NLOs & AFRA NCs meeting

From 13 to 17 March 2023, the IAEA Department of Technical Cooperation’s Division for Africa in cooperation with the Government of Ethiopia held their annual meeting of National Liaison Officers & AFRA National Coordinators to review delivery of the 2022 TC Programme in Africa and agree on measures/actions to further improve the management of the 2023 TCP in the region.

Fifty-five NLOs and AFRA NCs from 36 African Member States participated in the five-days meeting which aimed to strengthen and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of IAEA technical cooperation (TC) programme activities at the national and regional levels in Africa.

This year’s meeting under the theme ‘Paradigm Shift’ emphasized on the significance of embracing change and innovation in the management of the TC Programme in Africa to achieve sustainable development goals through nuclear science and technology.

In his welcome remarks, Shaukat Abdulrazak, Director of the Division for Africa, underlined the need for commitment, leadership, and strong coordination mechanism of the TCP between the IAEA secretariat and NLOs/NLAs being strategic leaders in their countries. Abdulrazak also encouraged the participants to develop networks at the national level for partnership building and resource mobilization with non-traditional donors including multilateral banking institutions, the private sector, and foundations to achieve tangible results.

In his opening statement, Liu Hua, Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation emphasised the need to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the technical cooperation programme in Africa. He stated that significant progress has been made in the region in recent years. However, it is very important that NLOs and AFRA NCs continue to strive to develop and implement a programme from which all African MSs can derive maximum benefit for socio-economic development.

The opening session of the meeting was graced with goodwill messages delivered by H.E. Belete Molla Getahun, the Minister of Innovation and Technology and State Minister in charge H.E. Bayissa Badada.

The Director of the IAEA Division for Africa delivered a public lecture at the Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU) entitled “Using NS&T to leapfrog socio-economic development in Africa – From Potential to Prosperity”.

NLOs and AFRA NCs adopted a set of recommendations to further enhance TCP ownership and shared responsibility in Member States, to contribute to the implementation of IAEA Flagship initiatives, Communication and Advocacy, Sustainability and Partnerships including short-term strategy for enhanced impact and sustaining national nuclear institutions, partnership, and resource mobilization.

Abdou Salam Ndiath, PMO, TCAF
Ozlem Esengin, PMO, TCAF