Agenda Item:

WMO Proposal to Host

GEO Secretariat

GEO-5, 29-30 November 2004Ottawa, Canada

Background

• GEO Secretariat hosted at WMO premises provides for close cooperation and takes advantage of synergies between GEO and WMO

WMO programmes relate to GEO work

• WMO World Weather Watch (WWW)

• WMO World Climate Programme (WCP)

• WMO Hydrology and Water Resources Programme (HWRP)

• WMO Space Programme (SAT) …

About WMO

• International organization for weather, climate and water

• Annual budget of US$70 million; 300 employees • Headquarters in Geneva; offices in Africa,

Americas and South-West Pacific• New headquarters building in 1999; top Geneva

location; energy-efficient and modern office and conference facilities

• Administrative services to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Joint Climate Research Fund (JCRF), Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)

Concept GEO/WMO Cooperation

• GEO Council provides programmatic directions and approval of plans

• GEO Director accountable to GEO Council for management of substantive and technical matters

• WMO provides office facilities free of charge and cost-efficient administrative services

Cond’t - Concept

• In order to ensure: GEO staff has same privileges and immunities as WMO and access to services (e.g. pension fund, international schools, housing)

• It is necessary: GEO Director accountable to WMO for administrative matters in accordance with WMO Financial and Staff Regulations

Details on GEO/WMO arrangement

• Budget approved by GEO Council

• Expenditure authorized by GEO Director

• GEO funds administered through trust funds

• Bank designated by WMO, in consultations with GEO Director

• GEO Director selected by GEO Council

• GEO Director appointed by Secretary-General of WMO upon recommendation of GEO Council

Cond’t - GEO/WMO arrangement

• GEO Director reports to GEO Council for day-to-day management

• GEO Director under the administrative authority of Secretary-General of WMO

• Vacancy announcements issued in conformity with WMO rules and circulated to all Parties

• Authority for recruitment, appointment and non-renewal of staff delegated to GEO Director

Cond’t - GEO/WMO arrangement

• Secondment of individuals by Governments or other institutions possible

• Possible terminations or dismissals of staff by Secretary-General of WMO

• GEO staff with status of WMO staff assigned exclusively to GEO

• GEO appointments for service with GEO only, without right of transfer to WMO

Offer: office facilities

• WMO provides office facilities free of charge • GEO with priority access to Headquarters

conference facilities • GEO staff with unrestricted access to in-house

parking and staff recreation facilities

Offer: cost-efficient administration • Only incremental administrative costs charged to

GEO under Service Level Agreement -- no overhead, no share of fixed costs

• Cost-efficient maintenance and procurement

Service Level Agreement

• Agreement between GEO and WMO specifies administrative services, incremental costs and benchmarks

• Agreement may cover full range of administrative services

• Agreement excludes administrative services that GEO provides through its own establishment

• Detailed accounting and regular reviews on provision of services

Cost savings

• Offer on facilities

– Provision of free office space (savings of US$144,000)

• Offer on cost-efficient administration

– Incremental rather than full costs (savings of US$260,000)

– Energy efficient office space (savings of US$9,000)

– Procurement arrangement between Geneva-based organisations and suppliers (savings of US$260,000)

Budget estimates

• Annual GEO budget of US$3,500,000

– Staff cost at US$1,510,000 for 10 staff

– Conference costs at US$1,300,000, including travel for participants

– Travel costs of staff at US$243,000

– Other direct cost at US$277,000, including US$219,000 for one-time purchase

– Incremental costs for administrative services provided by WMO at US$170,000

Annual GEO budget: options

• Option I: Proposed GEO/WMO cooperation: US$3.5 mil; cost-efficient services by WMO; full benefits from WMO’s international status

Other Options • Option II: GEO with similar service provider: over

US$4.0 mil (increase over US$0.5 mil); according to standard arrangements

• Option III: GEO under Swiss law: up to US$4.5 mil (increase up to US$1.0 mil); GEO core admin competence; limited services by WMO; possible loss of int. benefits

• Option IV: GEO stand-alone: over US$4.5 mil (increase over US$1.0 mil); no support by WMO or service provider; possible loss of int. benefits

THANK YOU

WMO Trust Fund Arrangement

• Accounts established under specific terms and conditions to record receipts and expenditures

• Contributions provided for purpose consistent with aims and policies of Organization

• Trust funds maintained separately from WMO budget appropriation

• Income from investments credited back to trust fund