COMPETENCIES, EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR SSACS: TOWARDS DEVELOPING A NATIONAL TRAINING AND EDUCATION FRAMEWORK

Training and education aimed at increasing a State’s ability to facilitate the implementation of IAEA safeguards require developing competencies at both individual and organizational levels. Most of the existing programmes aim to develop individual competencies, primarily in technical areas such as non - d estructive a ssay measurement or implementing quality assurance procedures. However, these individual competencies cannot be applied if the relevant organization al structure is not in place. So the question should be: from an organizational standpoint, what functional competencies are needed for a S tate to i mp lement safeguards and how could they be developed ? This paper discusses the competencies required for national authorities and facility operators to facilitate the implem ent ation of IAEA safeguards . Development of these at the individual or staff level can help the organization fulfil its mission. It further suggests a national framework (programme) to put in place the required training and education infrastructure which will provide national authorities and operators with the appropriate background and ongoing training for , in turn, IAEA safeguards implementation. Lastly , evaluation mechanisms are discussed to ensure that the programme can address the needs (curren t and developing) of the State s ystem o f a ccounting for and c ontrol of nuclear material (SSAC) and can evolve to adjust to any changes in the nuclear infrastructure of the State, e.g. develo ping a nuclear power programme.