Background
With the urgent need to combat climate change and transition to sustainable energy sources, governments worldwide are increasingly turning to nuclear power to reduce carbon emissions and drive economic decarbonization. The momentum towards nuclear expansion is evident, with more countries considering the construction of new plants or the expansion of existing ones. Innovations like Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), microreactors, and integrated technologies like AI are playing significant roles, emphasizing the importance of nuclear security.
In this nuclear resurgence and to meet the needs of existing facilities young professionals are indispensable. They are positioned to innovate, influence policy, and assume leadership roles in the evolving nuclear sector. Their involvement is crucial for ensuring nuclear security, which is fundamental to maintaining public trust in nuclear energy. In addition to an aging workforce retiring, integrating new talent becomes essential. Recognizing the significance of young professionals, it is imperative to engage and empower them, particularly in nuclear security. This entails providing opportunities for training, mentorship, and career development. Additionally, creating an inclusive nuclear industry that embraces diversity and prepares for the future workforce is essential.
In 2021, the World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS), in collaboration with the US Department of Energy (DOE), launched a comprehensive analysis of the challenges facing young professionals in nuclear security globally. This initiative aimed to identify barriers and opportunities for their involvement and lay the groundwork for targeted interventions.
Building on this solid foundation, WINS and DOE are eager to dive deeper into the particular situation of young professionals in sub-Saharan Africa. Recognizing the immense talent among the youth in the region and addressing issues such as knowledge transfer and overcoming structural barriers, our goal is to expand and sustain Africa's capacities in nuclear security. This effort marks a crucial step toward creating a safer and more inclusive nuclear future not only for Africa but also for the world at large.
Objectives
This exclusive roundtable, tailored to the African context, aimed to:
- Analyze challenges hindering the engagement of young professionals in nuclear security.
- Enhance visibility and accessibility of nuclear security careers among younger generations in the region.
- Promote available resources, opportunities, and career paths in the nuclear security field.
- Propose regional strategies to overcome barriers and leverage the diversity of Africa's youth.
- Assess the region's potential in fostering a diverse workforce for nuclear security.
- Share best practices to foster an inclusive nuclear sector that embraces young professionals from diverse backgrounds.
Audience
The main target audience of this event was primarily young nuclear security professionals from Africa from the following stakeholder groups:
- Operators
- Regulators
- Law enforcement
- Academia
- Government officials
- International and Non-Governmental organisations
- Nuclear Influencers
WINS promotes gender equality, diversity and inclusion in all its events. Women were highly encouraged to attend this roundtable and to contribute to the discussions.
The roundtable was limited to 20 participants.
Process
The roundtable was conducted and moderated in English by a facilitator. It was interactive and was built around several presentations from invited experts, as well as plenary and small group discussions that enabled participants to further explore the topic and share their experience and lessons learned.
