Dr. Alumanda M. dela Rosa, PNRI Director, has accepted the invitation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Mohamed El Baradei to participate in the IAEA Standing Advisory Group on Technical Assistance and Cooperation (SAGTAC) as Chair for the period until 2008. Dr. dela Rosa is the first woman to lead the committee as well as the first to come from a developing country.
In her letter congratulating Dr. dela Rosa, the Honorable Ma. Lourdes Ramiro-Lopez, Assistant Secretary, United Nations and Other International Organizations Office, Department of Foreign Affairs said that the appointment "is a recognition of your personal competence and our country's contribution to enhancing technical cooperation among the Member States and the Agency.
Composed of up to 20 members, the purpose of SAGTAC is to advise the IAEA Director General on the Agency's technical cooperation activities in terms of their relevance and impact. The members of SAGTAC are recognized senior experts in the peaceful uses of atomic energy and/or in funding, policy making and management strategies for technical cooperation, and are drawn from Member States.
In particular, SAGTAC provides advice on policy and strategy relating to technical cooperation programmes and activities including advice regarding methods and means of strengthening cooperation with and between Member States and engaging external stakeholders. It also makes recommendations for increasing the effectiveness, improving the efficiency and demonstrating the impact of Agency technical cooperation activities while maintaining responsiveness to Member Sates' needs.
