1. Mr.CHADRAABAL Mavag RCA Chair and National Representative of Mongolia
Overview of RCA II
Introductory Workshop for the New RCA Government Parties on RCA Programme and its Policy
Nadi, Fiji, November 2016
Mr.CHADRAABAL Mavag
RCA Chair and National Representative of Mongolia

2. About RCA
The Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) is an intergovernmental agreement for the East Asia & Pacific region, under the auspices of the IAEA, in which the Government Parties undertake, in cooperation with each other and with the IAEA to promote and coordinate cooperative research, development (R&D) and training projects in nuclear science and technology through their appropriate national institutions.
Since the establishment of RCA in 1972, RCA has expanded its membership from 10 to 22 Government Parties to promote collaborative activities in nuclear science and technology through a number of RCA projects. RCA projects have contributed significantly in a number of priority areas vital to regional socio-economic development, such as agriculture, health care, industry and environmental protection.

3. Guidelines and Operating Rules
The Guidelines and Operating Rules (GOR) contains basic information on the RCA Programme such as
1) Procedures for development Approval, Implementation, Review and Reporting of RCA Cooperative Projects
2) Roles and Responsibilities of the Project Coordinators
3) Roles and Responsibilities of policy related RCA stakeholders
4) Policy Level Meetings of the National RCA Representatives
5) The Role of the IAEA and RCA
6) The RCA Anneal Report

4. COORDINATED RESEARCH PROGRAMME
RCA Programme
The objective of the programme in the framework of the RCA is the promotion and coordination of cooperative research, development and training projects in nuclear science and technology, covering subjects in the fields of isotope and radiation applications in agriculture, human health, industry, hydrology, and terrestrial and marine environments.
COOPERATIVE PROJECTS
COORDINATED RESEARCH PROGRAMME

5. COOPERATIVE PROJECTS
Cooperative Projects are designed to meet the needs for development and practical applications of nuclear science and technology for peaceful purposes.
Cooperative Projects enable the RCA Government Parties to acquire well-established nuclear technologies to address socio-economic development problems. The projects should provide socio-economic benefits to the RCA Government Parties.
The technical inputs shall be in the form of:
Regional and national training courses;
Meetings for reviewing the progress of the projects and planning future activities;
Services of experts and consultants; and
Award of contracts for specific tasks.

6. COORDINATED RESEARCH PROJECT
Networks of national research institutions which work within an operational framework for research with a similar and well defined regional theme or problem focus that is relevant to, or can be resolved through, nuclear science and technology.

7. RCA Programme Advisory Committee
An RCA Programme Advisory Committee (RCAPAC) has been established to provide advice to the NRs on matters related to
Planning;
Management and
Direction.
The mechanism for appointment of members of the RCAPAC, the qualifications required of the RCAPAC members, and the functions, meetings and reporting mechanisms for the RCAPAC are set in the RCAPAC Terms of Reference and Operating Procedures.

8. Project Development
All Cooperative Projects shall be in areas identified by the NRs as the priority areas for the region at a Regional Meeting of the NRs (NRM), taking into consideration the RCA Strategic Priorities.
The Individual NRs may seek advice from their respective National Project Coordinators, and the NRs may collectively seek advice from RCAPAC in identifying these priority areas.
The number of projects will be decided by the NRM using the RCA Medium Term Strategy (MTS) as a guideline and taking into consideration the projects that will continue from the previous cycle.

9. Project coordinators and team
LCC – Lead Country Project-appointed by NRs
NPC - National Project Coordinator- appointed by a NR of respective country
NPT - National Project Team - appointed by NPC
NRs
RCAPAC NR
LCC
NPC
NPT

10. GPs AND POLICY RELATED RCA STAKEHOLDERS
RCA Government Parties have the following obligations under the RCA:
Make available to the RCA Programme, and in particular to each joint project in which it participates, such physical infrastructure and personnel as it may have initially proposed and as is necessary to achieve the stated objectives;
Take the necessary measures to ensure that personnel from other RCA Government Parties are able to participate effectively in the activities carried out on its territory, and also to ensure that its own nationals are able to take part in activities that are to be carried out in other RCA Government Parties;
Contribute financially or otherwise to the effective implementation of the RCA Programme and the various Cooperative Projects, in particular those in which it participates and notify the Agency annually of any such contribution;

11. GPs AND POLICY RELATED RCA STAKEHOLDERS /continued../
Submit to the Agency, in accordance with an agreed format, an annual report on all aspects of the activities it has carried out in the framework of the RCA Programme, particularly the technical and financial contributions;
Decide upon the internal organisation that will best enable it to execute its part of the Cooperative Projects and, to this end, it shall designate:
A NR, who shall act on behalf of his/her Government on all issues relating to RCA activities;
National RCA Support Staff who shall assist the NR in the implementation of the RCA Programme;
A NPC and Alternate NPC for each Cooperative Project in which it participates and who will act as the representatives of the RCA Government Party in the corresponding Cooperative Project committee; and
Take the measures it deems necessary to ensure the participation of representatives of interested national institutions and other relevant sectors in the RCA Cooperative Projects.

12. National RCA Representatives
Attend all meetings of NRs, convey the view of their government and take part in decision making process
Provide strategic guidance to the RCA Programme
Submit Cooperation project proposals, ensuring that other on-going and planned projects are taken into consideration in proposing new RCA projects
Notify the Agency of his/her Governments decision to participate in a cooperation projects
Can volunteer to undertake the role of Lead Country or Assistant Lead Country if appropriate
Arrange for relevant NPCs and NPT members to provide them with on-going information concerning the national status of projects
Appoint NTSCs and provide advice and support
Report on the progress of projects that his/her country is Lead Country and report on substantive issues brought by the LCCs at the NRM

13. National RCA Representatives
Ensure timely submission to the Agency of his/her country’s annual report
Ensure that all measures necessary for the successful implementation of RCA Activities in coordination with NPC
Secure the necessary financial support for RCA activities in coordination with other NRs, national authorities, Agency.
Ensure the availability of the necessary resources, scientific and technical facilities for the implementation of cooperation projects.
Appoint suitably qualified person as NPCs
Ensure timely submission of progress report by the NPCs

14. National RCA Representatives
Consult NPCs prior to the NRMs and GCM on matters relevant to the implementation of the RCA program in his/her country and inform back to NPC of decisions taken during NRM/GCM;
Nominate suitably qualified persons for participation in RCA events and activities in consultation with the respective NPCs;
Provide information needed by the RCARO, to assist in the task of improving the viability and visibility of the RCA Programme, and
Ensure that the decisions made at the meetings of the NRs are implemented and decisions relevant to the operational procedures of the RCA are included in an on-going revision of the GOR.

15. RCA Chairperson Appointment
 The designated nominee of the RCA Government Party hosting the NRM shall be the Chair of the RCA, from the first day of that NRM up to the first day of the following NRM.
 Qualifications
 The RCA Chair should preferably be a senior official, fluent in English and experienced in chairing multi-national meetings.
Roles and Responsibilities
 Chair the NRM and GCM;
Function as a Member of the RCARO Advisory Committee;
On behalf of the RCA Government Parties, submit project proposals approved by the NRs to the funding Agencies for their consideration;
Maintain close contact with RCA FP, Director of the RCARO and seek guidance from NRs on policy matters;
Seek guidance from the NRs on policy matters that arise in between NRMs and GCMs in order to take decisions in a timely manner and seek guidance of the past and future Chairs when the consensus is not clear; and
Undertake designated duties in representing the RCA Government Parties.

16. Committee of RCA Chairs
Appointment
The current RCA Chair, the immediate past RCA Chair and the immediate next RCA Chair shall form the Committee of RCA Chairs.
Roles and Responsibilities
On behalf of the NRs, provide advice and assistance to the RCA Chair on matters relating to the day-to-day administration of the RCA Programme;
Provide assistance and guidance to the RCA Chair in performing additional tasks such as mediation, facilitating actions and meeting deadlines; and
Meet on the day prior to the NRM and GCM to assist and guide the RCA Chair on modalities of conducting the Meetings.

17. RCA Regional Office
RCA Regional Office (RCARO) was established in Daejeon, Republic of Korea in 2002 to contribute to increasing RCA Visibility and RCA Viability through the specific roles and responsibilities as below;
Pro-actively seek out opportunities for the RCA to participate in projects being funded by major regional and international donors, including international agencies;
Negotiate and secure funding for RCA projects;
Promote the peaceful uses of nuclear technology to assist in addressing regional and national needs;
Provide enhanced visibility for the RCA at regional and national forums;
Implement the directives of the RCA Member States as agreed upon at the Meetings of National RCA Representatives;
Provide Member States with reference to the RCA archived records on the projects, meeting proceedings, guidelines and procedures for undertaking the RCA activities as a repository of knowledge on the RCA programme

18. Standing Advisory Committee of the RCARO
Composition of the Standing Advisory Committee (SAC) of the RCARO :
Immediate past RCA Chair;
Current RCA Chair ;
Immediate next RCA Chair;
NR of the Republic of Korea as host Country of the RCARO and
RCA Focal Person.
RCARO serves as the SAC secretariat, in accordance with the GOR for the RCA programme

19. Function of RCARO SAC Give advice on:
Day-to-day operational matters of the RCARO including additional legal provisions;
The activities of the RCARO in fulfilling its mandate given by the RCA Government Parties including the RCARO initiated projects;
The RCARO related documents such as guidelines and protocols;
The RCARO Work Plan;
The RCARO Annual Report;
Constitute and operate the Selection Committee for the DIR-RCARO;
Make recommendations:
Regarding the appointment of the most suitable candidate for the DIR-RCARO to the NRM or GCM;
To the host Government and to the Agency with regard to the operation of the RCARO;
On behalf of the NRs, evaluate the performance of the DIR-RCARO annually according to the procedure outlined in Annex 5 in the GOR and report the result of the evaluation to the NRM for its consideration.

20. Overview of General Structure
IAEA/TCD
NRM/GCM
Committee of Chairs
RCARO SAC
RCARO
PAC RCA
WGs
NRs
NPC
NPT
GPs
LCCs
Focal person

21. MEETINGS OF NATIONAL RCA REPRESENTATIVES
Meetings of the NRs shall have the authorities as specified in RCA Article II. The NRs shall hold at least two meetings a year:
The NRM shall be held, usually in March/April, at venues in the region, as agreed upon by the NRs;
The GCM shall be held during the week of the Agency General Conference, or during the week prior to the General Conference, usually in September at the Agency Headquarters in Vienna.

22. Regional NRM As stipulated in the GOR the Regional NRM shall:
Approve the RCA Annual Report
Consider policy issues, overall management and planning, including development and coordination of funding strategies
Consider the reports of the NRs of Lead Countries on the progress in each project and make recommendations for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the programme.
Decide on the future priorities of the RCA Programme.
Consider the financial reports
Address any other matters relevant to the implementation of the RCA Program.

23. Regional NRM
The RCA Secretariat shall circulate and place on the member’s only RCA web-page, the following documents at least one month prior to the NRM:
The proposed Agenda of the NRM;
The RCA Annual Report of the preceding year;
The report on the progress and activities of the RCA Regional Office submitted to the RCA FP by RCARO;
A report on the financial status of the programme, and a summary of the activities for the previous year;
Documents related to policy matters to be discussed at the NRM and;
Any other relevant documents.

24. General Conference Meeting
At the GCM the NRs shall:
Take decisions on the issues outstanding from the NRM or referred to by the NRM;
Consider any other matter related to the implementation of the RCA Programme
The RCA Secretariat shall circulate on the Member’s only web-page the following documents at least one month prior to the GCM:
The proposed Agenda of the GCM;
Background documents related to the Agenda items

25. Role and Responsibilities of the Agency /IAEA/
The Agency is not a party to the RCA and the Director General of the Agency is the depository of the Instruments of acceptance of the RCA by MSs.
The Agency shall perform secretariat duties under this Agreement
Endeavour to support, subject to available resources, RCA Cooperative Projects by means of technical assistance and its other programmes, where any such assistance shall be provided, mutatis mutandis, in accordance with the principles, rules and procedures governing the provision of technical assistance by the Agency.
Take initiatives, with the prior approval of RCA Government Parties, to invite any MS of the Agency other that the Participating Governments, or appropriate international organizations, to contribute financially or otherwise to, or participate in, a cooperative project, the Agency shall inform the RCA Government Parties of any such contributions or participations.
Administer the contributions made to the RCA Programme in accordance with its financial regulations and other appropriate rules where applicable, and keep separate records and accounts for each such contribution.

26. Role and Responsibilities of the Agency /IAEA/
With respect to RCA Cooperative Projects
Participate in the establishments of annual schedule of work and modalities for the implementation of the Cooperative Projects.
Allocate funds for the implementation of the Cooperative Projects
Assist RCA Government Parties in the exchange of information and in compiling publishing and distributing reports on the Cooperative Projects as appropriate
Consider the annual reports submitted by RCA Government Parties on the implementation of Cooperative Projects,
Provide technical and administrative support for the meetings of the Cooperative Project committees
Provide for each Cooperative a Programme Management Officer and a Technical Officer

27. Role and Responsibilities of the Agency /IAEA/
Prepare annually an overall report on the activities carried out under the RCA, on the basis of the annual reports submitted by the Project Technical Officer and the RCA Government Parties and in consultation with them, with particular reference to the implementation of the established Cooperative Projects, and submit it to the NRM, and
Appoint, in accordance with its staff rules and regulations, a staff member to be the RCA FP.

28. Thank you for your attention