Division 2 Heading 2: Information Management

Project 1: Assessing Nuclear Security Needs, Priorities and Threats (INSSP missions)

Background

The IAEA assists individual States that so request to identify and address nuclear security needs through the development and implementation of INSSPs and the development of self-assessment tools. The responsibility for nuclear security within a State rests entirely with the State, which has to ensure the security of nuclear material, other radioactive material, associated facilities, and associated activities under its jurisdiction. The IAEA supports States’ efforts to establish effective and sustainable nuclear security regimes, and the INSSP is an effective mechanism in this regard. The INSSP is a non-legally binding document, however its approval or endorsement by the State is considered to be indicative of a commitment to pursue the implementation of agreed nuclear security improvements contained therein. The INSSP is designed to help strategic planning of nuclear security activities in a State and to ensure a State’s ownership of the improvements required to strengthen its nuclear security regime. It provides an assessment of the State’s nuclear security needs and captures activities being undertaken, or planned to be undertaken, by a State and in cooperation, where appropriate, with the IAEA or other international partners.

The INSSP is organised in a general framework of nuclear security areas and objectives that provide a systematic approach for the State to identify its nuclear security needs. The intent is to provide a State with general nuclear security elements of a strategic nature to help in guiding decision makers and strategic planning objectives with a long-term view to establishing self-sustaining nuclear security regimes. The INSSP is structured around six functional areas: (1) Legislative and Regulatory Framework; (2) Threat and Risk Assessment; (3) Physical Protection Regime; (4) Detection of criminal and other unauthorised acts involving material out of regulatory control; (5) Response to nuclear security events; and (6) Sustaining a State’s nuclear security regime. In addition to INSSP missions, the IAEA also organises Technical Meetings of the INSSP Points of Contact.

The INSSP process is supported by Nuclear Security Information Management System (NUSIMS), a voluntary system designed to assist Member States in reviewing the status of their nuclear security infrastructure through Self-Assessment, as well as in tracking their progress towards establishing, maintaining and sustaining an effective nuclear security regime. The information structure of NUSIMS reflects core operational Nuclear Security Areas (NSAs) and is based on the Nuclear Security Fundamentals and Recommendations publications issued within the IAEA Nuclear Security Series.

Objectives

Identify and consolidate the nuclear security needs of individual States into an integrated document that includes the necessary nuclear security improvements, as well as to provide a customised framework for coordinating and implementing nuclear security activities conducted by the State, the IAEA and potential donors.

Maintain a comprehensive information platform providing a good understanding of nuclear security needs of States globally and supporting the implementation of the Nuclear Security Plan.

Deliverables

1. 1..

   Development and implementation of INSSPs.

2. 2..

   Review and re-alignment with INSSP structure of voluntary self-assessment mechanism or tool for States’ use (NUSIMS).

3. 3..

   Technical Meetings of INSSP Points of Contact.

4. 4..

   Finalisation of the INSSP User Manual.

Outcome

Assessment of requesting States’ nuclear security needs, and provision of support by establishing strategic planning of recommended nuclear security activities to ensure establishment, maintenance and sustainability of an effective nuclear security regime to help States with adherence to A/CPPNM obligations.