LONG-RANGE STRATEGIC PLANNING IN THE IAEA DEPARTMENT OF SAFEGUARDS

In 2008, the IAEA Department of Safeguards initiated a departmental long-range strategic planning process in order to be better prepared for future safeguards challenges and to increase both its effectiveness and efficiency. These efforts were taken in parallel with the Agency-wide ‘20/20 Vision for the Future’ initiative by the IAEA Director General. The Department plans to make strategic planning a regular and integral feature of its operations in the future. As a first step, the Department developed a dedicated long-range strategic planning methodology. The planning efforts have been in full motion since early 2009 and are being facilitated by a departmental strategic planning team. This article describes the Department’s efforts to design a suitable departmental process and the various elements of the resulting methodology. It also outlines the progress made to date and the major milestones produced so far.