The WMO Secretariat has its Headquarters in Geneva. Regional offices are located in Geneva; field offices are located in various WMO Regions and there are two liaison offices in New York and Brussels. The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary-General, who is appointed by Congress and serves a four-year term with a maximum tenure of 12 years. (Resolution 36, Thirteenth Congress (2003)). The Secretary-General has the responsibility to appoint all Secretariat staff, including the Deputy Secretary-General and the Assistant Secretary-General, in accordance with regulations established by Congress and with the approval of the Executive Council.

The Fifteenth World Meteorological Congress approved a new framework for the Result-based Management of the Organization. This includes the implementation from 2008 of the Strategic Plan which defines three Top Level Objectives, five Strategic Thrusts and eleven Organization-wide Expected Results. The Operating Plan and the Result-based Budget for the period 2008-2011 direct the programmatic implementation activities of the Organization. The Executive Council set its subsidiary structure in line with Strategic Thrusts.

The Secretariat structure has been reviewed as a part of the process that will lead to a consistent implementation of Result-based Management and took effect on 1 January 2008.

 

The new structure consists of the following principal organization entities

The Executive Office comprises the Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General and Assistant Secretary-General. The Secretary-General is responsible for the overall technical and administrative work of the Secretariat. The Secretary-General manages his role by delegating substantive authority to the Deputy Secretary-General and the Assistant Secretary-General in matters related to programme management, policy, and advocacy, overall supervisory, legal and executive functions.

 

Entities under direct supervision of the Secretary-General

• Cabinet and External Relations Department (cabinet functions, external relations, New York and Brussels liason offices, and communication and public affairs)
• Resource Management Department (budget, finance, human resource management and information technology support)
• Internal Oversight Office
• Secretary-General's office (including Legal Counsel)

 

Entities under supervision of the Deputy Secretary-General

• Weather and Disaster Risk Reduction Services Department (WDS)
  • Meteorological Applications Branch (MAP)
  • Disaster Risk Reduction and Service Delivery Branch (DSD)
• Climate and Water Department (CLW)
  • Climate Prediction and Adaptation Branch (CLPA)
  • Hydrology and Water Resources Branch (HWR)
• Observing and Information Systems Department (OBS)
  • WMO Integrated Global Observing System Branch (WIGOS)
  • WMO Information System Branch (WIS)
• Research Department (RES)
  • World Climate Research Programme Joint Planning Staff (JPS/WCRP)
  • Atmospheric Research and Environment Branch (ARE)
• Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

 

Entities under supervision of the Assistant Secretary-General

• Strategic Planning Office
• Development and Regional Activities Department
  • Resource Mobilization Office (RMO)
  • Office for the LDC Programme and Regional Coordination (LDCR)
  • Regional Offices
  • Education and Training Office (ETR)
• Programme Support Services Department
  • Linguistic Services and Publishing Branch (LSP)
  • Conferences, Contracts and Facilities Management Branch (CCFM)