The international mine action community has learned a great deal over the past 15 years, particularly concerning the efficiency and safety of clearance operations, setting up national mine action programmes, implementing landmine impact surveys and information management.

A Guide to Socio-Economic Approaches to Mine Action Planning and Management builds on these lessons learned, but focuses on the inter-relationships between mine action and a country's social and economic structures. It has been developed out of the Study of Socio-Economic Approaches to Mine Action, commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as well as GICHD's broader programme of research and capacity building to support developmental approaches to mine action. The Guide is intended to assist national mine action authorities, mine action centres (MACs) and mine action organisations in improving their planning and management of mine action programmes.