IAEAInternational Atomic Energy Agency

The 2nd Working Group Meeting on the RCARO’s Future Role

20-22 January 2015Oscar Acuna

Section Head, Division for Asia and the PacificDepartment of Technical Cooperation

IAEA

Outline

RCA Background and Operational Structures

ARASIA Background and Operational Structures

AFRA Background and Operational Structures

ARCAL Background and Operational Structures

Conclusion- Suggestions for Future RCARO

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RCA: Regional Cooperative Agreement

• Established in 1972, 40th anniversary in 2012

• 21 signatories (Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Palau, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam)

• RCA Regional Office – partnership and publicity

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National RCA Representatives (NRs)

• National RCA Representatives (NRs) • NRs are the official representatives of the Member States

• NRs are the principal point of contact for the operation of the RCA in the Member States

• The National Representatives Meeting (NRM)• Establish the policies, guidelines and strategies of RCA

• Approve co-operative projects proposed by the States Parties

• Review the implementation of the co-operative projects

• Meet twice a year (regional meeting + IAEA GC)

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RCA: Organizational Structure

• Lead Country Coordinators (LCCs)

leadership in developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating projects assigned

• National Project Coordinators (NPCs)

coordinate project implementation in their countries

• Project Team

engage in the implementation under guidance of NPCs

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RCA: Procedures

The NRM is the main decision-making body of the RCA and meet twice in each year:

• Regional Meeting in April – NR of host country chairs the Meeting and functions as the RCA Chair for a period of one year

•Meeting during the GC

•The Program Advisory Committee advises the NRM on the RCA program and projects

There are Three Working Groups under the RCA:

1.Working Group on the future of the RCARO

2.Working Group on the development of Medium Term Strategies (MTS) and Strategic Priorities (SP) (2018-2023)

3.Working Group on the Revision of the RCA Agreement

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1. NRs decide priority areas for the given cycle based on the Medium Term Strategy

2. Lead Countries + LCCs appointed , concepts and proposal prepared and submitted

3. Proposals reviewed by the Programme Advisory Committee which submits the recommendations to the RCA Chair

4. After approval by the NRM, NRs confirm their participation in each project

5. Implementation start according to TC procedures

RCA: Programme Development

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Adopted at 32nd NRM, April 2010

•Agricultural Sector•Environmental Sector•Human Health•Industry

RCA: Current Strategic Priorities 2012-2017

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IAEA Support to the RCA

• Focal Person provides managerial support for RCA

• PMOs support planning, implementation and monitoring of the RCA programme

• Implementation of the planned RCA projects activities as per agreed work plan

• Financial resources from TCF (EUR 2,5 M)

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OTHER REGIONAL COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE IAEA

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ARASIA Cooperative Agreement

• Entered into Force 29 July 2002.

• ARASIA Member States (9):• Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Syria, Saudi

Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

• ARASIA Main Driving Force

• ARASIA Board Representative (Usually NLOs)

• ARASIA Chair

• ARASIA Secretariat

• ARASIA Project National Coordinators

• Project Lead (DTM)

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• Establishing the policies, guidelines and strategies of ARASIA

• Approving co-operative projects proposed by the States Parties

• Reviewing the implementation of the co-operative projects

• Meet twice a year (regional meeting + IAEA GC)

ARASIA: Board of Representatives

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ARASIA SECRETARIAT

Prepare all secretariat work for the Agreement:

1.Prepare the ARASIA Annual Report

2.Prepare all documents for the Agreement’s meetings

3.Stationed in Syria since the establishment

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AFRA Cooperative Agreement

• AFRA entered into force in 1990

• 39 Member States

(Algeria, Chad, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Lesotho, Mozambique, Sudan, Benin, D.R. of Congo, Libya, Namibia, Tanzania, Botswana, Egypt, Madagascar, Niger, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Mali, Senegal, Zambia, Cameroon, Gabon, Mauritania, Seychelles, Zimbabwe, Central African Republic, Ghana, Mauritius, Sierra Leone)

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AFRA Organizational Structure

High Level Policy Review Seminar (HLPRS) held in 2007 to improve managerial procedures and increase effectiveness and efficiency

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AFRA MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE

• AFRA Chair (rotates annually)

• 3 AFRA Management Committees: (Programme Management Committee, High Level Steering Committee for HRD and NKM and Partnership Building and Resource Mobilization Committee)

• AFRA Technical Working Group

• Meeting of AFRA Representatives

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AFRA FUND

Established in 2007 by the Aswan (Egypt)

Declaration (High Policy Review Seminar);

• Operational since 2009

• Objective: Voluntary contributions to support unfunded portion of the AFRA Programme;

• Member States shares is equivalent to their TCF contributions.

• More than EUR 1,500,000 contributed to date

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Overview of ARCAL

ARCAL was founded in 1984 and has 21 State Signatories

ARCAL represents a strong cooperation mechanism:1. 37 ARCAL Designated Centres

2. Inter-comparison exercises

3. Information networks and databases established

4. Protocols, regulations and procedures harmonized

Follows the 2-year TC cycle for greater managerial efficiency

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ARCAL MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE

ARCAL National Coordinator

Board of ARCAL Representatives (BAR - ORA)Highest decision-making body of the Agreement

ARCAL Technical Coordination Board (ATCB -OCTA)

Advises the BAR on the technical aspects of ARCAL and implements the decisions approved by the BAR

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IAEA Secretariat

BAR Steering Committee

ATCB Steering Committee

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Project Counterparts

Institutions

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ARCAL Communication Strategy

Strengthening ARCAL’s corporate identity through coordinated communication in the Latin America and the Caribbean region, that allows:

•Increasing the visibility and outreach activities of ARCAL

•Showing the benefits that the projects offer to the society

•Establishing strategic partnerships and identifying synergies in the field of nuclear applications

•Improving the interaction among the political and technical bodies of the Agreement

•

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ARCAL Communication Strategy

Communication’s strategy

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Users nuclear technology

Users nuclear technology

Decision-makingDecision-making

ARCAL websiteARCAL Communication

Platform Training programme

for communicators Institutional Presentation

Network of nuclear communicators

Dissemination of results

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Strengthening the RCARO for the Future- Suggestions to be Discussed

• Define roles and responsibilities of the RCARO to serve the RCA vision

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Strengthening the RCARO for the Future- Suggestions to be Discussed

1. Partnership Building and Resource Mobilization Identify potential partnerships with other organizations

1. Establish a RCA networking platform (RCA “Nest”)

2. Establishment of a communication and outreach strategy

3. Resource mobilization

2. Provide secretarial support to the RCA programme1. Programme Monitoring and Reporting based on the Medium

Term Strategy (Outcome monitoring with pilot projects as of TC cycle 2016-2017)

2. Develop meeting agendas for NRM

3. Develop background and discussion papers for NRM

4. Draft the RCA Annual Report for NRM

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Strengthening the RCARO for the Future- Suggestions to be Discussed

• Aligning RCA procedures to follow the 2-year TC cycle (Chairmanship for 2 years)

• Consider the establishment of an RCA fund to which every State Party contributes to and which is used to:1. Provide seed money for RCA projects

(matching TCF funds)

2. Contribute to the expenses of the RCA Secretariat (RCARO)

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Thank you for your attention

Technical cooperation:

delivering results for peace and

development