World Meteorological Organization

Objective and responsibilities

The main objective for the HydroSOS National Focal points is to support implementation of HydroSOS at the National level while ensuring synergies with the regional plans to avoid duplication of effort. The primary responsibilities of the National FPs are to:

1. Identify the current state of hydrological monitoring, data availability and accessibility, and related status and outlook products available in the country.

2. Identify projects that are related and that could be complementary to the efforts of this initiative.

3. Engage with stakeholders (i.e., through workshops) to understand the needs of current and possible future end-users of HydroSOS products.

In case HydroSOS–like products already exist in the country or regionally:

Based on the identified gaps, existing national capacity, and the needs of key stakeholders of status and outlook products, identify priority hydrological indicators (variables) to be derived from the already existing HydroSOS-like products (short-term goal) – To be carried out in consultation with the HydroSOS Technical Development Team.In consultation with the RA VI Task Team on HydroSOS, identify existing products or capacity development opportunities to produce status and outlook indicators at the national scale.
- Identify areas of expansion of the capabilities to produce HydroSOS products.

In case there are gaps in existing data or capacities to producing HydroSOS indicators:

- In consultation with the HydroSOS Global Implementation Team, identify available products that can be downscaled for national use (short term goal).

- Identify priority basins/stations in the country where the development of enhanced hydrological status and outlook information would have the highest impact on NMHS stakeholders.

Based on the identified gaps, existing national capacity, and the needs of key stakeholders of status and outlook product, develop a detailed step-wise plan along with timeline for the HydroSOS national implementation.

- Oversee the development and implementation of activities to ensure HydroSOS implementation is being achieved at the priority locations (short term) and the entire country (long term); considering also the regional context (i.e., transboundary river basins).

- In consultation with stakeholders and National Hydrological Advisors, identify optimum means of disseminating the HydroSOS indicators (bulletins, website, DSS platform, etc.) and integrate to the HydroSOS Global/Regional Portals.

- Identify funding opportunities to support HydroSOS activities (including data/monitoring and capacity gaps) and reach out to donors in cooperation with the WMO Secretariat and Regional HydroSOS Implementation teams.

General:

1. Ensure that the HydroSOS indicators produced are available or regularly sent (via APIs) to the Regional and Global Portals, in coordination with the providers of the portals (UKCEH in the case of the Global Portal)

2. Build linkages with other WMO Flagship Initiatives, such as WHOS for data and product sharing. 

3. Maintain communication with the HydroSOS Technical Development Team to provide requirements and feedback on technical activities such as product standards, regional platform specifications, global and regional data sources, etc.  ​ 

4. Guide National Hydrological Advisers on HydroSOS project proposals, capacity development and resource mobilization activities. 

5. Participate in meetings (organized by the WMO Secretariat or partners) held within the scope of HydroSOS implementation activities as required. 

6. Collaborate with global and regional HydroSOS implementation teams to ensure synergies between the various levels of implementation.

7. Promote HydroSOS through outreach efforts at conferences, bilateral discussions, etc., including representing HydroSOS at relevant international conferences, meetings, and events. 

If/when established, participate in National and Regional Hydrological Outlook Forums.

Composition 

Members are requested to nominate one or two national focal points for HydroSOS (on a case-by-case basis to meet the national needs, in particular if the Hydrological and Meteorological Services are two independent entities- one from Hydro Services as Lead and one from the Met Office to support). When no other expert is available, the Hydrological Adviser could take on this role.

Expertise required in the lead FP: 

- Operational hydrology;  

- Sub-seasonal to seasonal (S2S) hydrological forecasts and outlooks (if no S2S forecasting capabilities exist in the Service, then any kind of hydrological forecasting expertise is accepted);  

- Hydrological products and services dissemination and communication to end users.