On 24-28 February 2020, VCDNP Senior Research Associate Ingrid Kirsten and Research Associate Noah Mayhew participated in a Wilton Park conference "In support of Africa's Agenda 2063: pathways forward for expanding peaceful uses of nuclear energy and nuclear technology in Africa."
The conference, held in association with African Commission for Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) and the Government of Canada, brought together senior African policy and technical experts and their international partners to identify ways to strengthen and expand the contribution of peaceful uses of nuclear technology to Africa's development agenda. Ms. Kirsten, as a former South African diplomat, was instrumental in the organization of the conference.
The conference considered non-power applications, including for agriculture, food and water security, climate change mitigation and human health, as well as power applications. The conference also considered ways in which the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) could be leveraged to expand the peaceful uses of nuclear technologies for development in Africa.
The conference made a large number of recommendations for stakeholders at the national, regional and international levels that participants hope will contribute to a better and wider use of nuclear technology in Africa.
