Luanda, 5 September, 2025 – On September 16, 2025, the Government of Japan will once again demonstrate its commitment to humanitarian mine action in Angola through the signing of a grant agreement with APOPO. The ceremony is due to take place at the Japanese Embassy in Luanda and will mark the third time Japan has provided financial assistance to our Mine Action Program in the country.
The new donation of USD 265,410 will support our work in the Seles municipality of Cuanza Sul Province, one of Angola’s most heavily mine-affected regions. Over a 12-month period beginning October 1, 2025, this funding will enable us to continue our mission to clear landmines and educate communities about the risks posed by explosive remnants of war.
With this support, we aim to:
- Clear 15 hazardous areas and release approximately 1,000,000 square meters of land for safe use
- Directly benefit around 16,000 local residents, many of whom rely on this land for agriculture
- Deliver explosive ordnance risk education sessions expected to reach around 10,000 people, including students, police officers, farmers, and public administrators
- Cover the operational expenses of 31 of our dedicated staff members who will implement the project on the ground
This grant builds on two previous contributions from the Government of Japan: USD 246,900 in 2021–2022, and USD 317,354 in 2023–2024. With this latest commitment, Japan’s total support to our Angola program will exceed USD 829,000.
As our Angola Program Manager Manuel João Agostinho said, “APOPO Angola is grateful to the government of Japan for their continued support of our program. This generous support comes at a time when it has become increasingly challenging to fund demining in the country and we hope this relationship may continue further into the future.”
APOPO has been operational in Angola since 2012, combining innovative detection methods with strong community engagement. Using a mix of skilled human teams and our trained HeroRATs, APOPO has helped return over 100 million square meters of land to safe use, cleared thousands of explosive items, and ensured the safety of many thousands of people living in mine-affected areas.
Thanks to the ongoing partnership with the Government of Japan, APOPO can continue this vital work in some of the country’s most vulnerable areas. We are committed to ensuring that Angolan communities can reclaim their land and rebuild their lives in safety.
