From 25-26 February 2010, Experts gathered as a Working Group at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, to help come up with the basis for the Regional Cooperative Framework (RCF) for the Asia and the Pacific Region.
The RCF Working Group was expected to do the following:
- Review and interpret data and trends to identify the priority areas for the region;
- Develop the RCF including mission, vision, strategic objectives for each selected priority area as well as modalities of implementation, evaluation and monitoring;
- Define the role and scope of the regional programme that can address the common needs of Member States;
- Develop a strategy as an integral component of the RCF to enhance regional cooperation and the TCDC modality in the Region using all available technical cooperation mechanisms; and
- Prepare and submit in a timely manner a detailed report describing the RCF, the modalities of implementation, time frame and measures to review and monitor its implementation.
The RCF is seen as the regional framework and mechanism which shall guide TCAP to achieve the IAEA mandate and mission as far as technical cooperation is concerned, as well as the overall partnership building which will facilitate regional programming and regional cooperation in Asia and the Pacific, based on current and future developmental priority needs of Member States and the imperatives and challenges facing both Member States and the IAEA, and taking into consideration the Regional Profile of ARASIA and the Strategic Objectives of the RCA.
The RCF Working Group Meeting was chaired by Dr. Moustafa Yahya Bahran from Yemen, with the participation of experts from Oman, Australia, China, India, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Rep.of Korea and Syria including designated staff from the IAEA TCAP Division.