International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
1. Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, has the governing body of your organization taken (or will it take) any decisions or new strategies to guide the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs? If any, please provide a brief summary below, including the overarching vision of your organization.
The statutory objective of the IAEA is to seek to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world. The IAEA has been contributing effectively to sustainable development for over 60 years by making peaceful nuclear technology available for development in areas such as human health, food and agriculture, energy, natural resource management and public and environmental protection.
2.1 SDG-specific strategies, plans or work programmes
During planning of the Agency's Programme and Budget and the TC Programme for 2018-2019 and 2020-2021, where appropriate, the Secretariat identified the relevant programmes/projects contributing to the SDGs. The IAEA continues to pursue and adapt its programme of work within the framework of its Statute to meet the evolving needs and development goals of its Member States.
The IAEA has reviewed the Programmes at the planning stage with regards to their relevance to specific SDGs. In view of possible contribution of projects to multiple SDGs, a limit of maximum three SDGs were applied to each project.
In addition, fields of activity used in the IAEA TC Programme were linked to SDGs. With a view to ensure that Member States national priorities are connected to the SDGs, the Secretariat revised the templates for Country Profile Frameworks to reflect national development plans and priorities, country specific analyses and lessons learned from past cooperation. Moreover, the Secretariat organized trainings for Member States on how to better link proposed programmes and projects to the SDGs.
2.2 Aligning the structure of the organization with the transformative features of the 2030 Agenda, including any challenges and lessons learned in doing so
No changes to the structure of the organization were considered necessary for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
2.3 Readjusting or updating results-based budgeting and management, including performance indicators:
The IAEA continues to apply a results-based management approach to its Programme and Budget. Existing indicators for development related projects reflect relevant performance indicators for the SDGs
3.1 Mainstreaming the SDGs in development plans and policies or through national sustainable development plans/strategies:
The IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme serves as the major vehicle for technology transfer and capacity building and comprises national, regional and interregional projects formulated within the areas where nuclear techniques can contribute to address the development challenges, such as hunger, human health, energy, and climate change. The IAEA is closely working with its Member States and supports them in their efforts to achieve the SDGs.
The IAEA has organized numerous outreach events on how nuclear technology can help Member States to achieve the SDGs.
3.4 Science, technology and innovation for the SDGs:
To better assist Member States in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs through the application of nuclear science and technologies, two new interregional projects were developed by the IAEA, namely: "Applying Nuclear Science and Technology in Small Island Developing States in Support of the Sustainable Development Goals and the SAMOA Pathway" and "Utilizing the Sustainable Development Goals to Integrate Nuclear Science and Technology in Member States' Attainment of their National Development Plans".
3.5 Multi-stakeholder partnerships:
Partnerships are essential to the IAEA work. In the field of comprehensive cancer control and treatment, the IAEA works closely with IARC and WHO; in the area of food and agriculture, the IAEA works with FAO, and has an FAO-IAEA Joint Division in its HQ in Vienna. The IAEA has a number of formal partnership arrangements with UN entities and other bilateral and multilateral entities and research institutes. A key tool for identifying relevant development partnerships is the UNDAF. As of the end of 2017, the IAEA was signatory of 54 UNDAFs.
3.7 Leveraging interlinkages across SDG goals and targets:
The IAEA directly contributes to SDGs 2, 3, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15 and 17.
4.4 Organizing side evens or speaking at the HLPF:
The IAEA participated in the expert meeting in preparation for 2017 HLPF that was held in Vienna from 14 - 16 December 2016. This meeting looked at preparing institutions and policies for integrated approaches to implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The Agency spoke on integrated approaches to support SDG9.
At the HLPF 2017, the IAEA supported side events organised by Malaysia and Botswana on the contribution of nuclear science and technology to development. Within the framework of the HLPF 2018, the IAEA conducted a training course on the SDG7 and participated in a side event on the Global Agenda for SDG7 Action. The IAEA also hosted an exhibition booth at the preparatory Global SDG7 Conference, disseminating information on energy planning support to Member States for achieving SDG7.
5. How has your organization cooperated with other UN system organizations to achieve coherence and synergies in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs? In this regard, has your organization launched or intend to launch any joint programmes or projects in collaboration with other UN entities? Are there any results or lessons you would like to highlight that might help improve the design and impact of such efforts? Has your organization participated in any of the following coordination systemwide mechanisms or any other relevant platform - CEB, UNDG, EC-ESA Plus, RCMs, UN-Energy, UN-Water, UN-Ocean, IAEG, IATT? Please specify which and indicate any suggestions you may have about improving collaborations within and across these mechanisms/platforms:
The IAEA works in close partnership with Member States, United Nations agencies, research organizations and civil society to maximize the contribution of nuclear science and technology to the achievement of development priorities.
For example, with regards to SDG 3, the IAEA works closely with IARC and WHO in the field of comprehensive cancer control and treatment; on the SDG2, the IAEA has a FAO-IAEA Joint Programme on Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture; on the implementation of SDG9, there is an ongoing dialogue with UNIDO on industrial applications; on SDG 14, the IAEA works with UNEP.
6. How has your organization engaged with stakeholder groups, both in supporting implementation at the country, regional and global levels, and within your own organization? If yes, please provide main highlights, including any lessons learned:
The IAEA staff engages stakeholders within the organization, with outside partner organizations and counterparts from Member States, as appropriate, to develop and implement relevant activities in accordance with the IAEA's Result Based Approach to deliver the desired results.
While project ownership lies with the Member States, the technical cooperation programme is proposed by Member States and developed jointly with the Secretariat. The programme is based on an assessment of the development priorities and conditions in each specific country or region, as expressed in their respective national development plans, Country Programme Frameworks (CPFs), and United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAFs).
7. Has your organization organized any conferences, forums or events designed to facilitate exchange of experience, peer and mutual learning? If yes, please provide a brief summary below and include lessons learned and gaps identified based on the outcomes of these events. Please also include any events you plan to organize in the coming years.
The IAEA organizes numerous conferences and other events to facilitate knowledge exchange to support its Member States in the peaceful use of nuclear technologies. In September 2018, within the framework of the 62nd General Conference, the IAEA hosted the Scientific Forum "Nuclear Technology for Climate: Mitigation, Monitoring and Adaptation" where presenters from over 20 countries showed that nuclear technology must be part of the solution to climate change, and public awareness of this contribution should be raised.
Moreover, in November 2018, the IAEA held a Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology: Addressing Current and Emerging Development Challenges. This first ever event facilitated a high-level dialogue on nuclear science, technology and applications for peaceful uses while provided an opportunity to consider high-impact innovations that can be integrated into the Member States' strategies and plans for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information on events organized by the IAEA see: https://www.iaea.org/events
8. Is there any other information you would like to share, including annual reports of your organization and any impact assessment or evaluation reports? If yes, please use the space below and attach the document(s). Please also use this space to provide any other information, comments or remarks you deem necessary:
Annual Reports, the Nuclear Technology and Nuclear Safety Reviews, Technical Cooperation Report.