IAEA Technical Cooperation in Africa International Atomic Energy Agency Department of Technical Cooperation 2016

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1 IAEA Technical Cooperation in Africa International Atomic Energy Agency Department of Technical Cooperation 2016

2 Foreword by the IAEA Director General The IAEA s technical cooperation (TC) programme is the main mechanism for providing assistance to IAEA Member States in the peaceful, safe and secure application of nuclear science and technology. The programme aims to strengthen technical and human resource capacities, with the long term aim of contributing to sustainable socioeconomic development. Much of the programme is devoted to supporting less developed countries, where assistance to address national development challenges is most needed. Nuclear techniques can provide a viable, cost effective alternative or complementary solution to many development problems. In addition, they generate credible, timely data that help countries make informed decisions on national and regional policies and plans. Our technical cooperation programme has the experience and capacity to contribute to Member State s efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 17 on a revitalized global partnership. I have begun to summarise the IAEA s mandate as Atoms for Peace and Development. The IAEA has been working with Member States in Africa for six decades. During this time, African countries have greatly increased their capacities in the peaceful application of nuclear science and technology. The impact of the IAEA s technical cooperation activities can be seen in hospitals, laboratories and universities, in the fields of farmers and in national industries. I look forward to our continuing successful collaboration. Yukiya Amano Director General Foreword by the Head of Technical Cooperation The IAEA s technical cooperation programme is active in 45 countries in the African region. The programme provides support in a wide range of fields that address crucial development issues: human health, non-communicable disease and infant nutrition; improved agriculture, better crops, healthier livestock and environmentally friendly pest management; environmental monitoring and water resource management, to name just a few areas. It draws on regionally available skills and facilities and strengthens networking and linkages between institutions, bringing countries together to resolve common development challenges, and providing not only technical capacity, but the tools to work together and to learn from each other. This brochure provides an overview of our TC programme in Africa, highlighting successful projects in the region. It aims to raise awareness among legislators, political decision makers, stakeholders, donors and partners of the potential of nuclear techniques for helping to achieve sustainable development in Africa. I look forward to our continued work with Member States in the African region in the peaceful application of nuclear science and technology, and to contributing to efforts in the region to address development priorities, including the Sustainable Development Goals. Dazhu Yang Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation

3 Atoms for Peace and Development In 1957, the IAEA was established as the world s Atoms for Peace organization. As a member of the United Nations (UN) family, the IAEA works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world. As the IAEA celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, and six decades of technical cooperation with its Member States, the mandate of the Agency may be considered to encompass Atoms for Peace and Development. The IAEA s technical cooperation programme The IAEA s technical cooperation (TC) programme is the main mechanism through which the IAEA delivers technical assistance to its Member States. It aims to increasingly promote tangible socio-economic impact by contributing directly in a cost-effective manner to the achievement of the major sustainable development priorities of each country. Through the programme, the IAEA helps Member States to build, strengthen and maintain their capacity to use nuclear science and technology in support of sustainable national development priorities. The TC programme is developed and managed jointly by the Member States and the IAEA Secretariat. Through technical cooperation, the IAEA also contributes to the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Some major areas of intervention are the following: Health: IAEA interventions focus on health issues where nuclear techniques have proved to make a difference, such as cancer, malnutrition and non-communicable disease. They include the use of radiation medicine and the introduction of improved clinical and safety practices, as well as the provision of specialized training for radiotherapy specialists, medical physicists and radiographers. Food and agriculture: IAEA projects focus on the use of nuclear techniques in the fields of animal health, crop improvement, soil fertility and water management, insect and pest control and food safety. This includes disease prevention through improved laboratories services and vaccine production and artificial insemination and progesterone measurement using radioimmunoassay. Water resource management: IAEA interventions focus in projects that aim to use nuclear techniques to promote investigations related to integrated water resources assessment, groundwater dependent ecosystem protection and the management of shared aquifers. Sustainable energy development: The IAEA promotes the dissemination and use of analytical models for energy planning including assistance for the feasibility of nuclear power as a source for electricity generation. Radiation and waste safety, and nuclear security: TC assistance in this field promotes the development and promulgation of national legislative frameworks, the establishment of regulatory infrastructure and training on radiation protection services. Assistance is also provided to build national capacities for waste management in the safest and most secure manner. 1

4 IAEA technical cooperation in Africa The IAEA provides assistance to African Member States in line with Africa s regional and national development priorities, in fields where nuclear techniques have a comparative advantage or can supplement conventional technologies. The TC programme has been working for sixty years to strengthen Africa s human and institutional capacity for the peaceful and safe utilization of nuclear techniques in the areas of human health, food and agriculture, water and the environment, energy, and industry. In addition to addressing national development priorities, the TC programme aims to support self-reliance and sustainable development in Africa. The IAEA has 45 Member States in the Africa region which participate in the TC programme, of which 26 are least developed countries (LDCs). Membership for two additional countries (Cabo Verde and Comoros) has been approved by the General Conference, and will take effect once the two countries deposit the legal instruments with the IAEA. IAEA Member States in Africa Algeria Ethiopia* Niger* Angola* Gabon Nigeria Benin* Ghana Rwanda* Botswana Kenya Senegal* Burkina Faso* Lesotho* Seychelles Burundi* Liberia* Sierra Leone* Cameroon Libya South Africa Central African Republic* Madagascar* Sudan* Chad* Malawi* Swaziland Congo Mali* United Republic of Tanzania* Côte d Ivoire Mauritania* Togo* Democratic Republic of the Congo* Mauritius Tunisia Djibouti* Morocco Uganda* Egypt Mozambique* Zambia* Eritrea* Namibia Zimbabwe * Least Developed Countries Since 2000, the TC programme for Africa has implemented a total of 865 projects (including 110 regional projects) in the thematic areas of human health, food and agriculture, water resource management, energy, environment and safety. The IAEA is currently implementing 276 (new and ongoing) national and regional technical cooperation projects in Africa. 2

5 Funding the TC programme and resource mobilization The TC programme is funded by the IAEA Technical Cooperation Fund (TCF), extrabudgetary resources including contributions from donor countries and international and bilateral organizations, government cost sharing and in-kind contributions. TCF support allocated to the Africa region in 2011 was EUR 13 million, which had risen to EUR 19.8 million by Extrabudgetary contributions provided to Member States in Africa since 2011 can also be seen in Figure 2. In addition to project support, the IAEA helps Member States in Africa to develop bankable project documents and to establish platforms for cooperation with development banks and other financial institutions. 8% 6% 27% Food and agriculture Health and nutrition 9% Nuclear knowledge development and management Safety 14% Water and the environment 15% 21% Energy Industrial applications/ radiation technology Figure 1: Disbursements in Africa by technical field, ,000,000 TC fund Extrabudgetary 20,000,000 15,000,000 10,000,000 5,000, Figure 2: TC Fund and extrabudgetary contributions to Africa, (in euros) 3

6 The TC programme in Africa and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) In order to provide effective support to Africa, the IAEA has aligned its TC programme with the national and regional development needs and priorities of its African Member States, as well as to nine of the SDGs in order to contribute to ending hunger and ensuring good health and well-being, the availability and sustainable management of water and access to reliable, sustainable energy, the promotion of industry and innovation, combatting climate change, the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources and the environment, and strengthened implementation and revitalized global partnerships for sustainable development. Furthermore, the Agency works closely in partnership with other United Nations agencies, research and civil society organizations at national and international levels to maximize the contribution of nuclear science and technology to the attainment of Member State SDG targets. Through its TC programme, the IAEA will contribute to the achievement of the SDGs, particularly in areas such as food and agriculture, human health, water resources management and the environment. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) directly addressed by the IAEA: 4

7 Partnerships and cooperation in development Partnerships are at the heart of the IAEA s technical cooperation activities. Close collaboration between the IAEA, its Member States, United Nations organizations and other international and civil society organizations helps to maximize the impact of the IAEA s support towards the achievement of development priorities. For example, between 2012 and 2013, the IAEA assisted the Government of Malawi in the development of a feasibility study and the preparation of a bankable document for the establishment of a cancer treatment centre. In 2014, the bankable document was submitted by the Government of Malawi to the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) and a loan of approximately US$ 13.5 million was approved to help Malawi construct its first radiotherapy clinic. The loan will help to construct and equip the first cancer treatment facility in Lilongwe, to be located adjacent to the Kamuzu Central Hospital. In parallel, the Government has already allocated US$ 3 million over three years to initiate the construction of the facility, which according to current estimates should suffice for the full construction. The government funding complements IAEA resources which have already been made available to train other key staff. The centre is scheduled to open in 2018 and will treat estimated 1500 cancer patients each year. The IAEA s cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has helped improve agricultural productivity in LDCs through the application of nuclear and related biotechnologies. Such technologies have contributed to better control of insect pests, improved livestock production and health, better soil water and nutrient management practices, and more efficient crop production. Through the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, both organizations support and promote the safe and appropriate use of nuclear and related technologies by their Member States, including LDCs, in food and agriculture. These efforts contribute to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world, and support global food security and sustainable agricultural development. The IAEA also participates in the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) for Food Security and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. This partnership, launched by the FAO, brings together international, regional and national organizations that are working in the area of soil protection and sustainable management. It aims to implement the provisions of the 1982 World Soil Charter, as well as to raise awareness and motivate action by decisionmakers on the importance of soils for food security and climate change adaptation and mitigation, especially in LDCs. 5

8 Food and Agriculture in Africa Technical cooperation in the area of food and agriculture in Africa Food security and agriculture production are high priority areas for many countries in Africa. Growing populations and industrialization are placing soil and water resources under stress, and more unpredictable weather associated with climate change adds risks to well-known challenges such as insect pests, or plant or animal diseases. All these factors threaten food security in Africa. The TC programme helps Member States in Africa to produce more and better crops, to reduce the impact of pests, to increase the quality and quantity of agricultural products for national and international markets, to better manage soil and water resources, to better control animal diseases, and overall to increase food safety in the continent through capacitybuilding and technology-transfer programmes. 50% of the national maize harvest is produced in the southern region, where rainfall patterns allow two harvests per year. However, yield remains low and addressing soil fertility and increasing crop productivity is a priority for the Government. With IAEA assistance, crop yield and soil fertility have improved dramatically, using Nitrogen 15 stable isotope techniques to optimise biological nitrogen fixation, and dual-purpose grain legumes, such as soybean and groundnut, integrated with crop and livestock systems. Inoculation and phosphorus application have enabled the highest possible level of nitrogen fixation. As a result, maize yield has increased by 50% (from 1325 to 2097 kg/ha) in rotation with legumes, and soybean production increased by 210%. For the farmers, this increase in output has led to a more than fourfold increase in income. Project highlights Benin: Maize is the most important grain crop in the agricultural economy of Benin. It comprises nearly 54% of the 1.1 million hectares of food crop production. More than Malawi: Approximately 80% of rural families in Malawi keep livestock, including chickens, cattle and other food animals. Livestock makes a substantial contribution to household food security and the frequent devastation of herds and flocks due to various diseases and parasites places a serious constraint on rural economic development. With Agency 6

9 assistance between 2012 and 2015, capacity for animal disease surveillance, diagnosis and control, using the nuclear technology derived diagnostic techniques of Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) and molecular amplification (PCR), was strengthened in both urban and rural areas of Malawi. The number of laboratory-confirmed cases increased well beyond the forecast of 30%, with increased surveillance activities conducted. Botswana: The livestock sector in Botswana is an important part of the national economy, in particular the export of beef and beef products to international markets. International food standards require that such beef products are free from chemical contaminants and from veterinary drug residues, but an inspection by trading partners identified deficiencies in the country s ability to conduct residue analysis, largely due to the lack of established capacities. For example in 2011 when the EU suspended imports from Botswana, it costs the economy an estimated EUR48 million over six months. The Agency was approached to support a knowledge-transfer programme, which included the procurement of laboratory equipment and supplies for Botswana National Veterinary Laboratory, enhancing capacities acquired in prior training courses. A pool of trained scientists, capable of establishing and validating analytical methods for residues and conducting routine testing, is now available in the country, and a comprehensive veterinary laboratory able to analyse several drug residues and other chemical contaminants has been established. Botswana has now successfully developed the competencies needed to facilitate the export of beef products to international markets. Sudan: The challenge to food security in the African region is closely tied to water scarcity and low soil fertility when soils fail to produce high quality or high yield crops, small-scale farmers and developing communities face significant difficulties. With the support of the IAEA, farmers in six villages in Kassala, Sudan (the majority being women), were trained to enable them to maximize the potential of limited water and fertilizer supplies using smallscale irrigation technologies. This included training in the use of soil moisture neutron probes and in the application of the Nitrogen 15 technique. As a result of this project, a Government initiative involving farmers on a 50-hectacre irrigation network costing US$ , funded by the Islamic Development Bank, is now being implemented in Sudan. 7

10 Human Health in Africa Technical cooperation in the area of human health in Africa In Africa, the leading cause of years lost due to premature death comprises both communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This includes ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, HIV/AIDS, malaria, lower respiratory infection and tuberculosis. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is particularly affected by this double burden of disease. In reaction to the increasing prevalence of NCDs and their socioeconomic impact on the continent, the African Heads of State, in the Common African Position (CAP) on the post-2015 Development Agenda, expressed their commitment to improve the health status of vulnerable populations by ensuring universal and equitable access to quality healthcare, with particular attention to significantly reducing the incidence of communicable and non-communicable diseases, including cancer. Furthermore, SDG3 aims to Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. One of the targets is to reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment by Radiation medicine and other nuclear techniques played very crucial roles in the management of both NCDs and infectious diseases. Stable isotope techniques play vital roles in the evaluation of nutritional and lifestyle intervention programmes aimed at prevention; radiology and nuclear medicine techniques are essential for early diagnosis and radiotherapy plays a crucial role in the treatment and palliation of cancer. The IAEA continues to support its African Member States in building sustainable capacity for the use of radiation medicine and stable isotope techniques. 8

11 Project highlights Radiopharmaceuticals are radioactive medicines used to treat malignant tumours or to detect and diagnose illnesses. These medicines must have a high level of quality during preparation and before using them on patients. Currently there are fewer than six nationally-registered and trained radiopharmacists in Africa. To address this fundamental challenge, an IAEA project is training professionals and specialists at the Master s level in radiopharmacy. In parallel, an interactive e-learning platform is under development, which can reach thousands of people worldwide. By combining e-learning and face-to face teaching, the trainers will train more qualified, competent radiopharmacists, who will be evaluated and certified by external and independent examiners, thus addressing the shortage of qualified professionals on the continent. The IAEA assists Member States in developing comprehensive national cancer management plans, which incorporate the provision of cancer diagnostics and therapeutic services; by training professionals across key disciplines; and by providing high-tech equipment and radiation safety expertise. Mauritania: In 2014, with IAEA support, Mauritania opened its first nuclear medicine centre, improving the access of people in the country and the surrounding region to comprehensive services in diagnosing and treating cancer as well as other non-communicable diseases. Mauritius: A rising trend in the prevalence of obese and overweight adults and children and the associated complications, including increased incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases, is a major public health threat in Mauritius. The Government has implemented national intervention programmes to address this threat, and requested IAEA support to build national capacity in applying stable isotope techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions. As a result of this assistance, policy makers were able to make informed decisions on a nutritional intervention programme to combat obesity and its related complications. In addition, with the assistance from the IAEA, the Obesity Research Unit has now become a major centre for training scientists from both within and outside the country. 9

12 Water Resource Management in Africa Technical cooperation in the area of water resource management in Africa With 30% of the population in sub-saharan Africa lacking proper access to clean and safe water, the efficient management of water resources is imperative to ensure sustainable livelihoods and to complement efforts to enhance human health, food security and agriculture. With IAEA support, many African Member States have been trained to undertake comprehensive assessments of water resources using isotope hydrology, including water balance studies (from small aquifers to large transboundary systems), surface/groundwater interactions, and surface and ground water quality. In addition, IAEA support for environmental monitoring covers building analytical capacities, establishing systems and programmes for terrestrial and marine environment monitoring, and measuring environmental radioactivity. Project highlights Chad, Egypt, Libya and Sudan: Between 2006 and 2014, the IAEA, together with the United Nations Development Programme and the Global Environment Facility (UNDP/GEF), as well as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), helped the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System countries (Chad, Egypt, Libya and Sudan) to develop a three-dimensional computer model of the aquifer system to gain a better understanding of its dynamics. Isotope techniques were used to determine the size of the aquifer, the drawdown of water, the lifespan, potential impact of human activity, and any possible transboundary effects. A key outcome of this assistance was the strategic action programme (SAP), which outlines the legal, policy, and institutional reforms needed to address key transboundary concerns and their root causes at both the regional and national levels. 10

13 Gabon: The IAEA s TC programme also supported the geochemical and isotopic characterization of water in the Estuaire Province of Gabon. The project aimed to identify and evaluate new sources of drinking water in the country. Capacity building activities, including scientific visits, have included laboratory organization, arrangement and management, as well as fellowships focused on surface water and groundwater sampling strategies, and in-situ parameter measurements (ph, conductivity, and alkalinity). A technology-transfer programme was implemented in 2015, and sampling campaigns have been undertaken. Final sampling campaigns will be carried out in 2016, and it is expected that a hydrological mapping of the estuary s surface water and groundwater will be completed thereafter. Througout Africa: The IAEA supported the development of an integrated approach for monitoring marine pollution and risk assessment in eight African countries, through the application of new techniques to address transboundary pollution for sustainable use of marine resources. The project built capacities in the use of nuclear and isotopic techniques, enabling participating Member States to perform marine pollution monitoring for radionuclides (including historical reconstruction of pollution through geochronological dating), trace metals and organics. 11

14 Other areas of IAEA technical cooperation support in Africa In addition to these thematic areas, the IAEA has been effectively applying nuclear techniques to support African Member States in achieving socioeconomic development goals that include meeting energy needs, protecting the environment, strengthening industry, developing human resources, and building enhanced nuclear and radiation safety infrastructure. Strengthening education and training infrastructure, and building competence in radiation safety in Africa Established under the auspices of the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development, and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA), an IAEA technical cooperation project brought together 39 countries in the Africa region to support education and training in the area of radiation safety. Six five-month, postgraduate educational courses (PGECs) and fellowship training courses were organized in Algeria, Ghana, and Morocco. Member States reported on progress in developing their national strategies on education and training, and a syllabus for a Master s degree programme in radiation protection was also developed. Supporting international efforts to fight zoonotic disease outbreaks moving one step beyond The Agency joined international efforts to fight the 2014 outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa by providing specialized diagnostic equipment to help Sierra Leone in its efforts to combat the disease. The IAEA assistance supplemented Sierra Leone s ability to diagnose EVD quickly by using a diagnostic technology known as reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The IAEA and the FAO have been at the forefront of developing RT PCR, a nuclear-derived technology which allows EVD to be detected within a few hours. Early diagnosis of EVD, if combined with appropriate medical care, increases the victim s chance of survival and helps curtail the spread of the disease by making it possible to isolate and treat the patients earlier. This initial and targeted assistance initiated broader IAEA support to African Member States to strengthen their capacities to detect diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans, called zoonotic diseases. In 2015, the Agency provided emergency support to countries in Africa affected by the outbreak of HPAI H5N1 avian influenza, focused on enhancing diagnostic capacity. 12

15 Strategic planning and regional cooperation Country Programme Frameworks (CPFs) The formulation and delivery of the national TC programme is guided by the Country Programme Framework (CPF) process. A mid-term strategic planning document of between five to six years, CPFs reflect an agreement between national stakeholders and the IAEA that nuclear science and technology can contribute directly and cost effectively to national development in a range of specified topic areas. The development of the CPF document is a highly interactive process, which includes intensive consultations with national counterpart institutions and sometimes donors, taking into account linkages to the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), in order to prioritize development needs where nuclear technology can be applied for sustainable socioeconomic development. CPFs also aim to identify key partners and potential donors and in the future are expected to be aligned with the SDGs. As of June 2016, 39 African countries have signed CPFs with the IAEA. United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) The IAEA participates in the UNDAF process where possible, to identify areas where nuclear techniques could be usefully deployed in partnership with other UN organizations, and to ensure that their application is integrated with existing development initiatives. As of June 2016, the IAEA had signed 18 UNDAFs in the Africa region. Regional cooperation AFRA The countries of Africa face many common development challenges which have a regional dimension. The African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA), which came in to force in April 1990, is a regional cooperative framework that encourages nuclear research and the peaceful application of nuclear science and technology for development in Africa. Thirty-nine African Member States now participating in the TC programme are AFRA States Parties. Using a cooperative approach, AFRA seeks to enlarge the contribution of nuclear science and technology to social welfare, health and education throughout Africa, using Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC). In 2014, AFRA celebrated its 25th anniversary. 13

16 The AFRA Fund The AFRA fund was established in 2009 to mobilize financial resources to sustain and enhance nuclear science and technology activities in Africa. Between 2015 and 2016, the total contribution of AFRA States Parties to the AFRA Fund was approximately EUR 1 million. The Fund supports the implementation of the unfunded portion of the AFRA programme. The Fund is a vehicle for collecting the voluntary contributions of AFRA States Parties, the main contributors to the Fund, as well as other donors. Regional Designated Centres A regional designated centre (RDC) is an established African institution able to provide regional services on the basis of the AFRA agreement and for which IAEA and donor support may be requested within the context of approved programmes. RDC designations are agreed upon by the AFRA States Parties. So far, 30 RDCs have been designated in fields including human health, food and agriculture, industry, safety and security, energy and the environment. RDCs play a major role in providing training and expert services for the development of the region. RDC support to postgraduate training In 2015, under the AFRA Masters Fellowship Programme in Nuclear Science and Technology, 10 candidates from 10 African Member States (Burkina Faso, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Libya, Malawi,, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe) were awarded fellowships to undertake a two-year Masters Programme in Nuclear Science and Technology in two AFRA RDCs: the Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Alexandria, Egypt, and the Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana. 14

17 AFRA Regional Designated Centres (RDCs) Field of expertise Radioactive Waste Management Clinical Radiotherapy and Medical Physics Non-Destructive Testing Techniques Mutation Breeding and Related Biotechnology Repair, Preventive Maintenance & Quality Control of Medical and Scientific Instruments Irradiation Technology Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratory Energy Planning Higher and Professional Education Environmental Isotope Hydrology Nuclear Medicine and Related Medical Physics Training and Education in Radiation Protection Stable Isotope in Human Nutrition Communicable diseases Food safety Academic and Clinical Training in Medical Physics Animal Health and Reproduction Country South Africa South Africa Morocco Egypt South Africa Tunisia South Africa Egypt Egypt South Africa Algeria South Africa Egypt Ghana Egypt Morocco Tunisia Algeria Algeria Ghana Morocco Botswana Morocco Cameroon Kenya South Africa Algeria Nigeria Ghana Tunisia 15

18 Human and institutional capacity building The IAEA s TC programme supports human and institutional capacity building activities, networking, knowledge sharing and partnership facilitation, as well as the procurement of equipment. It is committed to helping developing Member States achieve self-reliance in the nuclear science and technology field. Human resource capacity building is provided through expert missions and meetings, fellowship training and special national, regional and interregional training courses focusing on the safe, effective and peaceful application of nuclear science and technology. To complement our efforts in developing Africa s next generation of nuclear scientists, approximately 9 million euros of equipment is procured annually to ensure that laboratories are able to use the latest technology to address the continents challenges. Several African Member States have successfully established nuclear institutions, including universities, training centres, laboratories and research facilities, and the IAEA continues to support these institutions. Many of these institutions have been recognized as AFRA-RDCs. Training courses Between 2011 and 2015, the IAEA conducted 248 regional training courses in the areas of human health, food and agriculture, water resource management, industry, energy, environment, and safety and security. In 2015, 49 training courses were held and 892 candidates trained. These efforts support the development and sustainability of a new generation of scientists in Africa. IAEA fellowships and scientific visits The successful implementation of nuclear techniques for socioeconomic development requires skilled personnel, technicians, and engineers. IAEA fellowships and scientific visits provide important support in this area. Between 2011 and 2015, the IAEA awarded 3156 fellowships and scientific visits to individuals from African Member States (including 788 women) in various thematic fields. IAEA fellowships and scientific visits contribute to the successful transfer of knowledge and technology to fellows home institutions, their home countries, and the TC projects in which they are involved. 16

19 Gender in the TC programme Women are encouraged to participate in every aspect of the TC programme, which aims to mainstream gender and enhance gender equality. Female participation as a fellow, scientific visitor or in other training activities increases women s access to professional opportunities and education in science and technology, and supports gender equality in nuclear related fields. Figure 3 shows the gradual growth in the number of female fellows and scientific visitors from Africa in the last five years Figure 3: Female fellows and scientific visitors trained,

20 For more information on the IAEA technical cooperation programme in Africa, please contact: Division for Africa Department of Technical Cooperation International Atomic Energy Agency PO Box 100 Vienna International Centre 1400 Vienna, Austria Telephone: (+43-1) Fax: (+43-1) Follow us on