MetSat Terms of Reference

I. INTRODUCTION

1. The First Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Development in Asia and the Pacific, held in Beijing in September 1994, launched the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development (RESAP) through the Beijing Declaration, and adopted a Strategy for Regional Cooperation in Space Applications for Sustainable Development and an Action Plan on Space Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific. In pursuance of the recommendations of the Ministerial Conference to promote regional cooperation in different themes of space technology applications for sustainable development in the region, the Regional Working Group on Meteorological Satellite Applications and Natural Hazards Monitoring was constituted as a regional cooperative network under RESAP on 30 April 1996.
   
   
2. The Second Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific, held in New Delhi in November 1999, adopted the Delhi Declaration and endorsed the Strategy and Action Plan on Space Technology Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific for the New Millennium. In pursuance of the recommendations of the Ministerial Conference, the Regional Working Group on Meteorological Satellite Applications and Natural Hazards Monitoring is hereby expanded as part of the regional cooperative network under RESAP with the present terms of reference, which became effective on 14 June 2000.

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II. OBJECTIVES AND FUNCTIONS

3. The Regional Working Group on Meteorological Satellite Applications and Natural Hazards Monitoring shall have the major objective of developing a self-sustaining mechanism for promoting regional cooperation on meteorological satellite applications and natural hazards monitoring for sustainable development and promoting technology transfer and exchange of information and experience among participating countries through sharing of information, conducting cooperative projects and participating in workshops, seminars and training programmes. The Regional Working Group shall have the following functions:

1. Review the status and capabilities in the area of meteorological satellite applications and natural hazards monitoring in the region, with special emphasis on promoting their operational applications and integration for sustainable development planning;
2. Facilitate the exchange of information on national policy, programmes and planning of meteorological satellite applications and natural hazards monitoring;
3. Formulate and implement collaborative meteorological satellite application projects relevant to natural disasters, environment and sustainable development in the region; as well as organize activities through technical cooperation among developing countries (TCDC) arrangements;
4. Involve the private sector in promoting the provision of products and services on applications of meteorological satellite dada for sustainable development;
5. Promote development and utilization of meteorological satellite data collection systems and inexpensive ground receiving stations;
6. As appropriate, establish collaboration with other regional working groups for programmes that are multi-disciplinary in nature;
7. Develop links with other appropriate international organizations

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III. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONAL MECHANISM

4. All members and associate members of ESCAP shall be eligible to be members in the Regional Working Group by participating in its annual meeting.
   
   
5. Each member and associate member of the Regional Working Group would have up to three national contact points representing government, industry and academia, including heads of national agencies coordinating meteorological satellite applications and natural hazards monitoring. The national contact points shall be nominated by the national focal point for RESAP or by the national coordinating organization, and shall act under general coordination of the national focal point for RESAP. The national contact points of the Regional Working Group shall participate in its annual meetings and be vested with adequate authority to make commitments.
   
   
6. The Regional Working Group shall meet at least once a year to discuss common problems and develop cooperative programmes and to review its implementation. The agenda may include:
1. Exchange information, especially on cooperation opportunities for less developed countries;
2. Review activities and programmes of work of the Regional Working Group;
3. Formulate collaborative projects and activities;
4. Propose its funding mechanism and solicit funds for implementing projects and activities;
5. Propose its annual work plan and monitor the implementation.

 

7. The Regional Working Group should decide on a coordination office located in a national agency/centre for meteorological satellite applications and natural hazards monitoring in the region and appoint a coordinator, who would be the nodal point for information flow to and from the Regional Working Group. The period for hosting the coordination office and its coordinator would be two years; it may be extended for one more terms if so decided by the Regional Working Group.
   
   
8. United Nations bodies and specialized agencies, representatives of other countries or organizations (NGOs, research institutions, universities) and experts from private sector industry recognized as contributive to the works of the Working Group may, as the Regional Working Group may deem appropriate, be invited to participate in the meetings in a consultative capacity.

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IV. ROLES OF ESCAP AND HOST COUNTRY NODAL POINT

9. The ESCAP secretariat, through its Space Technology Applications Section of the Information, Communication and Space Technology Division, shall:

1. Assist the coordinator in soliciting the nomination of members from participating countries;
2. Assist the Regional Working Group in organizing meetings, seminars and training;
3. Cooperate with the coordinator of the Regional Working Group and provide assistance in follow-up and realization of its recommendations;
4. Assist in project formulation, fund raising and implementation;
5. Facilitate information exchange through newsletters, reports and its web site;
6. Provide professional advice and inputs;
7. Provide a clearing house for information flow and interaction between members and the coordinator of the Regional Working Group.

10. Regional members or associate members who possess centres of excellence in the field of satellite meteorology applications may offer to host the coordination office of the Regional Working Group. The host country, as the nodal point of the Regional Working Group, shall:

1. Host the coordination office of the Regional Working Group by providing necessary office facilities and operational support;
2. Designate a coordinator at its own cost and facilitate the coordinator in discharging his/her coordinating functions;
3. Interface with ESCAP for technical support and programme implementation, as well as information exchange matters;
4. Initiate such activities as exchange of personnel, training, consultancy and technical visits as requested by members of the Regional Working Group, utilizing technical cooperation among developing countries (TCDC) and other mechanisms available at the ESCAP secretariat;
5. Provide coordination in association with ESCAP for conducting regional seminars/conferences and cooperative projects;
6. Facilitate appropriate coordination with ESCAP (after initial exchange of letters agreeing to host the Regional Working Group) on correspondence related to definition of substantive activities, budget estimation for external funding for programme support of these activities and exchange of letters for TCDC and other activities.

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V. RELATION WITH THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON THE REGIONAL SPACE APPLICATIONS PROGRAMME

11. The Regional Working Group shall report its work to the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee on the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development (ICC on RESAP), which functions under the purview of the Committee on Managing Globalization. The coordinator of the Regional Working Group shall attend and present the Regional Working Group report at the annual session of ICC.

VI. GENERAL PROVISIONS

12. Any member of the Regional Working Group may propose an amendment to the terms of reference, and the same shall enter into force, if approved by a consensus of the members in attendance and endorsed by ICC