The IAEA Department of Technical Cooperation held its eighth annual Seminar on Technical Cooperation for Permanent Missions on 9 October 2017. Over 50 delegates from 40 Permanent Missions and Delegations gathered at the IAEA to learn more about the IAEA’s technical cooperation (TC) programme and its benefits.
Offered every year, the Seminar brings together high-level speakers from across the IAEA to provide a detailed overview of the IAEA’s TC programme to new and experienced diplomatic staff from the Permanent Missions to the IAEA. The Seminar runs for a full day, and addresses topics such as the TC programme objectives and its role within the larger development context, its delivery mechanism and its management.
This year, the Seminar was split into 9 sessions. Dazhu Yang, Deputy Director General (DDG) and Head of the TC Department, welcomed the participants and presented an overview of the TC programme’s mandate for development. He highlighted the important role of Member States and the Permanent Missions in programme planning and implementation and the value of dialogue between Member States and the Secretariat.
The nine sessions were structured so that each session narrowed the focus of the Seminar, moving from broader issues, such as the policy framework and background, through to more specific areas down to programme financing. Topics included the general purpose of the TC programme, its guiding principles, its place within the international development context, and its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals. The importance of partnerships was also highlighted. The IAEA’s One House approach to respond to Member States’ needs was thoroughly discussed, including the way that Member States and the Secretariat can make best use of Country Programme Frameworks to identify and address development priorities and capacity gaps.
More detailed topics covered during the Seminar included the services offered by the TC programme, the roles and responsibilities of each programme stakeholder, the programme cycle and programme funding.
The Seminar concluded with a high-level session with Mr Yang, DDG Mr Aldo Malavasi, Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, Mr Christophe Xerri, Director of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology, on behalf of DDG Mr Mikhail Chudakov and Mr Raja Adnan, Director of Nuclear Security, Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, on behalf of DDG Mr Juan Carlos Lentijo.
Mr Yang presented the achievements of the IAEA’s International Conference on the Technical Cooperation Programme, which was held 30 May to 1 June 2017. The panel discussed the challenges and opportunities the technical cooperation programme faces today, and the support it receives from each of the IAEA technical departments. The discussion offered insights into the various ways that the IAEA can help Member States to use nuclear technology to enhance national socioeconomic development.
The presentations for each session are available below.
- Session I: Overview of the Technical Cooperation Programme
- Session II: The Policy Framework
- Session III: Areas of Support and the One House Approach
- Session IV: The International Development Context and the TC Programme
- Session V: Working with Member States to Identify and Address their Needs and Priorities
- Session VI: Programme Roles and Responsibilities
- Session VII: The Programme Cycle
- Session VIII: Financing the Programme
- Session IX: Challenges and Opportunities, Looking to the Future