WIS 2.0 Advocacies Network
If you are interested, contact your WMO Permanent Representative
Introduction
January 1, 2025, marks a historic transition in global data sharing as the WMO Information System 2.0 (WIS 2.0) enters its operational phase. This milestone initiates a transformation that will ultimately replace the Global Telecommunication System (GTS), WMO's data-sharing backbone that has reliably served the global weather forecasting community since 1971.
To ensure the successful implementation and seamless transition to WIS 2.0, it is essential to establish and empower a network of WIS 2.0 Advocacies within Member States and key organizations. They will serve as influential advocacies for WIS 2.0 principles, actively driving the transition process while providing localized support to address specific regional and national challenges. Their expertise and engagement will be pivotal in fostering collaboration, building capacity, and ensuring that WIS 2.0 is adopted effectively across diverse contexts and all earth-system domains.
the concept note for the WIS 2.0 Advocacies can be found here
Duties and Responsibilities of a WIS 2.0 Advocacy
The WIS 2.0 Advocacy will serve as a key ambassador for the implementation and promotion of WIS 2.0, supporting awareness, coordination, and capacity-building efforts among WMO Members and partners. The Advocacy network will work closely with national, regional, and global stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition to WIS 2.0 and to foster a strong community of practice.
Key Responsibilities:
- Promote Awareness and Understanding
- Communicate the benefits, objectives, and strategic value of WIS 2.0 to National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and relevant stakeholders.
- Deliver presentations, briefings, and advocacy messages at national and regional events.
- Facilitate Engagement and Collaboration
- Act as a liaison between WMO Secretariat, Regional Associations, and NMHSs to encourage participation in WIS 2.0 activities.
- Support the identification of champions and key stakeholders in each region.
- Support Capacity Development
- Assist in organizing and promoting WIS 2.0 training sessions, webinars, and workshops.
- Encourage knowledge exchange and peer-to-peer learning on WIS 2.0 tools and practices.
- Provide Strategic and Technical Guidance
- Contribute to national or regional WIS 2.0 roadmaps and implementation plans.
- Share good practices and lessons learned to inform WIS 2.0 rollout strategies.
- Monitor Progress and Provide Feedback
- Gather feedback from stakeholders on challenges, needs, and successes related to WIS 2.0 implementation.
- Report regularly to the WMO Secretariat and relevant governance bodies on advocacy efforts and impact.
Qualifications
Education
- A university degree (Bachelor’s or higher) in meteorology, computer science, information technology, geospatial sciences, or a related field.
- Additional certifications or training in data management, cloud computing, systems integration, or open-source technologies relevant to WIS 2.0 are highly desirable
Technical skills and experience
- Understanding of data communication protocols used in WIS 2.0 (e.g., MQTT, HTTPS, WebSockets)
- Understanding of software development workflows, including version control systems like GitHub.
- Ability to develop or modify simple tools/scripts for data ingestion, transformation, and publication.
- Experience in installing, configuring, and maintaining open-source software, particularly Linux-based services
- Familiarity with data formats such as BUFR, JSON, GeoJSON, NetCDF, and GRIB
- Familiarity with “WIS2 in a box” or similar WIS 2.0 reference implementations
- Understanding of Docker containers for deploying WIS 2.0 nodes or related services.
- Experience with virtual machines or cloud-based environments is an asset
Language Skills
Excellent knowledge of English is required. Knowledge of additional WMO working languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Chinese) is an advantage