Year
2022
Abstract
In September 2020, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) launched an initiative to assist States in establishing and maintaining a State system of accounting for and control of nuclear material (SSAC). Commonly known as “COMPASS," the initiative builds on the existing IAEA assistance to States to provide tailored, multidisciplinary support in a phased approach. Currently, the IAEA is implementing the initiative in seven States that have agreed to join a two-year pilot phase. The pilot phase will end in late 2022, after which, based on lessons learned, the IAEA will determine how to integrate these lessons into the support and capacity-building assistance it provides to States. Implementation of COMPASS is guided by the workplans developed for each of the pilot States. Designed to address a State’s specific needs, COMPASS has the advantage of providing flexible support ranging from engagement with national stakeholders through events and meetings, to customized training and expert support to help address specific SSAC-related issues. A tailored set of activities is considered for the State and conducted collaboratively by the IAEA, the State and other partners in accordance with the timeline agreed among stakeholders. At present, 15 Member State partners are supporting COMPASS implementation. Experts from these Member States share their experience and expertise to assist, for example, with drafting SSAC procedures and guidelines and developing national training programmes designed to maintain a competent workforce capable of implementing safeguards within the country. This has resulted in a greater peer-to-peer network and an international cooperative network of safeguards experts. The IAEA has coordinated these efforts through the assessment of safeguards needs of recipient States (carried out as a part of COMPASS) and subsequently matching those needs with the support made available by partner Member States. This paper discusses the development of this community of safeguards experts through the coordinated efforts to implement COMPASS. A special focus is placed on how these partnerships contribute to COMPASS and help to improve the implementation of safeguards. The paper also describes achievements during COMPASS’s first year and presents some of the lessons learned from the initiative’s pilot phase.