FSD (Fondation suisse de déminage)
FSD (Swiss Foundation for Mine Clearance)
Company Info:
Company Name & Structure
Full company name and any subsidiaries/divisions: FSD (Fondation suisse de déminage)
Legal structure (LLC, Corporation, NGO, Government Agency, Partnership, etc.): Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)
Country of incorporation and operational headquarters: HQ: Geneva, Switzerland.
Support office: Manila, Philippines.
Operational headquarters: Bangui (Central African Republic); Bogota (Colombia); Erbil (Iraq); Cotabato City (Philippines); Dushanbe (Tajikistan); Kyiv (Ukraine)
Year established and company registration details: Founded in 1997; formally registered as a Swiss foundation in 2003 (registration no. 00357/2003).
Parent company or holding structure (if applicable): None (independent, locally registered NGO)
OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES
Business Classification
Primary business category: Humanitarian Demining, UXO Services, Maritime UXO Services, EO Production, Equipment Manufacturing, EORE, Equipment Supply & Distribution, Research & Development, Consultancy Services, Academic Institution, Event Management & Provision, Training & Capacity Building, Risk Assessment, etc. Choose up to two primary categories.
Humanitarian demining + EORE
Service Portfolio
Comprehensive list of services and products offered
Humanitarian Mine Action:
Humanitarian demining operations
Explosive ordnance risk education
Capacity development and training
Stockpile destruction
Victim assistance
Support to Peace Processes:
Confidence-building and stabilisation activities in post-conflict settings
Socio-Economic Recovery:
Community-based resilience and recovery initiatives
Environmental Remediation and Climate Resilience:
Rehabilitation of land and ecosystems affected by conflict
Strengthening community adaptation to climate change
Geographic areas of operation (countries/territories served)
Central African Republic, Colombia, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines, Tajikistan, Ukraine
Operational environments: Land, Marine, Urban, Rural, Industrial, etc.
Land, urban, rural, industrial
Specialised capabilities or niche expertise
Humanitarian mine action, explosives-contaminated rubble removal, capability development of local NGOs, IED disposal
Emergency response capabilities and mobilisation timeframes
FSD can deploy a small EOD team and/or emergency EORE/CPP team from Ukraine or Iraq within approximately two weeks. Deployment of a full demining team is feasible within one month.
Multi-language operational capacity
Operations conducted in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German and Ukrainian.
HUMAN RESOURCES
Workforce Structure
Total number of permanent employees
+700
Number of contractors and seasonal staff
Key personnel and leadership team (with brief credentials)
https://fsd.ch/en/about-us/our-team/
Average years of experience in EOD/UXO sector
Most operational managers have over 20 years of EOD experience. FSD’s institutional capability includes senior humanitarian deminers with more than 30 years of operational experience across multiple post-conflict environments since FSD’s inception in 1997.
Professional certifications held by key personnel
HQ operations personnel hold APMP Project management certifications and postgraduate degrees (Master’s / PhD level). All personnel in key technical positions are IMAS EOD Level 3+ qualified.
EOD certifications
All Operations Managers in field locations and at HQ are IMAS EOD Level 3+ qualified. IEDD-certified operators are deployed in Iraq.
PROJECT PORTFOLIO
Current Operations
Active projects/contracts currently underway
See www.fsd.ch
Major projects completed within the last 24 months
See 2024 Annual Report: https://fsd.ch/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/FR-FSD-ANNUAL-REPORT-2024.pdf
International versus domestic project ratio
100% international
Notable achievements and milestones
Since 1997:
+473,000,000 sqm cleared
+1,400,000 mines and items of unexploded ordnance destroyed
QUALITY & COMPLIANCE
Standards & Certifications
Quality management certifications (ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, etc.)
ISO 9001:2015 ; ZEWO
Testing Protocols: Outline of testing procedures and standards utilised to ensure quality and safety during operations.
FSD operates a comprehensive Quality Management System (QMS) based on ISO 9001 principles. Country-specific SOPs are developed in compliance with IMAS and National Mine Action Standards (NMAS). Field operations and cleared land are internally quality checked against these SOPs by technical staff via a programme of monitoring inspections, special evaluations and random sampling. Non-conformities with the SOPs in either process (demining procedures) or product (cleared land) are recorded and corrective actions implemented. This internal QA/QC is complemented by external assessment of FSD, usually undertaken by the NMAA.
Safety record and incident reporting protocols
FSD has recorded one serious demining incident in the past 10 years (Iraq, 2019). All accidents or serious incidents are reported to the NMAA and FSD HQ within two hours using IMSMA reporting procedures. Follow-up protocols are defined in all country SOPs.
Compliance with International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) (if applicable)
FSD is fully compliant with IMAS and contributes to their development as a member of the IMAS Review board. FSD also contributes to the International Ammunition Technical Group (IATG) and UN SaferGuard.
National regulations and accreditations
FSD is accredited by national mine action authorities in all countries of operation and complies with all NMAS. Where IMAS are more stringent, FSD applies the higher standard.
Industry-specific compliance requirements
As a humanitarian non-governmental organisation, legal and ethical compliance are fundamental to all FSD activities and are embedded within its management principles, Quality Policy and quality objectives. FSD complies with international humanitarian law and standards (IMAS, IATG, SPHERE, ICRC Code of Conduct), donor regulations (ZEWO, EU Humanitarian Aid Regulations, US Government compliance requirements), and national legislation. All personnel are trained on applicable compliance requirements, and key controls are audited quarterly and annually.
Environmental management practices and certifications
FSD has an established Environmental Policy and adheres to IMAS 7.13 – Environmental Management in Mine Action. FSD is in the process of applying for ISO 14001 (Environmental) but is not yet certified.
Data security and confidentiality protocols
Data protection and confidentiality are governed by comprehensive IT and cybersecurity policies, which define clear procedures for data security and personal data protection relating to both staff and beneficiaries. All personnel undertake mandatory annual cybersecurity training, and the FSD IT department ensures that antivirus software and security systems are kept up to date across all organisational devices.
Insurance coverage and liability management
FSD maintains comprehensive insurance coverage for its personnel and operations. This includes medical and accident insurance for international staff, accident insurance for national staff, third-party liability insurance, and asset insurance covering both conventional and political risks. Additional insurance arrangements are implemented where required by national legislation or donor regulations.
Testing protocols
FSD complies with all testing requirements laid down in IMAS and/or NMAS, including equipment testing procedures such as detector testing SOPs and the use of representative test pieces.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Industry Relationships
Equipment manufacturer/Service provider partnerships
FSD works with a number of equipment providers via a transparent procurement process. Regular providers include Security Devices Inc for PPE and Ebinger Prüf- und Ortungstechnik GmbH for detectors.
Subcontracting and collaboration agreements
FSD works with local NGOs through partnership and subcontracting arrangements. Key partners include FEODAL, the Ukraine Deminers Association (UDA), the Ukraine Centre for Humanitarian Protection (UCHP), and FRESCA in Colombia.
Academic and research institution partnerships
FSD has a significant partnership with EFPL in Switzerland and regularly collaborates with a number of other research institutes, including ETH Zurich.
Government relationships and security clearances
FSD is a neutral Swiss organisation and is regularly funded by the Swiss government. Personnel hold a range of security clearances for UN organisations and donor governments.
International organisation partnerships (UN, GICHD, UNMAS, etc.)
FSD has a formal partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) and regularly collaborates with UNMAS and GICHD, both at the HQ level and in the field.
INNOVATION & DEVELOPMENT
Growth & Development
Research & Development investments and initiatives
FSD supports R&D at field level and has staff dedicated to trials and testing of innovative mine action technologies and techniques, including remotely operated vehicles and drones in Ukraine, and sector-leading SOP development for contaminated rubble removal operations in Iraq.
Technology adoption rate and innovation culture
FSD engages in research and development initiatives focused on the application of innovative technologies in humanitarian mine action. As a field-oriented organisation, FSD is regularly consulted by universities, research institutions, and private companies for collaborative projects and field testing. The organisation maintains close partnerships with the Urs Endress Foundation and the EPFL.
Training and professional development programs
FSD provides training and professional development programmes for mine action personnel. It also advises government institutions and supports the establishment of national demining coordination centres. Capacity-building projects are implemented to enable local demining NGOs to progressively assume operational responsibilities.
Knowledge sharing contributes to the sector
FSD contributes to knowledge exchange within the humanitarian mine action community through participation in international forums and working groups. The organisation also assists countries in meeting their obligations under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.
Collaboration with tech startups or innovation hubs
FSD collaborates with several tech entities, including FindMine gGmbH, EPFL, FEODAL and several other tech startups.
Investment in emerging technologies (AI, robotics, drones, etc.)
As outlined above, FSD works with industry, academia and other NGOs to develop, and often facilitate live trials of, new mine action technologies. As an NGO, it does not directly invest financially in these technologies but supports the development of useful and IMAS-compliant systems.
Sustainability initiatives and environmental impact reduction
FSD is significantly invested in ensuring its environmental footprint is as small as possible and complies with both internal policy and IMAS. Projects are designed to be inherently sustainable and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Objectives are community-focused and enable project outcomes that are both socially beneficial and climate-sensitive. This is enabled through FSD’s Socio-Economic Impact Assessment monitoring tool and augmented by the Green Field Tool for Mine Action (GFTMA), which ensures climate sensitivity is integrated at all stages of project development.
Conclusion
FSD is an international NGO with almost 30 years of experience in mine action and sustainable humanitarian work in over 30 countries. FSD leads the sector in integrating land release with genuine, socially positive outcomes and in fostering locally led partnerships with national NGOs, while developing innovative procedures to support safe and efficient clearance operations worldwide. As a professional, ISO 9001:2015-certified organisation adhering to IMAS and national standards, FSD works with, and remains open to working with, stakeholders across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. In doing so, FSD aims to deliver sustainable, climate- and conflict-sensitive outcomes in coordination with national and international stakeholders.
📩 Contact
Hansjörg EberleDirector, +41 22 731 14 79
info@fsd.ch
