RCARO Participation in RCA Projects and Meetings

1. RCARO Participation in RCA Projects and Meetings Dr John Easey

2. Key Roles of the RCARO Major Functions • 1. To increase RCA visibility • 2. To promote RCA viability

3. The RCARO has to be up to date in its knowledge of the RCA programme and procedures to enable it to carry out its key roles efficiently and effectively. RCARO’s participation in key RCA activities facilitates the effective accumulation of essential knowledge required for the effective discharge of its assigned tasks.

4. While the RCA MSs have agreed to the RCARO’s participation in a range of RCA activities, this has been largely an ad hoc approach. Now thought should be given to establishing an integrated and strategic approach to use the RCARO’s human and physical resources to the maximum effect for the benefit of the RCA Programme.

5. RCARO’s Specific Tasks • The RCARO has elaborated 5 Specific Tasks underpinning the achievement of its two Key Roles. • In the following slides each of these Specific Tasks will be reviewed and suggestions made in terms of the knowledge requirements and possible linkage to associated RCA events or activities. • The RCARO is also actively involved in a range of non-RCA events that are linked to the achievement of its Specific Tasks. These are outside the scope of this review.

6. RCARO Specific TaskNo. 1 “To pro-actively seek out opportunities for the RCA to participate in projects being formulated and designed by major regional and international donors, including international agencies.”

7. Task No. 1 Major RCA & Associated Knowledge Requirements • Detailed knowledge of RCA Medium Term Strategy and Strategic Priorities; • Detailed knowledge of relevant and related RCA Past and Present Projects; • Detailed knowledge of RCA MSs current needs and priorities; • Detailed knowledge of IAEA processes and procedures for development and design of Technical Cooperation Projects as well as project monitoring and evaluation.

8. RCA Strategic Priorities 2012-2017 The RCA Strategic Priorities agreed at the 32nd RCA NRM in the Philippines in April 2010 have set the priorities in each of the four major Thematic Areas for 2012 to 2017.

9. RCA Strategic Priorities 2012-2017 Agriculture Thematic Area Priorities: • Priority Area 1: Plant Mutation Breeding • Priority Area 2: Animal Production and Health • Priority Area 3: Food Irradiation • Priority Area 4: Soils and Landuse: Isotopes from molecular to global scales

10. RCA Strategic Priorities 2012-2017 Environment Thematic Area Priorities: • Priority Area 1 - Sustainable Air Particulate Matter Monitoring • Priority Area 2 - Sustainable Water Resources Development • Priority Area 3 - Sustainable Marine Coastal Resources Development

11. RCA Strategic Priorities 2012-2017 Human Health Thematic Areas Priorities: • Priority Area 1 - Development of intensity modulated radiation therapy capability • Priority Area 2 - Improving the decision-making process in cancer management with hybrid nuclear medicine imaging (PET/CT and SPECT/CT) • Priority Area 3 - Practice of Image Guided Brachytherapy for predominant cancers • Priority Area 4 - Development of agreed clinical protocols and guidelines for the management of common cancers by radiation therapy • Priority Area 5 - Strengthening the Application of Nuclear Medicine in the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases

12. RCA Strategic Priorities 2012-2017 Industry Thematic Area Priorities: : • Priority Area 1: Non-destructive evaluation for safety, increased productivity, and product quality control in industry • Priority Area 2 - Applications of radiation processing/technology for grafted polymeric matrices and environmental preservation • Priority Area 3 - Applications of radiotracers for industrial troubleshooting and process optimisation

13. RCARO Specific TaskNo. 1 The priorities of projects being formulated and designed by major regional and international donors, including international agencies, may have different relative priorities in a thematic area to those agreed by the RCA for 2012-2017. In the context of these requirements, the task for the RCARO task is to ensure that these new opportunities will result in projects that:

14. RCARO Specific TaskNo. 1 Key Context Requirements: • conform to the RCA Medium Term Strategy and the RCA Strategic Priorities; • respond to MSs identified needs; • do not overlap or duplicate existing or recently completed projects; and, • the design incorporates important lessons learned from other projects.

15. RCARO Specific TasksNo. 2 “To negotiate and secure contracts for income generating activities of the RCARO and provide supplementary funding for RCA projects.”

16. Task No. 2Major RCA Knowledge Requirements • Detailed knowledge of RCA Medium Term Strategy and Strategic Priorities; • Detailed knowledge of relevant and related RCA Past and Present Projects and activities; and, • Detailed knowledge of RCA MSs current needs and priorities.

17. RCARO Specific TaskNo. 2 Key Context Requirements To ensure that these activities: • conform to Medium Term Strategy, the RCA Strategic Priorities and respond to MSs identified needs; and, • do not affect the capability and capacity of the RCARO to undertake its Key Roles and Specific Tasks.

18. RCARO Specific TasksNo. 3 “To promote the peaceful uses of appropriate nuclear technology to assist in addressing regional and national needs.”

19. Task No. 3Major Knowledge Requirements • Detailed knowledge of the performance and achievements of relevant and related RCA Past and Present Projects; • Detailed knowledge of RCA MSs current needs and priorities; and, • Extensive knowledge of the performance and achievements in this area by related IAEA and other nuclear cooperation programmes.

20. RCARO Specific TaskNo. 3 Key Context Requirements To ensure that these promotional activities: • conform to Medium Term Strategy; • align with the RCA Strategic Priorities; and, • reflect MSs identified needs.

21. RCARO Specific TasksNo. 4 “To provide enhanced visibility for the RCA at regional and national fora.”

22. Task No. 4Major RCA Knowledge Requirements • Detailed knowledge of RCA Medium Term Strategy and Strategic Priorities; • Detailed knowledge of the performance and achievements of relevant and related RCA Past and Present Projects; • Extensive knowledge of National needs, priorities and efforts; and, • Detailed knowledge of RCA MSs current needs and priorities.

23. RCARO Specific TaskNo. 4 Key Context Requirements To ensure that these promotional activities: • support the Medium Term Strategy; • reflect the RCA Strategic Priorities; and, • align with MSs identified needs.

24. RCARO Specific TasksNo. 5 “To implement the directives of the RCA Member States as agreed upon at the National RCA Representatives Meetings.”

25. Task No. 5Major RCA Knowledge Requirements Specific requirements will depend on the nature of tasks assigned to the RCARO by the NRMs.

26. RCA Medium Term Strategy and Strategic Priorities Project Development and Management Related RCA Events: Meetings related to the RCA Medium Term Strategy and its implementation. RCA NRMs & GCMs. Related RCA Events: Meetings and exercises on Project Formulation, Design & Management. Project Management & Review Meetings. Knowledge Requirements & Related RCA Events and Activities

27. RCA Project Priorities Related RCA Events: RCA NRMs & GCMs Meetings/Workshops on Project Priorities; Project Management & Review Meetings; Surveys of MSs on their needs, Project Priorities, experience with past Projects, etc. Knowledge Requirements & Related RCA Events and Activities

28. Achieving a Balance It could be overly demanding on their resources for the RCARO to attend every Meeting or activity identified in the previous slides. The RCARO will need to devise and implement a strategy to enable it to achieve an effective balance between its participation in the most productive RCA Meetings and activities and its other important tasks, while optimising its expenditure of human and financial resources. Is there a role for the RCA MSs to assist the RCARO in any of these tasks?

29. Thank you!