase operational efficiency, rather than spending time and money to research and develop overly complex solutions that only work in very specific settings.
Are there any particular technologies you believe could be game-changers for mine action in the next 5-10 years?I suspect that the use of UAVs with various sensors to detect EO will continue to be at the forefront of innovation in mine action. To what extent sensors can be improved in the near to medium future remains to be seen, but I doubt that we will see drones replacing deminers anytime soon. Nevertheless, especially when coupled with AI, drones and sensor technology will certainly continue to enhance the land release toolbox. My team and I are also working on using QR codes to inform affected populations about potential EO risks, and this could be the foundation for a more comprehensive, integrated information platform for operators and mine action authorities as well in the future. But it is still early days and too soon to tell.
We're witnessing increasingly intense conflicts involving modern weapons systems and explosive ordnance. Do you think our community is adequately prepared to face these evolving challenges?The scale of the current challenge is truly staggering, from Ukraine and Gaza to Syria, Ethiopia and Sudan, to name but a few. The international humanitarian mine action community is currently struggling to address these issues fully, though this has less to do with the sector’s capability and more with the amount of funding that is available to do so. However, it is high time for us as a sector to learn how to do more with less, otherwise we will not be able to keep up with the growing task.
It is high time for us as a sector to learn how to do more with less – otherwise we won’t be able to keep up with the growing task.
Mine Action Weekly & Knowledge Sharing
What inspired you to create Mine Action Weekly, and how has the newsletter evolved since its inception?For the first half of my career in the mine action sector I was based in locations where I had little exposure to other mine action practitioners. To better understand the sector and learn what else was being done in mine action around the globe, I started to search for news items that deal with the topic. These kinds of articles don’t often pop up on the news feed, so I began putting in a little effort to go about it in a more systematic manner, and at some point, I figured that these reports and articles would also be interesting for others in the sector. This was shortly after I had started being more active on LinkedIn, so a newsletter on that platform was the obvious choice. Since then, I have restructured the newsletter a few times and added additional sections, but the principle has remained largely the same: Provide the week’s mine action news, all in one place, because a better-informed sector can build on the experience of others and make better decisions.
Anyone who publishes content knows the extensive work behind every article and post. You've been doing this consistently for the past two years. How do you find the time and energy to maintain this commitment?That is a good question that I ask myself sometimes. But seeing all the positive feedback to my efforts and the growing interest and readership, I have developed a sense of responsibility to deliver the newsletter, come what may – and that truly wasn’t always easy. I have found myself writing the Mine Action Weekly from my cold and dark Kharkiv apartment – relying on mobile data and candle light after a russian airstrike on the local power grid, during holidays off the beaten path, Christmas Eves or even just sunny Sunday afternoons that could also be spent in other ways, but somehow, I always managed. The many kind words I have received from friends, colleagues and strangers alike certainly helped and are always deeply appreciated.
How do you curate and verify the information that goes into Mine Action Weekly? What's your process for ensuring accuracy and relevance for the mine action community?My editorial process is not overly stringent – I collect and share the news on mine action-related topics, but I leave it to my readers to judge the content for themselves. The only news items that I sometimes omit are articles that are excessively propagandistic and use the topic of mine action primarily to attack someone, but other than that I try to include as many articles as possible and leave it to the subscribers to decide. My focus is on topics that are relevant for the humanitarian mine action sector, but sometimes there are articles on military demining that may still be of interest to some readers, so I often include one or two of them as well.
Mine Action Weekly has become a trusted source of information in our sector. What impact do you hope your newsletter has on decision-making and knowledge sharing within the mine action community?The way any profession advances is through information sharing. Learning from each other’s experiences and insights means that we don’t have to try the same thing over and over, but that we can build on what others have learned. There are a number of important publications and knowledge centres in the mine action sector, and I hope that the Mine Action Weekly can make a small, independent contribution to this important effort. With the way I structure the Mine Action Weekly, I intend to give readers a chance to get familiar with what went on around the globe in the past week by reading the headlines and some or all of the summaries, and to then pick the topics that they may be particularly interested in for a more in depth read. This gives everyone from Programme Managers to Deminers a chance to always stay up to date with the latest developments in the mine action sector without having to know all the movers and shakers behind the news. I hope that this contributes to a growing sense of community, a more level playing field, and incremental advancements for our sector as a whole.
Sector Perspective & Community
What are the biggest challenges facing the mine action community today that might not be receiving adequate attention?The funding situation is certainly a topic of great concern, not only in the short term but particularly the underlying trends that led to the current reduction. The humanitarian sector has largely developed alongside the expansion of the liberal international order following the end of the Cold War, but Fukuyama’s “end of history” seems to have been more like a “pause of history.” The international order is once again transforming rapidly, as is the security perception of many of humanitarian mine action’s major donors in Europe and North America. The budgets for humanitarian aid, including mine action, are shrinking globally, and I am concerned that this trend might continue. This is why it is all the more important for us in the mine action sector to actively look for ways to become more economical with the funding we receive – without taking shortcuts on safety.
What role do you see for independent media and newsletters like yours in the mine action sector?Being an independent medium, the Mine Action Weekly is not affiliated with any institution or tied to any particular perspective or editorial policy. I don’t usually comment on the news, I just seek to share them as widely as possible and leave it to readers to make up their own mind. A good example is the recent debate about the withdrawal announcements of six European countries from the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. I find it important to provide a holistic picture on this controversial matter, regardless of what my personal opinion might be, so I made sure to include a variety of voices, presenting arguments for and against the decisions. Moreover, many of the publications that I share would not normally show up on people’s news feeds, so I hope that the Mine Action Weekly can serve as an amplifier to highlight news that otherwise wouldn’t receive much attention. This also includes a significant amount of positive news, which I hold in particularly high regard. I find it encouraging to see how some countries and organisations are excited to share their achievements in the field of mine action – I believe this is very important, and cheering each other on as we are fighting the good fight of keeping people safe from EO is a valuable cause in its own right.
What advice would you give to other professionals looking to contribute to knowledge sharing in our community?Don’t hesitate – do it! It is rewarding, and it is always good to start a conversation that can advance the sector. There are many ways to go about this, and our sector is small enough so that many “publication niches” remain largely unexplored. You could start by writing an article on LinkedIn or sharing your thoughts or experiences in a short video, and see where it takes you.
Personal Balance
Who is Markus beyond his professional achievements? What drives you personally?Having studied philosophy, you can imagine that reading and talking about what I’m reading is one of the great joys in my life. And when I’m not reading, I try to write. Thankfully, my wife and friends are so kind to ensure that I also have a social life and haven’t yet turned into a total couch potato. Seriously though, as a mine action practitioner I have the privilege to have a job that is both enjoyable in its own right, allowing me to see the world and work with people from different cultures and walks of life, while also having a real-world tangible impact, contributing to the safety of the communities that my colleagues and I get to serve.
Many professionals in our sector struggle with work-life balance, especially when passionate about their mission. How do you ensure you're taking care of yourself while staying committed to serving the mine action community through your various roles?Balancing between professional commitments and personal space can be a major challenge, particularly for members of the humanitarian community who often live far away from home and family. There are a number of things I try to do to keep myself motivated and able to develop professionally and personally. These would be my recommendations for any mine action professional struggling with work-life balance: 1. Ensure that your work environment is free from toxicity and unnecessary strive – work is hard enough, it shouldn’t be more difficult than it has to be. 2. Pick the right role – challenging yourself is good, but up to a point. If your job consumes you, consider stepping back and trying something else. 3. Create daily routines and follow them – whether you are a morning person or a night owl, set a time that is just for yourself and where you can follow your non-work-related hobbies or interests. 4. Have a social life – find people to meet up with who don’t just talk shop (so not necessarily just your colleagues).
