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Status and Challenges for 2010

Reorganized Development and Regional Activities

Department (DRA)

Rob MastersDirector, DRA

World Meteorological Organization

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STAKEHOLDER SURVEY* CALLED FOR:

1. Strengthened Regional Offices

2. Faster assistance by WMO - especially relating to disaster response and recovery

3. Need for advocacy, especially with sister agencies, funding agencies, and national leaders.

4. Need for additional resource mobilisation

*Stakeholder survey (2006): EC, donors, partners, staff

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REORGANIZATION 2007-2008• Strengthened Regional Offices to support technical

projects and resource mobilization efforts

• WMO Training Office integrated into new DRA

• Creation of Resource Mobilization Office in DRA

• Creation of LDC Office Country Profile Database to as a means to tracking the needs and status of the Members

• Short response times to hydromet emergencies emphasized

• Projects were designed to demonstrate socio-economic benefits of support for NMHSs at national level

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Resource Mobilization Office

Education and Training Office

WMO Regional Office for Asia &

SW Pacific

WMO Office for West Asia

WMO Office for

SW Pacific

WMO Regional Office for

Africa

WMO Office for NCWA

WMO Office for

ESA

WMO Regional Office for Americas

WMO Office for S

America

WMO Office for

NCAC

Development and Regional Activities

Department (DRA)

(Sept 2009)

WMO Regional Office for Europe

Brazil ProjectO

ffice

MexicoProject Office

Office for the LDCs and Regional Coordination

Rob Masters

Jeff WilsonMary PowerKaliba Konare

Alioune NdiayeToki Toya Miguel Rabiolo Dimitar Ivanov

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WMO REGIONAL OFFICES

GenevaGeneva

NigeriaNigeria

SamoaSamoa

BahrainBahrain

Costa RicaCosta Rica

ParaguayParaguay

EUEU

UN HQUN HQ

KenyaKenya

WMO DRA Staff (in Geneva)

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DRA FOCUS1. Support for Regional & National

development/modernisation projects

• Advocacy on valuable role of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in national the economy

• Technical Support/Project Management

• Resource mobilisation

• Advisory

2. Demonstrate value of NMHS PRODUCTS AND SERVICES to achieving the MDGs:• Food security (Agricultural Met.)

• Disaster Risk Reductions (severe weather and climate events, drought and flood prediction and management)

• Climate variability and climate change

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DRA Focus (cont)

3. Education and Training Programme

• Long Term (Degree level) • Short Terms Fellowships and training workshops• Regional Training Centers

4. Strategic partnerships with• Development agencies (EU, WB, UNDP, ISDR,

FAO, WFP, DIFD, JICA, KOICA,, USAID …) and • Other organisations (AU, SADC, NATO, IOC,

ICSU, WB, other regional economic groupings, etc…)

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Status of NHMSs have deteriorated in many regions Importance of NMHS should grow due to increasing society exposure to hazards

and growing climate risks but ability to deliver needed services is deteriorating

Reasons for degradation – considerable underfunding of NHMS in the process of social and economic reforms, and military conflicts.

Massive underfunding of NHMS has led to: Deterioration of observation networks and reduction in observation programs Depreciation of equipment and outdated technology Lack of modern monitoring equipment and forecasting methods Insufficient scientific and research support Lack of trained specialists

Consequences – considerable increase of “excessive” economic losses

Example: Share of unpredicted hazardous phenomena in Russia increased from 6% at the beginning of 1990s to 23% at the beginning of 2000.

Evaluation of potential economic benefits of NMHS modernization is an important tool to convince the governments to invest in this public sector

Investments in improvement of NMHS service delivery are well justified from economic perspective

(Slide Courtesy of World Bank)

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COUNTRY PROFILE DATABASE• Develop a systematic way to follow the status of the

Members

• Contents of database could include:

- The status of meteorological and hydrological services, resources, manpower and infrastructure in the Member countries

- Development needs and plans

- Ongoing WMO and other development activities

- WMO questionnaire output, WMO mission reports

• Reduce duplication of WMO questionnaires

• Demonstration of the needs of the NMHS to donors

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CHALLENGES FOR 2010/2011Regions: New Format of RA meetings according to SP, Regional Strategic Plans, Building stronger advocacy

Resource Mobilization: Building fruitful partnerships, pipeline project preparation, project management

LDC and SIDS: Implementation of Country Profile Data Base, National Strategic Plan Development,

Education and Training: RTC Reviews, meeting demand for Fellowships, Aviation requirements, High-demand training

Also: Strengthen relationships with other UN offices, governments, and regional bodies

Follow-up of African Ministerial Conference and possible extension to other regions

Regional Project/Programs Development

Trust Fund Development and Management

Consideration of Regional Office role and structure

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Thank You !