Afghanistan signs its first Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2012-2016

HE Abdul Mohammad Shoogufan, Ambassador and Resident Representative of Afghanistan to the IAEA, and Kwaku Aning, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, have signed Afghanistan's Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the period of 2012 - 2016 on 30 November 2011. A Country Programme Framework (CPF) is the frame of reference for the medium-term planning of technical cooperation between a Member State and the IAEA and identifies priority areas where the transfer of nuclear technology and technical cooperation resources will be directed to support national development goals.

Afghanistan has been an IAEA Member State since May 31, 1957. Its 2012-2016 CPF identifies seven priority areas:

1. Legislative and regulatory framework: Establishment/strengthening of the legal framework and regulatory infrastructure as the condition for safe use of ionising radiation and adoption of adequate safety measures to improve radiation safety, nuclear security and effective management of radiation sources and radioactive materials.
2. Human health: Establishment of radiotherapy and nuclear medicine capabilities for diagnostics and cancer treatment and palliation, thereby broadening the services of radiation therapy and ensuring safety at workplace (medical physics, QA/QC, dosimetry); as well as the use of isotope techniques in communicable diseases and for improving child and mother nutrition.
3. Agriculture and food: Introduction of modern technologies in food and agriculture to improve staple crop varieties and increase local crop productivity, and to improve animal production and health, in order to strengthen the national food safety and security.
4. Water resources management: introduction of isotope hydrology techniques to plan, develop and rationally exploit ground and surface resources, as well as investigation of water pollution and quality.
5. Energy Planning: to help Afghanistan develop and implement a national energy strategy for sustainable development.
6. Nuclear Analytical capability: to help the country make use of nuclear analytical techniques inn various applications, such as environment, industry and mining.
7. Human capacity building: education, training and mentorship of nuclear specialists and technicians required for high potential nuclear applications in key fields such as human health, agriculture, environment, mining, hydrology, nutrition and industry, as well as for nuclear safety and security.