IAEA/TC: REQUEST FOR EXTRABUDGETARY FUNDING FOR AFRA

UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000153 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/T, ISN/MNSA, ISN/RA AND G PLS PASS USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID KNNP PREL SOCI TRGY XA SUBJECT: IAEA/TC: REQUEST FOR EXTRABUDGETARY FUNDING FOR AFRA PROJECT -------------- SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶1. (U) Mission received a letter from the Permanent Mission of Tanzania on March 6, 2009 requesting USG extrabudgetary funding for seven specific programs under the IAEA's regional technical cooperation (TC) project for Africa, the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA). Tanzania, in its capacity as the AFRA Chair, requests a response at our earliest possible convenience. The projects cover the areas of human health, water management, regulatory infrastructure, and research reactor safety. ¶2. (U) ACTION REQUEST: Mission requests response to AFRA's appeal for funding. END SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. -------------- AFRA -------------- ¶3. (U) AFRA currently consists of 32 African countries. These countries work together to maximize the utilization of available infrastructure and expertise in Africa in the field of nuclear science and technology, and to accelerate regional self-sufficiency in peaceful applications of nuclear technology. For the 2009-2011 TC cycle, about USD 27.8 million is earmarked from the Agency's Technical Cooperation Fund (TCF) to support regional cooperation, which represents 37.5 percent of the total TCF budget allotted for Africa. AFRA will have to raise extrabudgetary contributions from individual member states to achieve all its goals for this cycle. -------------- PROJECTS IN NEED -------------- 4.(U) For the 2009-2011 TC Cycle, AFRA hopes to implement seven projects. They are: (1) RAF0031 - Promoting Human Resources Development and Nuclear Knowledge Management; (2) RAF2008 - Strengthening and Expanding Radiopharmacy Services in Africa; (3) RAF3006 - Improving Waste Management Infrastructure in Africa; (4) RAF4022 - Enhancing Research Reactor Utilization and Safety; (5) RAF6040 - Applying Molecular Techniques to Inventions Against the Major Poverty Related Diseases (HIV, TB and Malaria) for Improving Disease Control; (6) RAF8048 - Building Capacity in Support of Regional and Sub-regional Programs Related to the Characterization of Shared Water Resources; and (7) RAF9038 - Promoting Self Assessment of Regulatory Infrastructures for Safety and Networking of Regulatory Bodies in Africa. Each is described in detail below. ¶5. (U) RAF0031 - Promoting Human Resources Development (HRD) and Nuclear Knowledge Management (NKM) objective is to facilitate operation and networking in higher education, training, and related research in nuclear science and technology in the African region through (1) Sharing of information and materials of nuclear education and training; (2) developing harmonized approaches for education in nuclear science and technology in Africa by establishing reference curricula and facilitating mutual recognition of degrees; (3) promoting effective cooperation and sharing of resources and capabilities at the national and regional level; (4) facilitating the exchange of students, teachers and researchers; and (5) serving as facilitator for communication between the network member organizations and other regional and global networks. ¶6. (U) RAF2008- Strengthening and Expanding Radiopharmacy Services in Africa's objective is to strengthen radiopharmacy in support of in-vivo and in-vitro nuclear medicine in Africa. End users will be hospital radiopharmacies and the beneficiaries will be patients who need treatment. ¶7. (U) RAF3006 - Improving Waste Management Infrastructure in Africa's objective is to continuously improve radioactive waste management infrastructure in AFRA member states. Industry, particularly in the field of oil and mining, medical and research institutions will be the beneficiaries of this project. ¶8. (U) RAF4022- Enhancing Research Reactor Utilization and Safety's objective is to optimize effective utilization and safety of research reactors to support the socio-economic development in AFRA Member States. Beneficiaries will be Member States involved in research reactor utilization including those considering nuclear power as energy source. ¶9. (U) RAF6040- Applying Molecular Techniques to Inventions Against the Major Poverty Related Diseases (HIV, TB, and Malaria) for Improving Disease Control's objective is to apply molecular techniques for improving disease control through cross-cutting approaches to optimize interventions against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. Target beneficiaries will include disease control programs, patients, communities, clinicians, scientists, laboratories, academic institutions, involved in or affected by prevention and treatment of HIV, TB and malaria, in selected Agency and World Health Organization (WHO)-AFRO Member States. ¶10. (U) RAF8048- Building Capacity in Support of Regional and Sub-regional Programs Related to the Characterization of Shared Water Resources' objectives is to develop Africa's capacity and self reliance to integrate isotope techniques in the planning, development and sustained management of water resources of the region by supporting and enhancing regional designated centers for human resources training and provision of analytical services. ¶11. (U) RAF9038- Promoting Self Assessment of Regulatory Infrastructures for Safety and Networking of Regulatory Bodies in Africa's objective is to enhance and continuously improve the performance of regulatory systems and conform to the requirements of international standards through self assessment and enhanced regional cooperation. -------------- COMMENT AND RECOMMENDATION -------------- ¶12. (U) The Africa Region continues to take a proactive role in shaping its regional TC priorities. The seven projects above are all beneficial to USG foreign assistance objectives as well as being directly related to concerns for safety, security, and safeguards. Mission recommends STATE-ISN review the AFRA request to see if funding priorities align and extrabudgetary funds could be given to one or more projects. We would also welcome USAID advice on where complementarities might be found between USG projects and TC projects in this area. SCHULTE