Water & Energy: Twin Needs
Rational water resources management is a major goal in the context of sustainable development and crucial in a region of pronounced scarcity.
Intensive assistance over the past years has helped the majority of African Member States gain a better understanding and quantifiable estimates of their groundwater and surface water resources. They have helped to design and implement national strategies for exploitation and management of these resources and to enhance the safety of dams and artificial reservoirs.
Greater awareness of isotope hydrology techniques has been promoted amongst national authorities and the IAEA-supported programme has succeeded in developing local capabilities and making a tangible impact in participating countries. The 2005-2006 technical cooperation programme includes over 20 national and regional projects. Special emphasis will continue to be placed on the contribution of isotope hydrology techniques addressing practical problems related to water resource management in shared aquifers.
Energy is essential for sustainable development. NEPAD recognizes that limited access to the services provided by modern energy represent a major obstacle to social development and hinders the fight against poverty. Countries in the region need to strengthen their capacity in managing energy sector development in order to promote sustainable use of national resources, increase access to affordable energy services and thereby foster economic growth and improve living conditions of the population in the long-term.
The IAEA is providing assistance to 14 African countries with the aim to transfer methodologies and tools for energy demand forecasting, integrated energy planning, and least-cost electricity systems. The assistance in the energy sector is relevant to NEPAD short-term programmes. Possibilities exist of establishing linkages with NEPAD energy projects, which include studies for sub-regional interconnections and power systems and support to capacity building. Further integration of IAEA work with NEPAD projects would contribute to capacity building and facilitate regional networking and cooperation among energy system specialists.
Next Steps: IAEA & NEPAD
In these and other areas the IAEA remains committed to supporting NEPAD and endeavours to respond to the major development challenges of the African region. Future IAEA activities will further strengthen the support to government plans and regional initiatives aiming at improving health care, food and agriculture, water resources development, pest control and eradication, combating diseases in livestock and crops, and managing natural resources in the context of sustainable development.
In this regard, support to institutional capacity building through human resources development and Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC) will continue to receive special attention to respond to the major development challenges of the African region in line with the priorities identified by NEPAD and Member States. A new regional project will aim to incorporate and strengthen the teaching of nuclear techniques that address important developmental problems in curricula of institutions of higher learning, especially in Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Furthermore, the IAEA is helping African countries close the digital divide. The emphasis is on expanding access to and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and setting up "tele-centers". New ICT "tele-centres" have been established in four countries, about 50 specialists were trained on methodology and pedagogy, and new educational materials were developed.
The promotion and development of nuclear techniques for socio-economic development requires an adequate radiation safety infrastructure to protect ionizing radiation workers, the public at large and the environment from the hazards associated with the misuse of radiation. Significant efforts are being deployed to improve the radiation protection infrastructure in all African Member States. They include the establishment of a regulatory framework and enforcement of legislation and regulations and special assistance for the safe conditioning and disposal of radioactive sources.
The challenges of NEPAD and the Millennium Development Goals call for better coordination, more coherent approaches and increased synergies among UN agencies working in Africa. The IAEA has a special interest in developing active partnerships with other sister agencies especially in areas related to meeting basic human needs such as the control of human communicable diseases (HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis), water resources development, and land management. The hope is that in the months and years ahead, more support can come to African countries in their work to cut poverty and promote sustainable development.
Ali Boussaha is the Head of the Africa Section within the IAEA Department of Co-operation. E-mail: a.boussaha@iaea.org.
Christian Sina Diatta is the Minister of Scientific and Technological Research, Republic of Senegal. For more information on NEPAD visit: www.nepad.org.
- Related Links
- The New Partnership for Africa's Development
- CONTENTS
- The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 2005
- What next for the NPT?
- The World's Non-Proliferation Regime in Time
- Nuclear Law & Disorder
- Farewell to Arms
- Reframing the Debate Against Nuclear Weapons
- The IAEA & the NPT
- Upgrading Nuclear Safeguards in Kazakhstan
- IAEA Technical Cooperation & the NPT
- Nuclear Export Controls
- The Right Moves for Nuclear & Global Security
- A Race We Can Win
- Nuclear Fuel Cycle
- GTRI Moves Ahead
- Obstacles & Opportunities
- Nuclear Technology & the Developing World
- Fast Forward for the United Nations
- End the Nuclear Threat
- How We Think About Peace & Security
- Rethinking a Dangerous Game of Chance
- Shared Pledge, Shared Vision
- Text & Members of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
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