Purpose of the WMO Strategic Plan
In the light of its mission and the decision of its 191 Members, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is focusing its strategic direction for the period 2012–2015 on five strategic thrusts that address a set of global societal needs to achieve eight expected results. The WMO recognizes that, despite significant progress in improving services, many societies are increasingly vulnerable to natural hazards and national economies are becoming more sensitive to climate variability and change reaffirming the need to improve weather, climate, water and related environmental services, as well as communications and emergency response activities, particularly in developing and least developed countries (LDCs), small island developing States (SIDS) and other vulnerable countries. The WMO Strategic Plan 2012-2015 underscores the importance of improving service quality and service delivery by advancing scientific research and application; strengthening capacity-building; building and enhancing partnerships and cooperation; and strengthening good governance.
The cooperation among all nations in sharing observations of the Earth system from the local to the global scales, coupled with advances in data assimilation techniques and numerical models, has contributed to significant progress in improving the quality, timeliness and utility of weather, climate, water and related environmental services. The WMO will continue to rely on its Members, their NMHSs and national scientific institutions, UN system agencies and other partners, universities and the private sector, and financial institutions to provide the scientific, programmatic and infrastructure support necessary to implement cost-effective international cooperation systems. The Plan will indeed enhance strategies for the effective provision and application of weather, climate and water information and related environmental services within the framework of improving the safety and well-being of peoples, reducing poverty, increasing prosperity and protecting the environment for future generations. It is also expected to motivate, guide and coordinate the activities of Members, primarily through their National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, the Executive Council, regional associations, technical commissions and the WMO Secretariat.
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, strategies thrusts, strategic priorities and expected results.
The four building blocks of WMO RBM Framework are WMO Strategic Plan (SP), WMO Operating Plan (OP), WMO Results-based Budget (RBB) and WMO Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) System.
WMO Strategic Plan provides a high-level statement of the future direction and priorities of the Organization and guides the decisions of the Secretariat and Constituent bodies during a financial period. It is the foundation for developing the other RBM building blocks (OP, RBB and M&E).
WMO Operating Plan translates the strategic thrusts, expected results and key outcomes into time-bound specific programme activities and projects, which are needed to address the global societal needs and achieve the expected results. The WMO Operating Plan is comprehensive in that it identifies the contribution of WMO Members, technical commissions, regional associations and the Secretariat.
WMO Results-based Budget identifies regular resources that are needed to implement the Operating Plan, as well as voluntary resources for project initiatives that enhance the achievement of strategic key outcomes in priority areas.
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) are tools to measure the performance of the Organization in the timely implementation of its Strategic Plan. Monitoring and evaluation also contribute to the identification of good practices and lessons learned with respect to implementation, as well as policy, strategy and programmatic design that will inform the next phase of strategic planning. They provide information for ensuring the continuing effectiveness and relevance of the WMO Programmes. The evaluation results are important inputs to the strategic planning process and are used to adjust strategic direction and priorities, if required. The inputs (human and financial resources), program activities and projects, deliverables and outcomes (through key performance indicators (KPIs)) are monitored and evaluated to establish the progress to achieve expected results. Schematic representation of WMO strategic planning process is presented below.