Knowledge Management Training for Safeguards Organizations

The IAEA considers knowledge management important to the sustainability of its inspections and verification regime, and as such has dedicated considerable time and attention to this topic. It describes knowledge management (KM) as a process that helps an organization to gain insight and understanding from its own experience in order to retain and pass on essential institutional knowledge. KM focuses on the people, process, and technology necessary to get the right information to the right people at the right time. State authorities responsible for safeguards implementation (SRA), and other stakeholders in a country’s state system of accounting for and control of nuclear material (SSAC), must maintain the ability to conduct a variety of activities in support of international safeguards implementation in the state. Many of these activities are executed infrequently and are balanced against other competing demands, especially in countries with limited nuclear activities. If staff goes elsewhere, the SRA must be able to continue to carry out its responsibilities. Ensuring that there are accessible information and procedures in place is essential. KM is therefore an integral part of ensuring that these organizations are sustainably able to implement their safeguards obligations and it emerges as a topic of great interest and concern among partner organizations. The U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) International Nuclear Safeguards Engagement Program (INSEP), works with foreign partners to implement partner country’s safeguards obligations effectively and efficiently. Recently, some pilot efforts have explored how DOE/NNSA’s safeguards training might incorporate KM to ensure sustainable safeguards implementation in its partner organizations. This paper provides an overview of those pilot efforts, as well as recommendations on how to continue to integrate KM principles into nuclear safeguards training.