Task Force Meeting to develop the new AFRA Regional Strategic Framework 2024-2028

From 15 to 19 May, IAEA Director of the TC Division Shaukat Abdulrazak and AFRA Focal Point Mickel Edwerd, participated in the Task Force Meeting for the formulation of the 4th AFRA Regional Strategic Cooperative Framework (AFRA RCF). The meeting brought together 29 regional and non-regional experts (24 African, 1 US and 4 Asian experts), as well as representatives from the AFRA management committees on the five regional priority thematic areas (Human Health, Food and Agriculture, Water, Industrial Applications, Nuclear Safety, Human Resource Development and Energy). The meeting was officially opened by H.E Moussa Baldé, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Senegal.

The main task was to finalize the drafting of the RCF, which will help identify and priorities regional cooperation opportunities for the sustainable promotion of peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology.

In his opening remarks, DIR-TCAF encouraged the task force to focus beyond 2028 and highlighted the two key objectives of the meeting as well as the work of each thematic group and the expected outputs of the meeting.

RCF is a strategic planning document which represents the frame of reference for the planning and formulation of AFRA regional projects. It is also meant to facilitate the building of strategic partnerships with other relevant bilateral and multilateral bodies, agencies, and organizations.

Mickel Edwerd, Section Head TCAF1