IAEA Department of Safeguards Strategic Planning and the role of Member State Support Programmes

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s Department of Safeguards implements a structured strategic planning process which provides the Department with a comprehensive and coherent planning framework to address existing and expected needs and challenges. It covers both the long term, through a long-term strategic plan and a long-term research and development plan, covering a 12-year period, and the short term through the biennial Development & Implementation Support Programme. The Department’s Long-Term Strategic Plan 2012-2023 supports internal decision making, enabling the Department to best focus its efforts and resources where they are most needed. It provides a mechanism for regular, structured, systematic and results-oriented long term planning. As research and development (R&D) are essential to meet the safeguards needs of the future, the Department’s Long-Term R&D Plan 2012–2023 is designed to support the Long-Term Strategic Plan by setting out the capabilities that the Department will need to achieve its strategic objectives, and key milestones towards achieving those capabilities for which Member State R&D support is needed. The Long-Term R&D Plan addresses the Department’s R&D requirements in areas such as safeguards concepts and approaches; detection of undeclared nuclear material and activities; safeguards equipment and communication; information technology, collection, analysis and security; analytical services; new mandates; and training. The biennial programme is described in the Development and Implementation Support (D&IS) Programme for Nuclear Verification 2012–2013, which identifies 24 projects in such areas as verification technology development, safeguards approaches, information processing and analysis, and training. The D&IS programme assists the Department meet its short term development objectives in a manner which is effective, is efficient and encourages innovation, as well as helps to meet the long term goals. The resources required to implement the D&IS programme come from the Department itself, Member State Support Programmes (MSSPs) and other extra budgetary contributions. The implementation of the programme would not be possible without the transfer of technology, funds and expertise provided by Member States. The paper describes the structure of the Department’s strategic planning process, outlines how it is reviewed and continually improved, and highlights the essential role of MSSPs.