The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) held its first Executive Leadership Workshop from 10 to 12 March 2026 in Paris, France, bringing together senior decisionmakers involved in nuclear energy development across Africa. Organised with the support of Permanent Delegation of Korea to the OECD, the event convened 16 participants from 5 countries and 2 African organisations.
“Governments across Africa are facing the challenge that many NEA member countries have addressed over recent decades: meeting rising electricity demand while delivering reliable, affordable and low‑carbon energy,” said Director-General William D. Magwood, IV in his welcome remarks. “The NEA Executive Leadership Workshop reflects the NEA’s commitment to working with partners in Africa to build the leadership and institutional capacity needed for long‑term success.”
Welcome remarks by Yunjeong Chang, Minister, Permanent Delegation of Korea to the OECD, and William D. Magwood, IV, NEA Director-General
The workshop builds on the Agency’s growing engagement with African stakeholders through the NEA Common Journey Initiative fostering capacity‑building activities, policy dialogue and partnerships designed to strengthen nuclear governance across the continent. This was further reinforced on 13 February 2026, when a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the NEA, the African Union (AU) and the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) on the margins of the 39th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Over three days, the NEA Executive Leadership Workshop aimed to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of nuclear energy policies, regulatory frameworks and financing models, while facilitating dialogue on nuclear energy’s contribution to energy security and long‑term development strategies. The programme featured expert‑led sessions covering a broad range of policy, regulatory and technical topics, including the current landscape for small modular reactors (SMRs), risk‑informed public engagement and trust‑building, workforce development for the nuclear sector, and legal frameworks for nuclear programmes. Participants also examined principles of nuclear reactor design and operation, advancing nuclear safety through regional collaboration, radioactive waste management, as well as economic and financing considerations for nuclear projects.
Participants engaged in a three-day programme featuring presentations and discussions on various aspects related to nuclear energy development
As part of the programme, participants took part in a site visit to the EDF Lab Paris-Saclay, offering practical insight into research, innovation and operational aspects of nuclear energy development. During the visit, EDF representatives provided an overview of innovation efforts at the organisation, particularly with respect to nuclear programmes. A showroom tour explained different energy sources and systems that are part of the EDF network as well as the Connex Lab. Participants also learned about the use of virtual reality, digital twins and other digital tools used by EDF research and development teams to ensure the safety of their nuclear facilities.
Visit to the EDF Lab Paris-Saclay
Through initiatives such as the Executive Leadership Workshop, the NEA continues to support African partners in strengthening leadership capacity, governance frameworks and technical understanding, contributing to informed and strategic decision making on the future role of nuclear energy in Africa.
