The Asia Region ALARA Network (ARAN) was initiated by the IAEA in Daejeon, Republic of Korea in December 2007, to support the development of a sustainable regional network, which facilitates information, findings and data exchange and practical and cost effective implementation of the principle of optimization of radiation protection in participating countries. In July 2014, it entered into a transition period. During the time period of 2014-2021, the ARAN was not working except for in 2017 with an IAEA regional workshop. In consideration of its significance, the IAEA helped with the reactivation process of ARAN together with the China Institute for Radiation Protection (CIRP). The CIRP proposal for ARAN reactivation included the following: 

• CIRP was re-organized by the IAEA to be the acting secretariat of ARAN and was commissioned to help the reactivation process of ARAN. 
• The draft Terms and Conditions were introduced and agreed to be submitted for the first ARAN Management Board meeting with the proposal to have two Vice-Chairs due to the large coverage of the ARAN. 

The first management board meeting since its hiatus was held on 10th November 2021 virtually, where the steering committee was voted on and the Terms and Conditions were approved. 

Objectives

To maintain, enhance and develop competence and skills in radiation protection, with special emphasis on the implementation of the ALARA principle for occupational exposures in routine operations, contribute to the harmonization​ of objectives, standards and practices, particularly concerning ALARA, within participating countries and contribute to the effective use, exchange and integration of skills and expertise across Member States.

After reactivation, following activities will be carried out by ARAN:
▪ Once a year, the ARAN aims to co-organize a Workshop with the IAEA under the regional projects of occupational radiation protection.
▪ The ARAN aims to produce regular issues of the ARAN ALARA Newsletter at least once a year
▪ An ARAN website will be maintained by CIRP with the support of the IAEA, to enable a broad public access to the ARAN information and publications such as the Newsletters, material and recommendations from the Workshops.​

Establishment of the following Working Groups covering different areas of Radiation Protection:

• Working Group 1) Dose Assessment - Chadia Rizk
  
• Working Group 2) Medical Applications - Sun Quanfu 
  
• Working Group 3) Industrial Sources and Practices - Kiwon Jang
• Working Group 4) Natural Radiation Sources - Stephen Marks
• Working Group 5) Emergency Preparedness and Response - Prasad Mahakumara
• Working Group 6) Education and Training - Ahmad Hamdan
  

​Mohammad Hassan Kharita was appointed the editor of ARAN Newsletter. 

Management

ARAN is coordinated by an Executive Commiteee, called the Steering Committee, comprising the network chairpersons, the two vice chairpersons, the former chairperson, as well as an IAEA representative. The IAEA and Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) estabished this network comprised of representatives from 21 countries: Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Iraq, The Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, T.T.U.T.J of T. Palestininian A., Thailand, and Qatar. 

The steering commitee is now: 

Products

Workshops

Once a year; a few tens of participants; an exchange of experiences leading to sets of recommendations.

▪ Once a year, the ARAN aims to co-organize a Workshop with the IAEA under the regional project of radiological protection.
▪ The ARAN aims to produce regular issues of the ARAN ALARA Newsletter at least once a year
▪ An ARAN website will be developed and maintained with the support of the IAEA, to enable a broad public access to the ARAN information and publications such as the Newsletters, material and recommendations from the Workshops.​

Website

ARAN Website