IAEA TACC, Agenda Item 4 – Evaluation of Technical Cooperation Activities in 2021
As delivered by Acting Counselor for Nuclear Affairs Edward Canuel
IAEA Technical Assistance and Cooperation Committee Meeting
Vienna, Austria, November 23, 2021
Mr. Chair,
The United States commends the Office of Internal Oversight Services for its evaluation of technical cooperation activities in 2021, as contained in IAEA document GOV/2021/46. The report underscores the key role that OIOS plays in improving the IAEA’s efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability.
We express our continued support for OIOS’ important role of independently reviewing and evaluating the work of the IAEA. We urge the Secretariat to continue to implement OIOS recommendations within the timeframe stipulated and to emphasize transparency and results-based management by providing additional measures for evaluating the success of IAEA projects.
We appreciate the work undertaken by OIOS to complete the four Country- Level Evaluation and Audits in Croatia, Georgia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, noting that all four CLEAs emphasized the positive impact of IAEA programming in these countries. We further note with great appreciation the effort by OIOS to synthesize its results and report on cross-cutting risks and issues arising from its reviews. This synthesis identified important challenges to project sustainability that should be carefully considered by the Agency. We welcome Agency efforts to address those common themes and particularly note the Secretariat’s recommendation for the Agency to strengthen gender mainstreaming in its work.
We welcome the OIOS evaluation of the project planning stage of the TC program cycle. We draw particular attention to the OIOS recommendation that strengthening ties to the Country Program Framework and improving collaboration with other UN organizations at the country level would further expand the impact and sustainability of the IAEA’s work. We encourage coordination with other UN organizations as well as other relevant development agencies and partners to promote efficiencies and improve the effectiveness of IAEA programs. We further encourage the Agency to improve knowledge management practices in the delivery of the TCP to prevent information gaps or losses due to transitions.
Mr. Chair,
With these comments, the United States joins consensus and takes note of this year’s OIOS Evaluation Report as contained in IAEA document GOV/2021/46.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.