The economic essence of financing humanitarian demining projects

Abstract

Introduction. Humanitarian demining has become one of the key prerequisites for ensuring post-war recovery, sustainable socio-economic development, and the restoration of territorial safety in Ukraine. The large-scale contamination of territories with explosive remnants of war has significantly increased the need for effective financial mechanisms capable of ensuring the systematic implementation of humanitarian demining projects. At the same time, the absence of a unified theoretical approach to interpreting the economic essence of financing humanitarian demining projects necessitates further scientific substantiation of this category. Purpose. The purpose of the article is to investigate the economic essence of financing humanitarian demining projects by systematizing existing scientific approaches to the interpretation of the concept of financing, identifying its fundamental characteristics, distinguishing it from the concept of investment, and substantiating the author's definition of financing humanitarian demining projects. Methods. The study employs the following research methods: the analytical method – for examining scientific approaches to the interpretation of the concept of financing; the comparative method – for identifying similarities and differences between the categories of financing and investment, as well as between international and national approaches to defining humanitarian demining; the systematization method – for classifying the conceptual approaches to understanding financing; the synthesis method – for formulating the author's definition of financing and financing humanitarian demining projects. Results. The study systematizes the existing scientific approaches to defining the concept of financing and identifies the absence of a unified interpretation of its economic essence. It is established that financing should be considered through five complementary dimensions: process-oriented, systemic, managerial, functional, and goal-oriented. The research substantiates that financing represents not only the movement of financial resources but also an integrated system of mechanisms, functions, and managerial decisions aimed at ensuring the targeted allocation, utilization, and control of funds required for project implementation. A comparative analysis of the concepts of financing and investment demonstrates that humanitarian demining projects should be characterized primarily through the category of financing, as their principal objective is to achieve a social rather than a commercial effect. The paper also examines the interpretation of humanitarian demining within international mine action standards and Ukrainian legislation, highlighting its comprehensive nature, which extends beyond mine clearance to include risk education, information management, and the restoration of safe living conditions for affected communities. Based on the conducted research, the author proposes a comprehensive definition of financing humanitarian demining projects that reflects the specific features of financial resource management within humanitarian mine action. Conclusion.The findings demonstrate that financing humanitarian demining projects constitutes a complex economic category encompassing the organization and management of financial resource flows through an integrated system of interconnected mechanisms, functions, and managerial decisions. The proposed conceptual approach expands the theoretical foundations of project financing within the humanitarian sphere and provides a scientific basis for improving financial support mechanisms for humanitarian demining projects. The author's definition contributes to the further development of the conceptual framework for financing humanitarian mine action and creates a foundation for future research on the formation of effective financial mechanisms for post-conflict recovery and sustainable territorial development.