Background
States are responsible for ensuring that an effective national nuclear security regime is in place, whereas operators are accountable for implementing nuclear security within their organisation. When countries embark into nuclear energy, establishing the nuclear security infrastructure for a nuclear power programme is a challenge that requires contributions from every national stakeholder. One fundamental pillar for establishing a sustainable and robust nuclear security infrastructure is the creation of adequate programmes for capacity building, including training infrastructure.
While the State has the main responsibility to build the capacity of organisations and people, it is critical to engender an effective relationship with international organisations to support States in this challenge. Moreover, the State may act as a catalyser to enhance the competences and capabilities of relevant stakeholders including operators, regulators and law enforcement organisations. It is important to encourage the widest range of stakeholders possible to develop their knowledge and competence regarding nuclear security.
In that regard, over the past few years, WINS has actively supported States and relevant stakeholders in nuclear security capacity building and professional development. WINS has developed and conducted activities for all stages of the nuclear fuel cycle. Ensuring effective nuclear security is a long-term effort that begins with the very first steps of a nuclear power programme; it requires persistence, competence and enormous personal commitment to overcome the inherent attitudes that lead to organisational complacency (the assumption that since nothing has happened, nothing will happen). In many ways, nuclear security needs a new approach that is inclusive, better at communicating, and focused on strategy and performance rather than on prescriptive rules. Security should be integrated with other areas – such as operations, safety and safeguards – from the design phase as well as continuously over the life of a facility.
Objectives
WINS organised an online workshop on newcomers in June 2020 to review all security matters related to establishing the nuclear security programme for countries embarking into nuclear power. This online workshop was a continuation of the June event and focused on a more refined scope and select audience group. The event built upon the fundamentals in IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 31-G: Building Capacity for Nuclear Security and explored some of the key findings identified at the online June event in greater depth. It focused on building capacity of nuclear security organisations and professionals in newcomer countries in order to implement and sustain a nuclear security programme that supports the necessary framework for a robust nuclear security infrastructure that is capable of anticipating security threats and risks for the operation of nuclear power plants. The event was designed for a selected group of delegates from the UAE, Bangladesh, Belarus, Turkey and other newcomer countries. It aimed to help the representatives of these countries develop a more structured and strategic approach towards security capacity building, helping to accelerate the maturity of their current strategies and programmes in order to achieve operational excellence.
The workshop discussed the following questions during the three live sessions:
Understanding capacity building for nuclear security - 07 December 2020, 11:00 AM (CET)
- Why is capacity building an essential issue for newcomer countries?
- How are international organisations supporting capacity building for nuclear security?
- What programmes are currently being implemented to benefit newcomer countries?
- What are the main international nuclear security forums to discuss capacity building?
- How are capacity building roles split between government, organisations and individuals? What are these roles in terms of capacity building?
- What are the most used ways for the State to assign responsibilities?
- What are the most used mechanisms for effective coordination between the State and organisations with security responsibilities?
Education and training of various stakeholders – national perspectives - 09 December 2020, 11:00 AM (CET)
- How can newcomers effectively raise awareness about nuclear security?
- What has worked well and what has been less successful when designing and implementing nuclear security education and training programmes?
- How can practitioners benefit from exercises?
- What security awareness and culture needs to be acquired by the workforce and when should it happen? How do you demonstrate that your various stakeholders have reached the expected level of security maturity?
- What are the best practices for security workforce management including workforce planning and career and performance management? What are the main lessons learned when managing nuclear security knowledge?
- What methodologies have been followed when building nuclear security competencies in individuals?
- What are the key aspects to accelerating the maturity of current strategies and programmes in order to achieve operational excellence in newcomer countries?
- What synergies (and/or similarities) can be identified with nuclear safety?
Implementing capacity building on newcomer countries - 14 December 2020, 11:00 AM (CET)
- How do turn-key nuclear projects impact nuclear security capacity building?
- What has been the biggest challenge(s) over the past five years in implementing nuclear security capacity options and how are countries trying to solve it? What remains challenging and why?
- What are the main lessons learned for newcomer countries?
- What could they have done differently?
- What worked well, and what didn’t? What advice would you give others?
Audience
WINS welcomed participation from the following experts and organisations:
- Government leaders: local and national
- Nuclear power plant owners/operators
- Regulatory bodies
- Policy makers
- Security managers from the nuclear industry
- NPP manufacturers/developers
- Academics/researchers
- Law enforcement organisations
- International organisations
We encouraged applications from participants from newcomer countries such as Bangladesh, Belarus, UAE and Turkey. Seats for this event were limited in order to maximise interactions and live discussions. Participants from these newcomer countries were prioritised in the selection process.
Process
This online workshop brought together international experts and leading thinkers including subject matter experts on building capacity for nuclear security in newcomer countries. The event followed a remote engagement approach in which the audience was challenged to identify and share best practices and lessons learned on this important topic.
WINS organised the online engagement as follows:
- Three live sessions of 90 minutes each on 07, 09 and 14 December 2020.
- These live sessions included live interactions between international experts and attendees to further discuss the content of the presentations delivered during the live session. It included a virtual plenary, polls and case studies.
- The event additionally included recorded presentations by experts sharing their experiences and know-how on successfully selected projects on capacity building for nuclear security.
WINS provided participants the opportunity to interact amongst themselves and with the subject matter experts to exchange their thoughts and professional experiences on the topic.
All these various sessions were designed to accommodate IT constraints that participants may face.
All elements of this online workshop were conducted in English and drew only on unclassified information. Based on the various presentations and discussions, WINS will produce an event report highlighting the key findings of the event.
The event materials are available to WINS members on the WINS website.
