By Melissa Evans, IAEA Department of Technical Cooperation
On the margins of the recent 70th IAEA General Conference, national representatives came together to coordinate the activities of the AFRA, ARASIA, ARCAL and RCA regional cooperative agreements. An additional meeting of European National Liaison Officers – designated government focal points for the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme –reviewed collaborative activities in Europe and Central Asia.
The IAEA facilitates the transfer of nuclear technology to countries to help them address national and regional priorities through a range of national, regional and interregional technical cooperation projects. The regional cooperative agreements aim to strengthen and enlarge the contribution of nuclear science and technology to socioeconomic development in their respective regions.
AFRA Appoints New Chair and Sets Priorities for Future Collaboration
The African Regional Cooperative Agreement (AFRA) welcomed a new chairperson for the year ahead at its 37th annual meeting. Outgoing Chairperson David Tshere, Botswana’s Minister of Communications and Innovation, formally handed over the AFRA chair to Hamid Marah, Director-General of Morocco’s National Centre for Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology.
“Over the years, AFRA has progressively consolidated its accomplishments, expanded its area of activity, and strengthened the capacity in its Member States, thereby making an increasingly significant contribution to the promotion and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology for development,” Marah said in his opening remarks. “Having the honour of assuming the AFRA chair for 2026-27, I would like to reiterate the commitment of the Kingdom of Morocco to continuing the efforts undertaken over the past years, taking into account your resolutions and priorities, consolidating the achievements of our agreements and contributing fully to the implementation of its programmes and activities,” he added.
During the meeting, AFRA Parties reviewed the progress outlined in the AFRA Annual Report 2025. Key achievements included the inauguration of new radiotherapy centres in Benin, Kenya and Malawi, and the provision of mammography units to 42 African countries funded by the Government of Japan.
Representatives of the 49 AFRA Government Parties endorsed the recommendations put forward at the AFRA Technical Working Group Meeting, which will guide the next cycle of AFRA projects. Human health, food and agriculture, and radiation safety were identified as priority areas for technical cooperation.
