Honorable Dr. Belete Mola has been elected as the chairperson of African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA) for one year starting from September 2024

Following this, for the next three years (2025-2027) two AFRA committees (Human Resource Development and Nuclear Knowledge Management Committee(HLSC) and AFRA Program Management and Partnership Committee (PMPC) have formed the first AFRA High-Level Steering Committee meeting.

In this meeting, the members mentioned principles that should be followed by increasing the performance of AFRA and widening its reach.

.. .. ዲ. ሪ. Minister of Innovation and Technology and AFRA Chairman Dr. Belete Mola

Working closely with the Vienna Based African Group -- VbAG) and have held a joint consultation on activities that will help the AFRA activities to make it more effective.

The aim of the meeting was to exchange ideas and set directions on steps to be taken to peacefully expand nuclear applications and further strengthen its contribution to the regional, social and economic development of Africa.

Dr. Belete Mola, the current AFRA chairperson, who stated that African countries should work in cooperation to benefit from peaceful nuclear applications, has explained that the group of ambassadors (VbAG) has made a significant contribution to the development of cooperation and support to Africa especially the African ambassadors based in Vienna.

The minister explained the work of AFRA and its future plans and said that they should stand in cooperation to make it more effective and that it is important to pay attention to the countries level to attract and convince different donors.

During the discussion, the current AFRA chairman Dr. Belete Mola has called on nuclear alumni countries to share their experience with African countries, to provide training, to continue with technical and financial support and to make the technological transition happen.

The ambassador of Burkina Faso, Hon. Maimounata Ouattara, the VbAG collector, on behalf of the group, stated that their team is working hard to support the AFRA movement closely and ensure Africa benefits through nuclear peaceful development.