The vision of the United Nations is a mine-free world; a world where landmines and explosive remnants of war do not threaten civilians. The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations to coordinate this vision into reality.

UNMAS is funded in several ways. When integrated into peacekeeping and special political missions, funding comes from assessed contributions, through appropriations made by the General Assembly. All other activities depend upon extra-budgetary resources provided by Member States through the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action (UN VTF) which was established by the General Assembly to act as an accountable, fast-track, low-cost mechanism to rid the world of the threat of landmines.

UNMAS also receives financing from UN Multi-Donor Trust Funds and other pooled mechanisms used by the UN system, including the Central Emergency Relief Fund established to respond to humanitarian emergencies. In addition individuals and the private sector support UNMAS work through tax-deductible contributions made through the UN Foundation.

UNMAS also benefits greatly through in-kind expertise from Member States. Scores of high-level, mid-career professionals have been seconded to work for UNMAS at its headquarters and in its field programmes. This expertise is primarily in the area of explosive ordnance disposal and removal, but has also included other subject experts. Taken as a whole, in monetary terms, these in-kind secondments represent a contribution in the millions of US dollars.