The National Liaison Office function is of a strategic nature to ensure that it serves South Africa’s international obligations to strengthen and increase the contribution of nuclear technology to socio-economic development in South Africa in partnership with IAEA. The National Liaison Office is the Focal point between the IAEA and South Africa on matters related to the IAEA.
The NLO was established in the 1990s following South Africa’s ratification of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and commitment to join the IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme. The NLO ensures that SA’s services its international obligations to strengthen and increase the contribution of nuclear technology in South Africa in partnership with IAEA.
The Chief Directorate facilitates capacity building to enhance the technical and operational capability of professionals in the industry. Transfer of equipment to provide support for the technical cooperation programme in applying nuclear technology for peaceful uses.
1. IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme
The programme covers different applications of nuclear technology in nuclear safety and security, radiation safety, industry, medicine, food safety, agriculture, water and environment. Technical Cooperation projects can be national, regional or interregional. National Projects are proposed every 2 years and are covered under the 2024 – 2029 Country Programme Framework which is aligned to the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Technical Cooperation Projects fall under the following applications of nuclear technology: • Nuclear and Radiation Safety • Isotope Hydrology in Water Resource Management • Sterile Insect Techniques • Nuclear Medicine • Utilisation of Research Reactors in Industry • Awareness on the deployment of SMRs and MRs • Non-Destructive Testing • Blue Carbon Ecosystems • Isotopic Rations in GHG • Mutation Breeding of Vegetables to Improve Rural Livelihoods • Nutritional status and health of children using isotopic techniques
1.1. Country Programme Framework (CPF)
The Country Programme Framework (CPF) defines mutually agreed national development plans and priorities to be supported through the IAEA TC Programme activities. The CPF is a country specific analyses and lessons learned from past cooperation and also considers the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This ensures that the application of nuclear technologies is integrated with existing development initiatives and plans and supports the identification of areas where such technologies might be usefully deployed. A CPF generally outline the national projects to be covered in the next six (6) years.
2. The African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA)
The African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA) is an intergovernmental Agreement established by African Member States to further strengthen and enlarge the contribution of nuclear science and technology to socio-economic development on the African continent.
The scope of AFRA activities covers a wide range of peaceful applications of nuclear techniques that contribute towards the achievement of regional and national development goals. AFRA is the main vehicle for promoting regional cooperation for the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology is to sustain a framework of active collaboration among AFRA Government Parties, which builds synergies between programmes at the regional and national levels.
The applications fall under the following thematic areas: • Human Health and Nutrition; • Food and Agriculture; • Industrial application of Irradiation Technology; • Radiation Safety, nuclear security and security of radioactive material; • Sustainable Energy Development; • Water Resources Management; and • Human Resource Development through Education and Training.
2.1. Regional Strategic Cooperative Framework (RCF)
The RCF is the main strategic frame of reference for the planning and formulation of AFRA projects that defines, based on a thorough assessment of the common regional needs to be addressed by the AFRA Programme and taking account the resources available, the priorities for regional cooperation that will be considered by AFRA Government Parties for the design and formulation of cooperative projects to be carried out within the framework of AFRA during the next three biennium cycles namely the TC cycles 2024 -2025, 2025-2026 and 2027-2028.
The purpose of the RCF is to achieve through continued joint efforts enhanced and optimal regional planning and programming of AFRA cooperative activities focussing of the priorities defined by the Government Parties with strong linkages with the AFRA adopted Strategic Goals to enhance further regional cooperation mechanisms and to facilitate as well strategic partnerships building with other relevant bilateral and multilateral bodies, agencies, and organizations in support of AFRA cooperative activities.
2.2. AFRA Regional Designated Centres (RDCs)
AFRA through RDCs that are identified within experienced and capable Member States promotes Technical Cooperation in Developing Countries through collaboration in the development and expansion of nuclear techniques in Africa. The role of RDCs is to play a useful and cost-effective role by complementing and supporting the activities of national and regional institutions in the development and expansion of nuclear techniques in Africa.
There are thirty-two (32) established RDCs in eleven (11) areas of expertise related to nuclear science and applications in the African region. 85% of the RDCs are located in South and North Africa. South Africa has eight (8) institutions that have been designated as AFRA RDCs, and these together with other local institutions offers training through fellowships for participants from the continent.
2.3. South African Network for Nuclear Energy Science and Technology (SAN-NEST)
The African Network for Education in Nuclear Science and Technology was established by the Africa Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology to facilitate the implementation of its strategy on human resource development and nuclear knowledge management. Member States are required to set up a NEST in the country and therefore South Africa established South African Network for Education in Nuclear Science and Technology (SAN-NEST). SAN-NEST main objective is to promote a national coordinated approach in education related to Nuclear Science and Technology (NST).
SAN-NEST comprises of stakeholders from academic institutions, nuclear industries, national laboratories, research councils, government institutions and private nuclear organisations.
3. Capacity Building and Fellowship Programme
Capacity building is a critical component of IAEA TC and AFRA Programme which is implemented through the intergovernmental AFRA Agreement, for the sustainable operation of Nuclear Programmes. The IAEA provides capacity building opportunities to institutions and individuals from its Member States through Training Courses, Technical Meetings, Workshops, Symposiums, Conferences, Fellowships, Expert Mission and Scientific Visits.
Project Counterparts and officials under the IAEA TC and AFRA Programmes build expertise through capacity building initiatives such as Fellowships participated outside of South Africa, as well as Scientific Visits conducted in terms of skills and expertise required for the respective projects.
4. Highlights
4.1. Visit of the Director General of the IAEA to South Africa
The Director-General of the IAEA, Dr Rafael Mariano Grossi, visited South Africa from 08 – 10 October 2025. South Africa works in partnership with the IAEA to ensure the peaceful uses of nuclear technology. The purpose of the visit was to attend G20 Ministerial Nuclear Energy Conference that was scheduled for 09 October 2025. Furthermore, this gave the country an opportunity to showcase some of our nuclear facilities, amongst others, utilising nuclear energy for peaceful uses.
The Department prepared a programme for the Director-General of the IAEA, which comprised of site visits to the Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI) and the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa). The Director-General of the IAEA met with high level delegates which included the Ambassador in the Permanent Mission of the Republic of South in Vienna, His Excellency Mr Rapulane Molekane, Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, the Portfolio Committee on Energy, Deputy Minister Ms Samantha Graham-Mare, Necsa Executives, NuMeRI Executives, DSTI Management, DEE Management and Officials.
The Director-General of the IAEA gave his gratitude to the country for its pivotal role in IAEA activities and emphasized the IAEA’s continued support to the country. Furthermore, the Director-General of the IAEA indicated that South Africa has shown and understands the mandate of the IAEA in promoting the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. The Director-General of the IAEA further highlighted the support of the IAEA to South Africa for its G20 Presidency and its plans to utilize Nuclear Energy to achieve the Just Energy Transition and Net-Zero by 2050.
4.2. Revised AFRA Agreement
The AFRA Agreement, which entered into force on 4 April 1990 for a period of five years and following its extension for further periods of five years, expired on 3 April 2020. The revised AFRA Agreement is of indefinite duration and replaces the 1990 Agreement. South Africa deposited its instrument of acceptance to the process of acceding into the revised AFRA Agreement and was signed at the 68th General Conference during the Treaty Site Event, on 17 September 2024.
4.3. International Atomic Energy Agency Annual General Conference
South Africa participated in the Annual General Conference (GC), which is held in Vienna, Austria normally in September of that year. The Conference is the highest policy-making body that consists of representatives of the IAEA Member States, to consider and approve the IAEA's budget and to decide on other issues raised by the Board of Governors, the Director General, and Member States.
The IAEA PMO for South Africa TC Programme, IAEA DDG for TC Programme, DM for Electricity and Energy and Ambassador in the Permanent Mission for SA in Vienna, Amb. Molekane
4.4. 2024 – 2029 Country Progrmme Framework (CPF)
South Africa and the IAEA signed the 2024 – 2029 CPF during the Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications and the Technical Cooperation Programme, from 26 – 29 November 2024. The Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Ms Samantha Jane Graham-Mare together with the Deputy Director-General for the Technical Cooperation Programme, Mr Hua Liu signed the 2024 – 2029 CPF on 26 November 2024, on behalf of the Country and IAEA respectively.