Results of the IAEA Workshop on Safeguards Implementation Practices for Establishing and Maintaining State Safeguards Infrastructure

Abstract

The IAEA held a workshop from 16-18 February 2016 on Safeguards Implementation Practices for Establishing and Maintaining State Safeguards Infrastructure, based on the IAEA Services Series 31 guidance document by the same name. Twenty-six participants and two observers from 18 countries attended the workshop, which was facilitated by eight experts from Member States and 11 IAEA staff members. The facilitators contributed to the development of the Safeguards Implementation Practices (SIP) Guide. The purpose of the workshop was to facilitate the exchange of information and good practices among safeguards practitioners in a collaborative and interactive environment, through lectures, case studies and small group exercises. The workshop used the SIP Guide as a framework for addressing the infrastructure topics, highlighting how the case studies and examples provided in the document can be useful to States undertaking related activities. Opportunities were provided throughout the workshop for participants to seek guidance and advice about current challenges they faced in establishing and maintaining State safeguards infrastructure. This paper describes the planning, preparation, conduct, lessons learned and outcomes of the workshop, from the viewpoints of the project manager, the facilitators and the participants. Next steps will also be described.