WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
FINAL REPORT OF THE SECOND MEETING
OF
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WORKING GROUP ON CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
(Participants not in picture – ECWG-CD members I.Cacic , P.Talaas, S. Mohalfi,D. Cano Villaverde )
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
21-23JANUARY 2013
- OPENING OF THE MEETING
1.1The second meeting of Executive Council Working Group on Capacity Development (EC-WG/CD) was held from 21 to 23January2013. The meeting was attended by EC-WG/CD Members and technical experts from the Informal Planning Meeting (IPM). The meeting was co-chaired by Dr Antonio Divino Moura and Mr Tyrone Sutherland. The list of participants is given in Annex 1.
1.2The first half day of the meeting was opened jointly with the second session of Executive Council Working Group on WMO Strategic and Operational Planning (EC-WG/SOP)chaired by Mr David Grimes, President of WMO. Brief opening remarks were provided by Mr Michel Jarraud, Secretary General of WMO.
- ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
2.1The meeting adopted agenda as given in Annex 2.
- REVIEW – EC-WG/CDTERMS OF REFERENCE
3.1The Working Group reviewed its Terms of Reference (EC-64, Resolution 21). A number of minor changes to the Terms of Reference were proposed for consideration by the Executive Council.
- REVIEW –WMO STRATEGY FOR CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
- The Secretariat presentedan update on the WMO Capacity Development Strategy to the combined session of EC Working Groups on Capacity Development and Strategic and WMO Operating Planning. Key components of the Strategy for Capacity Development were highlighted, including four areas of competencies in capacity development, capacity development strategy processes for National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, and the Strategic Objectives and Approaches. Progress on the Capacity Development Strategy Implementation Plan was also presented. The joint meeting noted the approval of the CDS at EC-64 and had the following recommendations:
Capacity development should emphasize sustainable improvements to NMHS capabilities;
WMO technical standards and requirements should be updated and clarified to facilitate a ‘culture of compliance’, a key element of NMHS sustainable capacity development and a fundamental role for the WMO. They also need to be reflected in national legislation/regulations to ensure national support;
- Current measurable information on the NMHS is essential to designing an appropriate strategy. Obtaining this information should be a priority, for the obtained information can be used to establish baselines on the current ability of NMHSs to meet national and WMO requirements;
Baseline information should be used to establish priorities and guide investments in capacity development, including training, institutional, procedural and infrastructure;
Measuring changes against these baselines should improve WMO’s ability to monitor and evaluate progress;
National government investments were recognized as essential to sustained NMHS development, therefore Secretariat staff should put more emphasis on targeted outreach to national governments in support of NMHSs;
WMO support to NMHSs should be made more visible to governments, for example, recognition could be given by WMO to NMHSs that make significant progress in terms service quality and compliance to WMO standards;
Capacity development of NMHSs should include support to Region Centres, especially Regional Climate Centres in support of GFCS;
The CDS should maintain a strong emphasis on sustainability, alignment with WMO priorities and coordination with partners.
4.2The ECWG-CD continued the discussion after the jointly held meeting and made the following additional suggestions:
- There should be more information on what is available for Members from WMO, greater use of the WMO Web pages could help, with special information on what is happening at the regional level;
- Consideration should be given on how to better link the Regional Association initiatives into the CDS.
- Capacity Development Strategy Implementation Plan
CDS and WMO priorities
5.1The Working Group was briefed on the relationship of the Capacity Development Strategy to the WMO Strategic and Operating Plans (SOP) for 2012-2015 and WMO priority areas, in view of its cross-cutting nature that relates in many ways to most of Strategic Thrusts and Expected Results of the WMO SOP.
5.2The Secretariat gave briefings on capacity development aspects of the other WMOpriority areas:WMO Aeronautical Meteorology Programme (Aviation), WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) and WMO Information System (WIS) andDisaster Risk Reduction (DRR). The Working Group noted that the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) had been the subject of extensive briefings at the previous session of the Working Group and an implementation plan (including an annex on capacity building) had been recently approved at the Extraordinary World Meteorological Congress in 2012.
5.3The participants discussed how to incorporate these priority areas to support decision-making on the use of resources for capacity development. In this connection, breakout groups were created for 3 of the 4 priority areas. The breakout groups presented their work and participants agreed that the text that each group developed should serve as input for the CDSIP annex on WMO priorities. Given the Implementation Plan on GFCS already included an annex on capacity building, the participants agreed that the Secretariat should use language derived from the GFCS Implementation Plan for this section of the CDSIP.
Programme support for Capacity Development
5.4The Working Group reviewed the role of WMO Programmes in the implementation of the Capacity Development Strategy.
5.5The Group felt that listing the areas of support by Programme in an annex offered a useful summary reflection of the information contained in more detail in the CDSIP table. It requested that the Secretariat seek such summary information for all relevant WMO programmes for inclusion in the CDSIP.
Implementation Plan Table
5.6The Working Group reviewed the table part of the CDSIP and agreed that the table, while complex, was useful for understanding the various activities across the WMO programmes which support the WMO CDS. Such an aggregation of activities which support the CDS Strategic Objectives offers an holistic perspective of all that is being done and also helps expose areas that need greater attention.
5.7Regarding the format of the table, the participants noted the request of EC64 to include information about when the activity is planned, it’s cost, and who is responsible. In this connection, the Working Group agreed that the table should include activity/deliverables from the WMO operating plan, aggregated by WMO Programmes, showing regular budget support and responsible parties. Given the level of detail of the CDSIP, an executive summary highlighting key activities should also be included.
Global and Regional Centres in support of CD
5.8The Secretariat gave an overview of the function and types of the existing WMO designated Global and Regional Centres, including the Global Data Processing and Forecasting System, Regional Telecommunication Hubs, Global Information System Centres, Regional Instrument Centres, Regional Radiation Centres, and Regional Training Centres. The Group noted with satisfaction that these Global and Regional Centres play key role in capacity development. Activities of these Global and Regional Centres may be considered as excellent examples to show what WMO community does for capacity development.
5.9The Working Group noted the number (over 200) and diversity of the Global and Regional Centre and suggested that information about these Centres should be better shared with Members to gain visibility and increase their utility for Members. It was suggested that the preliminary listing of Centres, prepared as an Annex to the CDSIP, once complete, should be made accessible on the WMO Website.
5.10The Working Group further discussed ways to strengthen the role of Regional Centres as they can offer specific support to NMHSs, especially for WMO priority areas. The Group further discussed how these Centres are governedin partnership by Regional Associations, Technical Commissions, other EC bodies and the host Member/Organization. The Group underlined the role of Regional Associations, particularly in recommending, monitoring and oversight of the Regional Centers.
5.11The role and importance of Regional Instrument Centres were emphasized in consideration of variety of instruments they deal with. In this connection, it was noted that Regional Instrument Centres themselveswere required to become ISO certified, since they calibrate instruments for the NMHSs.
Resource Mobilization Strategy
5.12The Working Group was briefed the current activities within the Resource Mobilization Office. It was highlighted that under the Voluntary Cooperation Programme (VCP) during the period of 2008-2012, more than 100 projects were supported in 58 Member countries and 83 per cent of all the requests received were supported. The Group further noted that Regions I and II benefited most from VCP projects and VCP has been focusing on expert services, including short-term fellowships and training activities, surface observing, improvement of telecommunication systems, CDMS and climatological activities, and operational hydrological activities.
5.13Resource mobilization challenges and opportunities for 2012-2015 were also discussed. It was noted that there may be challenges due to current global economic and security situation and significant scrutiny on aid and its effectiveness. There was also a concern on project management within and across the WMO Secretariat and Project Risk Management. In this regard, the Working Group was pleased to learn of the creation of the Project Coordination Unit and the Project Management Board to strengthen WMO’s ability to manage projects.
5.14In discussing the potential to access large-scale funds such as the Adaptation Fund, GEF, etc, it noted that funding sources are development-oriented and also “country-driven” and require sign off by National Focal Points who are usually from ministries other than that of the NMHS. WMO assistance in this regard should include a focus on assisting the NMHSs to engage with the National Focal Points through information and advocacy missions.
5.15The Group discussed capacity development opportunities as well, i.e. strengthened Regional Offices for project delivery; focus on large scale and multi-annual regional projects; GFCS as a platform for funding support especially through the Adaptation Fund, Green Fund, GEF Climate Funds; and increased interaction with UNDAFs and UN Country Programmes.
Categorization of NMHSs
5.16The Secretariat presented to the joint session of the ECWG-SOP and ECWG-CD, the draft CDSIP Annex on the categorization of NMHS, noting the original application of categories in the preparation of the GFCS Implementation Plan, the proposed expansion to weather and water, and recalled comments received from EC-64 and others. It was then discussed more fully during the ECWG-CD
5.17The joint session agreed that such a categorization could have many benefits. In particular, the participants suggested that classification of NMHSs be further developed based on Members respective capabilities and service requirements as it could serve to show the need for investments to strengthen NMHSs. In this regard, flexible criteria should be established for each level of service to guide NMHSs in their self-assessment. The session agreed that the same NMHSs could be at different levels of service for weather, water and climate services respectively. Also the criteria for the level of service should include the required competencies of staff and take into consideration situations where NMSs and NMHs are separate entities in a country.
5.18After further discussion, the Working Group recognized that a number of issues need to be addressed prior to proceeding with such a categorization. The Group decided to establish a task team to address these issues and chart a way forward over the next months with a view to implementation by the beginning of 2016. As a start, the Working Group requested the Secretariat to elaborate the purpose and uses of this categorization as part of the proposed CDSIP annex, and prepare terms of reference.
The Capacity Development Process, Dimensions and Quality Management Approach
5.19The Secretariat presented the draft Annex on the Capacity Development Process. The Working Group confirmed its agreement with the 8-step process and provided comments for further revision of this Annex.
5.20In particular, the Group noted that the process, while valid, was not always linear in its implementation. It also suggested that the graphic showing the process be improved to show progress as the current representation could be misunderstood as a process that repeats itself without sustainable development having been achieved.
Definitions
5.21In the interest of time, the Working Group participants agreed to independently review the Annex on definitions and propose amendments to the Secretariat.
Case Studies
5.22The Secretariat gave an overview of the approach taken in developing case studies using the 8 steps of the process to guide the analysis. The Haiti case study was reviewed in more detail and an update on assistance to Haiti was provided and discussed.
5.23The Working Group supported the development of the case studies, noting the importance of demonstrating the applicability of the CDS process to the situations of particular NMHSs. The Group observed that in most cases, the process was used by a country to address a particular priority area (eg, food security, disaster risk reduction, health, etc.) as an overarching societal concern. This single-focus approach often results from seeking to build political interest or to match the interests of donors. While this “single focus” can be helpful in showing the importance of NHMS development to a particular issue, it can result in an unbalanced approach. However, the Group noted that if the earlier steps properly identified the gaps, at some level many of the development measures can be designed to improve services in other areas as well (e.g., improved basic observations will improve services in many sectors).
5.24The Working Group further noted that most of the case studies were in Africa. It suggested that the book ‘Climate Exchange’, published by Tudor at the time of the Extraordinary World Meteorological Congress 2012 with focus on the GFCS could be a source of studies to which the 8-step process could be applied and illustrated. The Working Group also felt the existing Case Study Annexes to the CDSIP should not be limited and suggested thatMembers be encouraged to offer additional case studies on an on-going basis from other WMO Regions, which include illustrations from developed as well as developing countries, and which include successes as well as practices that were not so successful.
- PRELIMINARY ACTIVITIES TOWARDS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CDS
Country Profile Database Pre-operational Phase
6.1The meeting was informed of the pre-operational phase of the Country Profile Database (CPDB). It was demonstrated that the pre-operational CPDB portal displays information from multiple WMO data bases by country while respecting the principle that there should be only one original source of the data. The Working Group noted with satisfaction that information comes from material that was already available to the public, but was aggregated it into single access point with a more user friendly interface. It also appreciated that the design of the proposed loginand verification process afforded the kind of tools and security needed to facilitate a Member’s management of the information contained in the CPDB about their country.
6.2The Working Group expressed the view that the CPDBholds the potential to improve the WMO’s ability show the capabilities and gaps of NMHSs, as well as to better monitor the progress of NMHS development and the WMO Strategic and Operating Plan. It requested that these aspects be developed to allow their implementation during the next financial period.
6.3The Working Group requested the Secretariat to move to an operational CPDB as soon as possible, while taking appropriate steps to ensure its utility, security and sustainability. In this regard, and recognizing the important role that the Members were expected to have, the Group agreed that a Task Team should be created to work with the Secretariat to move to an operational capability. The Secretariat was asked to prepare Terms of References and proposed working mechanisms.
6.4The Group also requested that Members be given the opportunity to update the information in the CPDB portal prior to its becoming operational. The Secretariat agreed to provide information to Members on the mechanism and web-based process for updating the CPDB once it completed successful evaluation and testing. Participants expressed the view that security, while important, should not prevent designated national focal points from being able to ensure the data shared is correct and up to date.
Role, Operations and Management of NMSs On-line Guide
6.5The Working Group was briefed on the development of the on-line guide on the Role, Operation and Management of National Meteorological Services (ROM eguide). The on-line guide is intended to provide a one-stop, consistent and up-to-date reference resource to assist managers of an NMHS, the contents of which is based on the WMO/TD-No.947 ‘National Meteorological and Hydrometeorological Services for Sustainable Development - Guidelines for Management (1999)’ with updates and other relevant materials.