The "Atoms for Peace" Agency

The IAEA is the world's centre for cooperation in the nuclear field. It was set up as the world's "Atoms for Peace" organization in 1957 within the United Nations family. The Agency works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies.

Organizational Profile

The IAEA Secretariat is headquartered at the Vienna International Centre in Vienna, Austria. Operational liaison and regional offices are located in Geneva, Switzerland, New York, USA, Toronto, Canada and Tokyo, Japan. The IAEA runs or supports research centres and scientific laboratories in Vienna and Seibersdorf, Austria, Monaco and Trieste, Italy.

The IAEA Secretariat is a team of some 2500 multidisciplinary professional and support staff from more than 100 countries. The Agency is led by the Director General and six Deputy Director Generals who head the major departments.

IAEA programmes and budgets are set through decisions taken by its policy-making bodies: the 35 members of the Board of Governors and the General Conference comprising representatives from all IAEA Member States. Reports on IAEA activities are submitted periodically and, as cases warrant, to the United Nations Security Council and the United Nations General Assembly.

IAEA financial resources include the regular budget and voluntary contributions. The General Conference sets the annual regular budget and addresses extra-budgetary funds as well as voluntary contributions made to the Technical Cooperation Fund. These figures are published in the latest IAEA Annual Report.

IAEA Mission & Programmes

The IAEA's mission is guided by the interests and needs of Member States, strategic plans and the vision embodied in the IAEA Statute. Three main areas of work underpin the IAEA's mission: Safety and Security, Science and Technology, and Safeguards and Verification.

Relationship with the United Nations

As an independent international organization related to the United Nations (UN) system, the IAEA's relationship with the UN is regulated by a special agreement. In terms of its Statute, the IAEA reports annually to the UN General Assembly and, when appropriate, to the UN Security Council regarding States' non-compliance with safeguards obligations, as well as on matters relating to international peace and security.