The International Atomic Energy Agency’s Nuclear Security Program Could Improve Prioritization, Performance Measurement And Reporting, And Funding Stabilization

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) plays a crucial role in preventing dangerous releases of radiation by assisting nations in securing their nuclear materials and protecting their nuclear facilities against sabotage. IAEA carries out its nuclear security program under its Division of Nuclear Security through four subprograms. IAEA activities under these subprograms include developing guidance, providing training, and assisting countries in enhancing nuclear and radiological material security. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)—an independent, nonpartisan federal agency that works for the United States Congress—reviewed IAEA’s nuclear security program for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2019; this conference paper summarizes GAO’s findings and recommendations in its 2019 report (GAO-19-429). GAO found several challenges affecting the performance and management of the nuclear security program. First, IAEA plans its nuclear security activities through a range of documents, but does not meaningfully prioritize those activities. In addition, IAEA’s performance measures do not have baselines and targets, and IAEA reports on the nuclear security program do not fully addresses performance results. Furthermore, the nuclear security program also relies heavily on extra-budgetary contributions, which adversely affects program management. Finally, IAEA and its member states acknowledge the agency’s central coordinating role in nuclear security, but the agency has not followed key practices for collaboration. This has left IAEA’s approach to the central coordinating role vulnerable to member-state disagreements, and IAEA’s implementation of the role has not met the expectations of various member states. GAO recommended that the U.S. Department of State work with IAEA and its member states through the IAEA Board of Governors to develop guidelines for prioritizing IAEA’s nuclear security activities; develop baselines and targets to demonstrate nuclear security program results; improve nuclear security program reporting of results; analyze options to stabilize nuclear security program funding; and strengthen IAEA’s nuclear security coordinating role. The State Department concurred with these recommendations.