Regional WIGOS Centres RA II Expert Group on WIGOS – First Session 31 October – 1 November 2016 WIGOS Workshop for West Asia 2 - 3 November 2016 (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) Dr. Igor Zahumensky, WIGOS Project Office, WMO Secretariat

Decision 30 (EC-68) RWC Regional WIGOS Centres (RWCs) will play the critical role in advancing operation of WIGOS. Regions differ and that such differences will need to be taken into account in establishing and operating RWCs that address the specific Members’ needs and circumstances of the respective Region.

Purpose The overall purpose of the RWCs is to provide support and assistance to WMO Members and Regions for their national and regional WIGOS implementation efforts.

Basic Principles To encourage the existing WMO regional centres to carry out WIGOS activities To use, when feasible, existing structures and mechanisms for WIGOS implementation at the regional and national levels To respect differences between WMO Regions; each RA must decides on its own way to address specific needs, priorities, challenges and available technical and human resources of the Region and specifies ToR of each RWC in the Region

Links to other WMO entities Work closely with: WMO Regional Offices RICs, RRCs, RMICs RTCs RA II MG & EG-WIGOS Members WIGOS-PO …

Basic functions of the RWC Regional coordination, Guidance and oversight, Support of WIGOS implementation and operational activities at the regional and national levels (day-to-day level of activities).

Mandatory functions Regional WIGOS metadata management (work with data providers to facilitate collecting, updating and providing quality control of WIGOS metadata in OSCAR/Surface); Regional WIGOS performance monitoring and incident management (WIGOS Data Quality Monitoring System) and follow-up with data providers in case of data availability or data quality issues (WDQMS);

Optional Functions Assistance with the coordination of regional/sub-regional and national WIGOS projects; Assistance with regional and national observing network management; and Support for regional capacity development activities.

Implementation Options Each RA (i.e. Members of the Region) must decides on its own way to address specific needs, priorities, challenges and available technical and human resources of the Region; Member or group of Members can establish RWC in sub-region, taking into account the natural geographic / linguistic / economic conditions/circumstances of the sub region.

A proposal to establish a RWC must include at a minimum: Establishment of RWC A proposal to establish a RWC must include at a minimum: A description of the infrastructure, facilities and resources (both human, technical and financial) provided by the Centre in accordance with its planned capabilities; The proposed strategy/plan to ensure sustainable resources to guarantee long-term performance of the RWC.

Roadmap Establishment of one or more Regional WIGOS Centres in pilot mode from 2017, Operational phase of initial Regional WIGOS Centres beginning mid-2018, Establishment of Regional WIGOS Centres covering all WMO Regions by 2019.

Conclusions RWC must be a win-win solution for Members, RWC(s) must provide right solutions to regional problems;

Thank you Merci www.wmo.int/wigos