Impact Of Covid-19 Restrictions On Implementation Of Random And Unannounced Safeguards Activities

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the shutdown of air traffic, closure of borders, and the introduction of quarantine measures in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus. This created new challenges for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in carrying out its verification duties all over the world. Random unannounced inspection regimes and short notice inspection regimes were particularly affected since the unpredictability of access could not be maintained. The IAEA Department of Safeguards collected and analyzed data relating to the impact of COVID-related restrictions on Agency safeguards activities, with a focus on random unannounced and short notice activities. A departmental framework was established to assess the impact of all cases identified and make recommendations for implementing mitigating activities in a consistent manner. This also supported the effectiveness assessment of mitigating activities on a case-by-case basis. The paper elaborates the scope of the project, the framework used to assess cases in a consistent manner, and the mitigating activities that were recommended in the context of implementing safeguards at the State level. It also describes some lessons learned in the process.