UNOPS Project Objective(s) This project is designed to address the lack of understanding of Explosive Ordnance (EO) contamination that poses a significant risk to affected populations and acts as an obstacle to humanitarian and reconstruction operations. EO contamination not only endangers the safety of humanitarian workers but also threatens the lives and well-being of the populations they serve. By addressing these risks through a gender and social inclusion lens, the project aims to ensure the safe and inclusive delivery of aid, access to basic services, and the restoration of livelihoods in affected areas.   Background, Rationale and Objectives of the Grant/funding The core component of the project is the implementation of systematic Non-Technical Surveys (NTS) to identify and map areas contaminated with explosive ordnance (EO) in districts that have not yet been targeted by mine action operations. These surveys will produce accurate, up-to-date data that will inform the prioritization of EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal )  spot tasks, Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), and future clearance efforts. By aligning activities with the actual EO threat and pressing humanitarian needs, the project will enhance the impact and efficiency of mine action interventions. The overarching goal is to protect conflict-affected populations in underserved areas from EO risks, enabling them to safely access humanitarian assistance, critical infrastructure, and basic services. Acknowledging that women, girls and marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities, returnees, and female-headed households, often face greater risks from EO due to social roles, mobility constraints or lack of access to information, the project will apply inclusive methods to address these disparities while strengthening community safety and resilience. As the context transitions toward recovery and development, these interventions will lay the groundwork for scaled clearance operations and improved community safety. Through this targeted approach, UNMAS aims to address data and coordination gaps and support a safer, more inclusive humanitarian response Under this Call for Proposals, a grant will be issued for implementation of activities in districts in Deir Ez Zor governorate. Targeted Impact of the Grant/funding This grant aims to reduce the threat of explosive ordnance (EO) in conflict-affected districts not yet covered by previous mine action operations, focusing on areas where contamination restricts safe return, access to aid, and early recovery. Key impacts include: Increased civilian safety through prioritized EOD spot tasks. Improved humanitarian access and mobility for affected populations and aid actors. Greater community resilience through targeted EORE for high-risk groups such as IDPs, returnees, women, children, and persons with disabilities. Better-informed coordination and planning through reliable contamination data from Non-Technical Survey (NTS). Foundations for recovery and development by creating safer conditions for rebuilding infrastructure and restoring livelihoods. These efforts will directly support broader humanitarian and stabilization objectives by reducing EO-related risks and enabling safer, more sustainable recovery. Scope of the grant/funding Under the terms of this grant, the selected implementing partner will be responsible for carrying out a combination of explosive ordnance (EO) survey activities, EO spot task clearance operations, and the delivery of Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) to conflict-affected populations.   Non-Technical Survey (NTS) The implementing partner will conduct Non-Technical Surveys (NTS) to systematically collect, verify, and assess information on suspected hazardous areas (SHAs) and confirmed hazardous areas (CHAs) through community engagement, historical data review, and observation. NTS teams should ensure inclusive participation, including separate consultations with women, youth and persons with disabilities where culturally appropriate, to ensure their perspectives are reflected in priority- setting. The objective of NTS is to: Identify and delineate areas potentially contaminated with explosive ordnance Prioritize locations for further technical intervention or clearance Support evidence-based planning and resource allocation Strengthen the information base for coordination and reporting purposes EO Spot task clearance Implementing partners will undertake EO spot task clearance, which includes the identification, verification, neutralization, and safe removal of explosive ordnance.  Clearance priorities must be informed by community inputs, including women’s and minority group priorities around safe access to schools, water points and markets. These tasks may take place in various settings, including but not limited to: Residential buildings and housing areas Critical infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, water and power facilities Public spaces and roads Open fields and rural environments All clearance activities are contingent upon the necessary coordination with relevant national authorities and local stakeholders, and will only proceed once formal permissions and access are granted. Clearance operations must adhere to International Mine Action Standards (IMAS).  Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) The implementing partner (IP) will be responsible for delivering targeted Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) activities to raise awareness among affected populations, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and host communities. These activities aim to: Promote safe behaviors when encountering suspected explosive ordnance (EO); Reduce the risk of injury and death resulting from EO-related accidents; Support community preparedness and resilience. EORE messaging must be context-specific, inclusive, and culturally sensitive, with particular attention to at-risk groups such as children, women, and persons with disabilities. Outreach methods may include community-based sessions, printed materials, mass media, and digital platforms, subject to accessibility and security considerations. The IP will also be responsible for the distribution of UNMAS-specific EORE materials, which will be provided by UNMAS. Information Management (IM) Effective and consistent information management is essential for ensuring the quality, traceability, and usability of data across all project activities. All data collected through NTS, EORE, and clearance must be disaggregated by sex, age group and disability status, and include qualitative feedback to capture diverse experiences of EO risk and safety. The implementing partner is required to report data into the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) using the standardized reporting forms. These forms, which will be shared by UNMAS at the outset of the project and updated as needed, must be used for all operational reporting. This requirement supports timely integration of data into the centralized IMSMA database. Mandatory use of these forms also facilitates the inclusion of all submitted data within the scope of the Quality Management System (QMS). This enables structured validation, verification, and ongoing quality assurance of the information, which in turn strengthens analysis, planning, and reporting at both strategic and operational levels.