EC-68 DOC 16.3 GOVERNANCE REVIEW RA II-16 INF. 5.1(1)

THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, Recalls: Cg-17 requested the EC to continue to introduce specific measures for improvement of WMO processes and practices and also to undertake a holistic review of the Organization, including its processes and working practices, in implementing the Strategic Plan 2016–2019; 2) Cg-17 requested the EC it to provide recommendations to the Eighteenth Congress on constituent body constructs, as appropriate, including possible new structures for TCs, RAs, EC, and also to provide recommendations on rules, procedures, processes, mechanisms, and duties, of constituent bodies, WMO Officers (President, Vice- Presidents, PRAs and PTCs) and the relationship between them and the WMO Secretariat to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Organization and good governance;

3) Resolution 1 (EC-67), the Council requested its Working Group on Strategic and Operational Planning to: (a) Undertake a holistic review of the Organization, and provide recommendations to the Executive Council on constituent body constructs, as appropriate, including possible new structures for the technical commissions, regional associations and the Executive Council together with rules, procedures, processes, working mechanisms and duties of constituent bodies, WMO officers presidents of regional associations and technical commissions, and on their relationship with the Secretariat to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Organization and good governance for further consideration by the Eighteenth Congress; (b) Review the practices and operation including the selection process of members of the Executive Council and propose relevant amendments to the WMO Convention and related General Regulations for submission to the Eighteenth Congress;

Having considered the recommendations of its Working Group on Strategic and Operational Planning related to governance review; Observes the need to take into consideration the provisions of the WMO Convention and existing agreements for partnerships involving WMO and other institutions; Agrees that the current Convention of the WMO provides a good framework for the current and future work of WMO and its constituent bodies, and no changes to the articles of the Convention are envisaged at this stage;

Endorses the following recommendations of its working group related to the WMO Executive Council, regional associations and technical commissions: Regional associations: The process should be defined clearly to enable the RAs to fulfill their role as defined in the Convention; The EC should request the Congress to establish ToR and assist RAs and TCs based on the Operating Plan to fulfill their roles; (General ToR on RA from Cg-17) RAs should set their regional priorities within the priorities established by Congress; The RAs should be better integrated in the budgeting process;

RA sessions should be in the mid-term after Congress; (e) The work of RAs should be phased in a way to accomplish the guidance by Congress as follows: All RAs should have a management group meeting a few months after Congress to work out a Regional Operating Plan based on the Strategic Plan and in line with the WMO Operating Plan, to be consistent with Congress approved ToR. The Regional Operating Plan should be realistic and feasible, identifying the required expertise, external partners and funds; RA sessions should be in the mid-term after Congress;  Another management group meeting should be held prior to the last EC before Congress to focus on future priorities; The RAs should be provided with an indicative budget, matching the needs indicated in the deliverables of their Regional Operating Plans;

  Regional associations: (f) The roles, capacities and terms of references of Regional Offices, and the sequencing of constituent body meetings and operational planning processes should be improved;   TCs, as well as related programmes, should be invited to meetings on identified priorities to enhance support and coordination among RAs, TCs and Programmes; Requests the Secretary-General, the Executive Council, regional associations, and technical commissions to continue to implement improvements in WMO processes and practices to improve efficiency and cost savings.  

Thank you