Policy and implementation

Policy and resolutions

The WMO Policy on Gender Equality was adopted by the seventeenth World Meteorological Congress in June 2015 as Annex to Resolution 59 (Cg-17). Its purpose is to promote, encourage and facilitate gender equality across WMO and to establish a mechanism by which progress can be measured. Originally formulated in 2007, the Policy was amended in 2015 to incorporate the outcomes of the Conference on the Gender Dimensions of Weather and Climate Services (Conference Report), address gaps identified in the Progress Report, and reflect existing good practice.

The WMO Gender Equality Policy is operationalized through the WMO Gender Action Plan which identifies concrete actions for all parts of the Organization (Secretariat, constituent bodies, Members). The Action Plan is reviewed every four years, progress in implementation measured and priority actions for the following four years identified. Concrete actions are provided in seven policy areas: governance, strategic planning, monitoring and compliance, capacity development, human resources, communication and partnerships, resource tracking and allocation, and service provision.

The first WMO Gender Action Plan was endorsed in June 2016 by the WMO Executive Council (Decision 77 (EC-68)), outlining priority actions for 2016-2019. An updated Gender Action Plan was adopted by the eighteenth World Meteorological Congress in June 2019, setting priority actions for 2020-2023, ranging from approving a target of 40% female representation in governance, systematic collection and use of sex-disaggregated data, strengthening capacity on gender analysis, developing women's leadership skills through Women's Leadership Workshops, promoting female role models working in meteorology, hydrology, climatology and environmental science etc.

The Executive Council Advisory Panel of Experts on Gender Mainstreaming is the main body overseeing, advising and reporting on the implementation of gender mainstreaming activities at all levels of WMO. Its terms of reference are defined in Resolution 2 (EC-67) of the WMO Executive Council. The WMO Secretariat assists the Panel in all its activities, collects data and compiles relevant reports, coordinates gender mainstreaming action across the Organization, and operationalizes the decisions and recommendations of WMO governance bodies with respect to gender mainstreaming.

WMO Gender Action Plan

Resolutions and decisions

Congress and Executive Council


Constituent Bodies

Technical Commissions


Regional Associations