As an integral part of effort towards poverty reduction, World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific (UNESCAP) jointly organized a Regional Workshop (16-18 October
2002, Bangkok) on “Management: Strengthening Capacity-Building of the
National Meteorological Services (NMSs) of Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
in Asia” to cope with frequently occurring water-related disasters. The
workshop was attended by 25 participants from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia,
Lao PDR, Maldives, Nepal, and Yemen.
The message from Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of UNESCAP, indicated
that organizing the Workshop was very opportune following the World Summit
on Sustainable Development (WSSD). Poverty reduction was the greatest development
challenge facing the region and was accorded the highest priority at WSSD.
Capacity-Building of the National Meteorological Services feature prominently
in regional efforts to assist developing countries, particularly least developed
countries, to cope with frequently occurring water-related disasters. Professor
G.O.P. Obasi, the Secretary-General of WMO welcomed participants and expressed
his appreciation to UNESCAP for hosting the Workshop.
The workshop discussed the following topics:
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Challenges and opportunities for National Meteorological
Services
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Role, structure and Management of National Meteorological
Services
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Regional cooperation
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Resources for National Meteorological Services
The Workshop addressed the needs of NMSs in various areas, in particular,
capacity-building and human resources development, infrastructure support,
observing systems, telecommunication and data-processing systems. It also
noted various responses to the new challenges and implications of such developments
and new initiatives, the mobilization of required resources and the enhancement
of the services through regional cooperation.
The Workshop considered the development of a plan for furthering joint cost-effective
actions in the context of the proposed WMO Programme of Actions for LDCs.
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