IAEA Board of Governors, September 13-17, 2010

September 13, 2010

Agenda Item 3
Program Performance Report for 2008-2009

U.S. Statement

Ambassador Glyn Davies


Mr. Chairman,

The United States strongly supports the Agency’s results-based approach to its Program and Budget.  Properly implemented, this approach is critical in helping to maximize the effectiveness of the Agency’s programs in meeting the needs of its Member States and in making the most efficient use of the resources provided by Member States.

Within this approach, the Program Performance Report plays the essential function of evaluating results obtained in comparison to the goals set forth in the Program and Budget .  Such evaluation is critical for transparency and accountability in the Agency’s programs.  Even more important, it provides essential feedback for the improvement of programs and for refining the results-based approach itself.

Overall, the Agency has made progress in using performance indicators that are clear, objective, and measurable.  In addition, the “lessons learned” sections provide additional useful information for Member States and the Secretariat to consider in developing the 2012-13 Program and Budget.

We would like to highlight some of the Agency’s accomplishments during this rating period, including the continued increase in the number of states with safeguards agreements in force, the increase in the worldwide application of safety standards, with 100 advisory and safety review missions undertaken, the completion of nuclear security facility upgrades in over 25 states, and the delivery of nuclear security training to personnel from nearly 120 states.  In addition, we note with satisfaction the increasing role played by the Agency in establishing norms and procedures for implementation of many different nuclear technologies.
 
The Nuclear Applications department is increasing its reliance on the network of Collaborating Centers built up over the past several years.  This is a positive trend that enables the Agency to expand knowledge transfer, and to supplement manpower and equipment resources at little or no additional cost.
 
We commend both the Division of Human Health  and the Program of Action on Cancer Therapies (PACT) for their collaborations with the World Health Organization, which bring increased recognition, access, and productivity to the Agency’s program activities in the field of human health.  We are pleased with the outreach activities undertaken by PACT directed toward the private sector, and its related recent success at fund-raising.  Also especially noteworthy is the launching by PACT of the pilot project “Virtual University for Cancer Control” for Africa earlier this year.

We are pleased with the successful deployment of the laser stable isotope analyzer in a significant number of Member States that are now able to analyze water samples for isotopes on their own.  We urge that the Water Resources program work to increase the visibility and utilization of the isotope hydrology technology through partnerships with international development organizations.

Mr. Chairman,

Nevertheless, one of the lessons learned has been repeatedly mentioned in the performance report for 2004-2005, 2006-2007, and 2008-2009: the late payment of National Participation Costs.  This has led to delays in the start of implementation of some Technical Cooperation projects, thus affecting the delivery of the TC program.  The United States would like to request that TC should also list those projects or at least report the number of delayed projects so that the level of effort made to improve this delay can be measured.

The report also notes that the increasing size of the TC program, including extra-budgetary contributions, will pose challenges for the management of the TC program.  This is of particular interest to the United States since the U.S. has pledged an extra-budgetary contribution of $10 million to the Peaceful Uses Initiative this year and plans to contribute the same amount each year until 2014.  A portion of these funds will be used for TC projects, and we look forward to working closely with the Agency in ensuring those funds are managed efficiently and effectively.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.