Secretariat

The WMO Convention defines the role of the Secretariat:

• To facilitate worldwide cooperation in the establishment of networks of stations for the making of meteorological, hydrological and other geophysical observations and to promote the establishment and maintenance of centres charged with the provision of meteorological and related services
• To promote the establishment and maintenance of systems for the rapid exchange of meteorological and related information
• To promote standardization of meteorological and related observations and to ensure the uniform publication of observations and statistics
• To further the application of meteorology to diverse sectors: aviation, shipping, water resource management, agriculture, health, energy and many other human activities
• To promote activities in operational hydrology and to further close cooperation between Meteorological and Hydrological Services
• To encourage research and training in meteorology and related fields and to assist in coordinating the international aspects of such research and training.

At the World Meteorological Congress, the Members of WMO decide on the activities of the Secretariat. Congress also appoints the Secretary-General, the head of the Secretariat, who is responsible for its overall technical and administrative work. The Secretary-General manages this function through delegation of authority to the Deputy Secretary-General and the Assistant Secretary-General.

The Secretary-General appoints all the 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 Secretariat currently has between 350-400 staff, mainly at its headquarters in Geneva.

The Secretariat has four small regional offices that work directly with Members and assure that their priorities are reflected in WMO activities.

Finance and Accountability

The WMO Financial Regulations and Rules establish the framework for managing the World Meteorological Organization’s finances, ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficiency, while the Internal Oversight Office (IOO) provides an independent, objective verification of financial, administrative and operational activities of WMO.