How IAEA Technical Cooperation projects work

IAEA technical cooperation projects provide expertise in fields where nuclear techniques offer advantages over other approaches, or where nuclear techniques can usefully supplement conventional means. All Member States are eligible for support through technical cooperation projects, although in practice these tend to focus on the needs and priorities of less developed countries.

Technical cooperation projects can be national, regional or interregional. National projects involve a single country and focus on supporting national development priorities where the use of nuclear techniques or technology is an essential element for the achievement of national objectives or provides a solution to a problem in a cost-effective, safe and secure manner.

Regional projects deliver technical cooperation support across national boundaries and address the needs of several Member States in a specific region. Such projects take into account national development objectives but are developed according to regional development priorities established by regional cooperative agreements, strategies and frameworks. Regional projects are categorised as transnational, regional, capacity-building or joint activities.

Transnational projects deal with challenges involving more than one country, but not necessarily all countries in a particular region. Regional standard-setting projects provide a framework for the equitable participation of Member States on a regional scale. Projects may include the design of guidelines, curricula, teaching materials and the documentation of best practices. Joint technical cooperation activities with a regional or international entity, formalised through a cooperation agreement, are also regarded as regional.

Projects on capacity-building for developing countries provide support to candidates from such countries so they can participate in conferences, seminars and workshops that have been approved under the IAEA’s major programmes.

Interregional projects deliver support across national and regional boundaries, and address the needs of several Member States in different regions. They are categorized as transregional, global, capacity-building or as joint activities with an international entity.

Transregional projects deal with development challenges involving countries from more than one region, but not necessarily all regions. Global standard-setting projects provide a framework for the equitable participation of Member States on a global scale. As for regional standard-setting projects, global standard-setting projects may include the design of guidelines, curricula, teaching materials and the documentation of best practices.