Purpose and scope

Education and Training (ETR) activities are foundational for the Organization as promulgated by Article 2 of the Convention: “(f) To encourage research and training in meteorology and, as appropriate, in related fields and to assist in coordinating the international aspects of such research and training”.

The purpose of the WMO Education and Training Programme (ETRP) is to address the growing deficit in the capability and number of adequately educated and trained staff required to collect and manage meteorological, climatological and hydrological data and to provide weather, climate, hydrological, marine and related environmental services, particularly in Members facing challenges in this regard. 

The Programme aims to facilitate the continuous professional development of personnel within the overarching competency frameworks maintained and being further developed by other WMO Programme areas. Aligned with the WMO Strategic Plan, the ETRP seeks to enhance the capacity of Members to fulfil their national, regional, and international obligations and effectively meet emerging challenges.

The scope of ETRP encompasses various dimensions:

(a)    Capacity-building and continuous professional development: The Programme focuses on building and sustaining the competency of personnel working in NMHSs and in relevant national and regional institutions, enhancing the training capabilities of institutions and experts, and developing leadership and management skills within NMHSs and other relevant national and regional institutions;

(b)    Technology Integration: Emphasizing sustainable development, the Programme aims to increase the capability of NMHSs and of relevant national and regional institutions to utilize new technology applications effectively;

(c)    Institutional Partnerships: Education and training activities are conducted in collaboration with various institutions, in the spirit of the WMO Global Campus initiative, including WMO Regional Training Centres and other WMO Centres with training functions, national meteorological training institutions, universities, and research centres; 

(d)    Global Reach: ETRP prioritizes assisting Members, particularly Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDSs), by providing bilateral and multilateral support for national education, training, and research activities.

Main long-term objectives

The ETRP's long-term objective is to provide comprehensive opportunities to address education and training gaps in meteorology, hydrology, and related disciplines.

The overall objectives of ETRP are:

(a)    To support Members’ implementation of WMO competency frameworks;

(b)    To promote capacity development by assisting NMHSs and other relevant national and regional institutions in the attainment of an appropriate level of self-sufficiency in meeting their education and training needs and developing their human resources;

(c)    To coordinate education and training activities across WMO to avoid overlapping efforts and increase the cost-efficiency and impact of the education and training events by using the know-how and expertise of the WMO technical commissions and regional associations with the support of the Secretariat;

(d)    To support human resource development in NMHSs and other relevant national and regional institutions through a coordinated, priority-driven approach based on competency implementation outcomes;

(e)    Encourage and support NMHSs and other relevant national and regional institutions in developing their own learning structures and strengthen the exchange of training knowledge, resources, and expertise;

(f)     To promote high-quality continuing education, training, and research so as to keep the Members’ relevant staff up to date with the latest scientific advances and technological innovations and to support the necessary competencies.

Implementation activities 

The activities of ETRP encompass the following broad approaches:

·          To guide the development by the technical commissions of technical regulatory material for the education, training and competency of personnel involved in the provision of the weather, climate, hydrological, marine and related environmental services value cycle 

·          To assist Members in the implementation of authentic competency-based education and training approaches in alignment with the WMO Basic Instruction Packages and Competency Frameworks, to provide the specific information and services

·          To promote and strengthen the development and exchange of education and training knowledge and skills, resources, and expertise between Members, making particular use of relevant technologies and techniques

·          To promote high-quality continuing education in meteorology, climatology, hydrology, and related environmental disciplines to maintain the NMHS and other relevant national and regional institutions’ specialist staff in line with scientific, technological, and educational advances and innovations

·          Assisting training structures of NMHSs and other relevant national and regional institutions with their efforts on mutual interactions and exchanges of training knowledge

Activities to be carried out by Members 

Including but not limited to: 

·          Identify their key capacity gaps and priorities, and apply the WMO Capacity Development Framework (WCDF) according to the national circumstances

·          To collaborate in and give required support to the WMO education and training activities, as part of contributions to the WMO Global Campus initiative

·          To strengthen their national capacity in the attainment of self-sufficiency in meeting their education and training needs

·          To consider the benefits of the competency approach in collaboration with relevant WMO technical departments, promote and implement authentic competency management based on the WMO Frameworks and guides

·          To encourage the participation of women in education and training programmes in order to reduce the gender gap

Activities to be carried out by constituent and/or other bodies

Under the oversight, advice and guidance on capacity development matters provided by the Capacity Development Panel (CDP) and in alignment with WCDF:

Regional associations

Including but not limited to: 

·          Identify and prioritize the regional training needs of the Members

·          Monitor and evaluate the activities of the WMO Regional Training Centres

·          Promote and support the implementation by Members of the technical regulations for the education, training and competency of personnel 

·          Provide information on the progress of implementing the WMO Qualifications, Basic Instruction Packages, and Competency Frameworks

·          Coordinate and promote regionally tailored capacity development activities and opportunities based on examples and principles of good practice, aligned with WCDF

Technical commissions

Including but not limited to: 

·          To develop and update, in close coordination with the Capacity Development Panel, technical regulatory material for the education, training and competency of personnel involved in the provision of the weather, climate, hydrological, marine and related environmental services value cycle

·          To engage in the development and update of qualification and competence education and training courses and tools

·          Contribute to capacity development through their programmes and activities by supporting thematic training, technical assistance, and knowledge exchange related to accomplishing WMO Long-term Goals

Activities to be coordinated by the Secretariat

In addition to the general role of the Secretariat defined by General Regulation 154 (Basic Documents No. 1 (WMO-No. 15)), including but not limited to:

·          Providing Secretariat support for the coordinated implementation of ETRP

·          Support education and training activities as major components of WMO capacity development endeavours

·          Support and promote the WMO Global Campus initiative, and development and ongoing activities that comprise the exchange of knowledge and expertise on education and training issues

·          Collaborate with development partners and training providers regarding the development of the required human resource capacity of Members through formal and continuing education

·          Work with stakeholders in promoting research and development as a major activity of meteorological and hydrological training institutions and to promote the uptake of scientific developments into education and training curricula

·          Develop suitable and sustainable programmes and projects to support Members' capacity and support the incorporation of education and training components in bilateral and multilateral cooperation projects

·          Enhance the leadership and management skills of NMHS and other relevant national and regional institutions’ managers through the development of learning resources and leadership and management training and by collaborating at subregional and regional levels in these endeavours.