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Strategic planning

The Seventeenth World Meteorological Congress (Geneva, 2015) approved the WMO Strategic Plan 2016-2019 which will guide decision-making by the Organization and its constituent bodies during the period 2016-2019. The Strategic Plan is the result of a planning process driven by the needs and priorities identified by WMO Members.

The WMO Operating Plan 2016–2019 provides details on key outcomes, deliverables and activities to be implemented to achieve results defined in the WMO Strategic Plan, with the resources provided under WMO Results-based Budget (Resolution 70 (Cg-17) – Maximum expenditure for the seventeenth financial period (2016–2019), and activities of technical commissions and regional associations to be implemented through in-kind support. The WMO Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system measures the performance of the Organization in the timely implementation of its Strategic Plan based on the activities in the Operating Plan and those implemented by Members'.

Purpose of the WMO Strategic Plan

The WMO Strategic Plan sets the directions and priorities to guide the activities of Members and all WMO constituent bodies to enable all Members to improve their core information, products and services, maintain necessary infrastructure, and to directly benefit from advancements in science and technology.

 

WMO strategic planning process

WMO has built its strategic planning on the results-based management (RBM) concept, which also steers the programme definition, implementation and management in the Secretariat. This approach enables the Organization to better achieve its objectives and assist Members in realizing their own sustainable plans. The WMO strategic planning process begins with the integration of Members’ input into a high-level planning document that defines the global societal needs, strategic priorities and expected results.

The four building blocks of WMO RBM Framework are WMO Strategic Plan, WMO Operating Plan, WMO Results-based Budget and WMO Monitoring and Evaluation System.

 

Schematic representation of WMO strategic planning process

 

Structure of the WMO Strategic Plan

The WMO Strategic Plan 2016-2019 is structured along three global societal needs, seven strategic priorities and eight expected results.

Global Societal Needs

• Improved protection of life and property;
• End poverty, ensure sustainable resilient livelihoods, food security, sustainable access to water and energy, healthy lives, gender equality and economic growth, and combat climate change; and
• Sustainable use of natural resources and improved environmental quality.

Priorities

The following key priorities will be given additional emphasis in the WMO Programmes and results-based budget for 2016–2019, based on the inputs from all WMO constituent bodies and in particular the six regional associations, which gathered the collective views of all 191 Members.

• Disaster risk reduction
• Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS)
• WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS)
• Aviation meteorological services
• Polar and high-mountain regions
• Capacity development
• WMO governance

Expected Results

1. Improved service quality and service delivery: Enhanced capabilities of Members to deliver and improve access to high-quality weather, climate, hydrological and related environmental predictions, information, warnings and services in response to users' needs and to enable their use in decision-making by relevant societal sectors.
2. Reduced disaster risk: Enhanced capabilities of Members to reduce risks and potential impacts of hazards caused by weather, climate, water and related environmental elements.
3. Improved data-processing, modelling and forecasting: Enhanced capabilities of Members to produce better weather, climate, water and related environmental information, predictions and warnings to support, in particular, reduced disaster risk and climate impact and adaptation strategies.
4. Improved observations and data exchange: Enhanced capabilities of Members to access, develop, implement and use integrated and interoperable Earth- and space-based observation systems for weather, climate and hydrological observations, as well as related environmental and space weather observations, based on world standards set by WMO.
5. Advance targeted research: Enhanced capabilities of Members to contribute to and draw benefits from the global research capacity for weather, climate, water and related environmental science and technology development.
6. Strengthened capacity development: Enhanced capabilities of Members’ NMHSs, in particular in developing and least developed countries and small island developing states, to fulfil their mandates.
7. Strengthened partnerships: New and strengthened partnerships and cooperation activities to improve NMHSs' performance in delivering services and to demonstrate the value of WMO contributions within the United Nations system, relevant regional organizations, international conventions and national strategies.
8. Improved efficiency and effectiveness: Ensured effective functioning of policy-making and constituent bodies and oversight of the Organization.