Global Clearance Solutions AG (GCS) has been awarded the Partnership for Sustainability Award 2024 in the Peace category at a ceremony held in Kyiv.

The award is an international initiative of UN Global Compact Ukraine and recognises collaborative efforts between business, government and civil society that contribute to sustainable development and social resilience. The 2024 edition evaluated more than 500 submissions from organisations across Ukraine and multiple European countries.

GCS received the award for a partnership-based demining project linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal "Life on Land", addressing the impact of landmine contamination on agricultural land and rural livelihoods in Ukraine. The project focuses on enabling safe land use through coordinated deployment of mechanical demining systems, trained personnel and local capacity building.

The award was presented by Stefan Kossof, Development Director for Ukraine at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Demining in Ukraine presents challenges beyond technical clearance, including administrative coordination and financial constraints. In many cases, land users lack the resources to fund clearance activities independently, creating risks to civilians and agricultural workers. The recognised project addressed these challenges through structured cooperation between international donors, operational partners and local stakeholders.

Following the establishment of a permanent presence in Ukraine in 2022, GCS became the first commercially accredited demining company in the country. Under the project, GCS coordinated the deployment of mechanical demining platforms, trained operators and specialist trainers, supported by funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through the DEG Impulse develoPPP programme.

The impact of the initiative was amplified through contributions from project partners. Nibulon, Ukraine's leading grain exporter, supported the continuation of lease payments to landholders during clearance activities, helping sustain local communities while contaminated land was made safe for use.

The award recognises the role of structured partnerships in enabling effective humanitarian mine action and supporting Ukraine's recovery through safe access to land and restored economic activity.