The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) serves as the world's foremost intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the peaceful use of nuclear technology.
Established as an autonomous organization under the United Nations (UN) in 1957, the IAEA represents the culmination of international efforts to make a reality of US President Eisenhower's proposal in his Atoms for Peace speech before the UN General Assembly in 1953. He envisioned the creation of an international body to control and develop the use of atomic energy. Today, the Agency's broad spectrum of services, programmes, and activities is based on the needs of its 132 Member States.
The IAEA maintains its headquarters at the Vienna International Centre in Vienna, Austria, along the famous Danube River.
At the end of 2000, the number of staff members in the Secretariat was 2,173 - 912 in the Professional and higher categories and 1,261 in the General Service category. These figures represent 1,629 regular, 284 temporary assistance and 172 extrabudgetary staff, as well as 59 cost-free experts and 20 consultants. Among the 670 staff members in posts subject to geographical distribution, 93 nationalities were represented.