IOC. Executive Council; 39th; Report by the IOC Executive ...unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001462/146237e.pdf · submit to each session of the Assembly and the Executive Council

(SC-2006/CONF.201/CLD.8)

As stated in Article 49 of the Rules of Procedure, the Executive Secretary shallsubmit to each session of the Assembly and the Executive Council a report onthe work accomplished since the previous session. This report iscomplemented by the following documents:

· IOC/EC-XXXIX/2 Annex 1 Add. 1, Implementation of IOC GoverningBody Resolutions;

· IOC/EC-XXXIX/2 Annex 1 Add. 2, Status of Implementation of theRecommendations of the IOC External Evaluation Report;

· IOC Annual Report No. 12, IOC Annual Report, 2005.

Restricted distribution IOC/EC-XXXIX/2 Annex 1 Paris, 15 June 2005 Original: English

INTERGOVERNMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISSION (of UNESCO)

Thirty-ninth Session of the Executive Council Paris, 21 – 28 June 2006

Agenda item 3.2

REPORT BY THE IOC EXECUTIVE SECRETARY ON PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

IOC/EC-XXXIX/2 Annex 1

Distinguished delegates.

The year has been extraordinary in several important and fundamental aspects of the IOC work. They offer a glimpse of the opportunities and challenges that the Commission faces and need to resolve.

1. The Tsunami effort: a test of the intrinsic capabilities of IOC to respond

1 First, all the capabilities of IOC were put to a test, in organizing the Tsunami response. This work has been extremely successful, and we can be proud of having established in the Indian Ocean the capabilities to detect a Tsunami wave in less than one and a half year. On the first of July 2006, 23 new or upgraded sea level stations will be broadcasting in real time sea-level changes in the Indian Ocean. Twenty-five new seismological stations are already functioning or are planned to be up monitoring seismic activities in the region in the next months. This compares very positively with the five instruments located in the immediate neighbourhood that detected the 26 of December 2004 event. And most importantly there 26 new National Tsunami Information centres that acting as a focal point, are undertaking the task of establishing national plans for tsunami preparedness and awareness.

2 A Tsunami task force composed with colleagues from all sections of IOC was established to attack the many activities that needed immediate attention. Peter Pissierssens, Laura Kong, Thorkhild Aarup, Keith Alverson, Bill Erb and Bernardo Aliaga, among others were part of this early, fast-reaction team. However, given the size and the resources of the Commission, the true challenge was to keep the rest of the programme moving. Initially, all these new activities were done with the same resources of staff and money.

3 Many lessons were learned from this activity. For example, because IOC participated in the UN-Flash-Appeal project, resources were envisioned, but in fact it took several weeks and months to actually receive them, after concluding written agreements and administrative arrangements, often with direct consultations with a series of participating donors. Banking the operations and management of cash flows became critical. For example, the first tranche of the ISDR/OCHA project, used to build the Governance of the System through the Paris and Mauritius meetings plus the contribution of Australia to finance Secretariat support for the IOTWS were key to maintain things rolling.

2. The Financial paradox of year 2005

4 Second, the year 2005, although starting with the worrying note of a forecasted reduction in the regular budget contribution from UNESCO of 19% for the biennium 2006–2007, ended up being the largest budget ever for the Commission, because of the extra-resources received for the Tsunami. The total amount of resources available for programme implementation in 2005 was US$ 13,199,755 of which US$ 10,827,805 came from sources other than the UNESCO regular budget. The contribution from the regular budget towards programme implementation representing only 18 percent of the total available funding. This ratio, although extraordinary for 2005, continues an important trend since in the 2002–2003 biennium the total amount of resources available for programme implementation was US$ 7,795,862 of which US$ 4,551,962 (58.3%) came from sources other than the UNESCO regular budget.

5 Third, this situation, instead of stabilizing the operation of the Commission, has put in evidence its precarious institutional base. The forecasted reductions did materialize and the base budget did diminish accordingly. As it should be expected, the extra-budgetary resources

IOC/EC-XXXIX/2 Annex 1 Page 2 received for Tsunami Early Warning are earmarked for the Indian Ocean. However we have increased tsunami related activities worldwide and therefore the coordination needs have increased significantly without the necessary budgetary support. In the Pacific, we moved from meetings every two years to two meetings per year. The last ITSU was held in October 2005 in Valparaiso, Chile and the first ICG for the Pacific, last May in Melbourne. By implementing IOC Resolutions XXIII-13 and 14, we also started the work in the Mediterranean Sea in November 2005 in Rome and for the Caribbean Sea in January 2006 in Bridgetown, Barbados and we just finished last month the Second ICG for the Mediterranean Sea in Nice, France. All these extra coordination needs were not foreseen in the draft Budget and the Commission did not count with the necessary resources to support them adequately. We are thankful to Chile, Italy, Barbados, Australia and France for their contribution to the organization of these important meetings addressing tsunami work outside the Indian Ocean.

6 In summary, all the activities related to Tsunami, including financing the cost of all the personnel responsible for their implementation is being financed by voluntary contributions, unpredictable in nature. The new staff involved is engaged with the organization through short term-contracts of up to three and a half years (appointment of limited duration—ALDs), giving to all the tsunami work in IOC, an uncomfortable short-term non-sustainable flavour.

7 But we work within the limitations in which we operate. Despite these difficulties, I am happy to report to you that we have finished the reinforcement of a distributed Secretariat for all these activities and we now count with the concourse of Dr Anthony Elliot and Dr Jane Cuneen in Perth, of Peter-Klaus Koltermann, Masahiro Yamamoto, Uli Wolf and Bernardo Aliaga in Paris and of Laura Kong in Hawaii, plus the very effective administrative support received from Forest Collins in Paris.

3. The strategic challenge and the Medium Term Strategy

8 This general financial and institutional situation was well reflected in the paper “We have a problem” (doc. IOC-XXIII/2 Annex 8) presented to the last Assembly by our Vice-Chairman Javier Valladares, when he summarized the stark options in front of Member States, either to accept the reality of diminishing budgets with IOC becoming an Ocean Forum, with little or no scope for implementation at the regional and country level, or to find and agree on new innovative means of financing IOC, to implement the many new activities that are requested from the Commission. The same theme is reiterated in the new paper by Captain Valladares introducing the discussion of the Medium-Term Strategy paper (doc. IOC/EC-XXXIX/2 Annex 3). We must say that the interest demonstrated in this discussion here in Paris last June, was not reflected in the work of the working group appointed to help Captain Valladares in his task of addressing these difficult issues. For this reason, we expect that an intra-sessional group could have a discussion of the main issues and give guidance for further work under agenda item 4.1.2.

4. The Review of Programmes II Natural Sciences and III Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO

9 This guidance is important, because IOC participates in the parallel strategic planning process that takes place regularly in UNESCO to establish its Medium term Strategy. The difference is that this time the normal consultations with Member States, National Commissions and other stake-holders of UNESCO, is complemented by a very important Revision of Programme II, Natural Sciences and Programme III Social and Human Sciences mandated by the last General Conference of UNESCO.

IOC/EC-XXXIX/2 Annex 1 page 3

10 Although technically, IOC is not a Programme, nor a Division of UNESCO, when integrated into the whole UNESCO Budget and Programme, the Programme proposed and endorsed by IOC becomes part of Programme II, as one of the Sub-Programmes and therefore is part of this Review. The Terms of Reference for the Review, as well as the “Blue Note” of the Director General designating the Commission are available as information documents (doc. ODG/601/4 and DG/Note/06/14).

11 Among the members of the Review Commission, a general concern exists about the visibility and importance of the Sciences Programme in UNESCO, concern that is emphasized by the rather reduced budget managed by the programmes and the large variety of activities, one could say “disparate” activities, that are undertaken if both programmes are considered at the same time.

12 One should try to make an effort to look at the situation from the perspective of a given government, trying to deal with the many multilateral organizations, seeing UNESCO at best, maybe as the Education or Cultural Heritage focal point for their work in the UN. From this perspective the whole IOC programme can be easily seen as one disparate activity. As an example of what this common sense view implies, one member of the Review Commission asked our Chairman if he could simply explain why when the IOC was established after the Copenhagen Conference in 1960, it was “put” in UNESCO and not in other UN Agency. Of course the answer is history itself and no simple explanation can be given. The point that interested him from the answer we gave, was in fact there were several UN agencies that would have liked to have IOC with them. An interesting Gedanken experiment is to try to answer what would have happen today if IOC did not exist and would have to be created now.

13 Other stream of concerns relate to efficiency and effectiveness. It results very hard to believe the amount of activities that UNESCO promotes, leverage, co-finance and implement with the little resources that it receives. When confronting the list of programmatic activities with the budget available to implement them, most people will have a hard time understanding how we work. The explanation of course lies in the modalities of delivering the programme. Activities and programmes are never fully financed from the regular budget of UNESCO. As we know extremely well in IOC, we do mostly a coordination function. The assets and the funding of the recurrent costs of ocean observational networks are financed directly by the Member States and that cost is never seen in the budget of IOC. The issue here is to find a way to answer the question if are we doing more or less with the money we have and to agree on some criteria of measuring the impact of what UNESCO and IOC does.

14 The Review Commission, of which I am a member, has met twice in plenary, has been briefed by many eminent persons, among them our Chairman, Dr David Pugh, has received a wealth of information (perhaps too much, difficult to read and digest if doing that is not a full-time job) and will meet soon in July to propose some preliminary ideas that could be considered jointly with the guidelines for Medium Term Strategy of UNESCO in September at the coming Executive Board of UNESCO.

15 The opinion and vision of this Commission together with the views of the Director-General and the exchange of views that will take place next Tuesday, should certainly inform much of the next Medium Term strategy of IOC. But the point I want to stress is one of opportunity. To express the views of the Member States of IOC, we cannot wait until all this process is finished. It will be to late. We have to express a first opinion now.

IOC/EC-XXXIX/2 Annex 1 Page 4 5. Some salient aspects of Programme implementation

16 The Programme has continued its implementation and several developments deserve special mention here.

5.1. Real-time ocean observations

17 Although the earliest signals of an impending strong and distant tsunami draw upon the monitoring of seismic activity, the observational backbone of the tsunami warning system consists of measurements of sea-level already being made under the auspices of the Global Ocean Observing System. The decision of GLOSS to upgrade a subset of its global sea level network to broadcast information in real time, for servicing Tsunami early warning, is in my view of paramount importance.

18 This decision is consistent with two major strategic guidelines of the Commission. IOC is leading the tsunami initiative as part of the ongoing effort to complete the building the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). This could also be said of other ocean services being developed under JCOMM. The central task is not to develop a new capability to measure sea-level but to harness the system that already exists for the purposes of tsunami warning. This approach to the development of these systems is essential, since their long-term sustainability depends on the frequent and permanent use of the detection networks through a series of different applications.

5.2. The challenge of developing operational capabilities.

19 The second strategic thrust implicit in this action is that has meant strengthen IOC’s operational capabilities. The Secretariat must accompany some of these activities with real support. IOC must help in checking if the new capabilities implanted in the Indian Ocean region are fulfilling their function.

20 One example: when increasing the density of the network of seismographs in the region, several projects have installed or upgraded independently different instruments. These instruments need to be calibrated and protocols for data translation and de-codification need to be available. The same applies to sea-level data. Our tsunami centre in Hawaii, our colleagues in the Tsunami unit and our colleagues in GLOSS have done a wonderful job easing these difficulties, distributing software, training many experts and spreading tsunami awareness to hundreds of visitors, public officers and policy-makers. But much more needs to be done.

21 Our new facilities in Ostend (Belgium), the IODE Programme Office with 1100 m2 of office space generously donated and supported by the Flemish Government, has served as a hub for much of this new capacity building efforts. Ostend has access to a fast internet advanced network and has recently obtained a fast link to the European backbone of the GTS through a gateway in the Netherlands, transforming Ostend in fact as an important Ocean Hub for the GTS, uploading a significant and increasing flow of ocean data.

22 Ostend is not only uploading raw data to the GTS, but is also developing capabilities to remotely run numerical models in our servers and to download solutions in remote places. As you can imagine these are an exciting new developments, but much more need to be done. IOC will have to develop a regional strategy, similar to that of the WMO for numerical weather prediction, to assist developing Member States to have access, not only to raw data or final products, but to the knowledge and technology that make these ocean forecasts possible.

IOC/EC-XXXIX/2 Annex 1 page 5 Developing Member States have pointed several times their willingness to use the regional approach, through regional centres to achieve this. GOOS regional alliances are flexible arrangements that can help to better define the different groupings and options. Here the emphasis is not to create new dependencies, but to increase the autonomy of those that can benefit directly from these new developments.

5.3. Capacity Building, the new strategy

23 Our new Capacity Building Strategy is making significant progress and is guarding us against inadvertently increase the dependency of those that we try to help, as we have done many times in the past.

24 It is acceptable and even necessary to design a fast response to an emergency, like the tsunami, by implanting from the outside a new instrumental network in a given geographical area. That is easily done. It has been done innumerable times in the history of science. However, if the network needs to be maintained and sustained indefinitely from the outside, we fail in building the local capabilities and we miss an opportunity to develop science locally.

25 Of course this is not a simple issue. It is a two-way street. It is not only the responsibility of those donating the instruments and helping to bring the networks alive. It is also the responsibility of the receiving Member States and institutions. If they do not see these interventions as an opportunity, if they do not connect the right institutions and provide incentives to work together, if they do not invest in training specialists at all levels, including the more advanced degrees of education, these efforts are non sustainable and will fail in the long run.

26 This is where our Capacity Building Strategy and programme is having its first successes. We have had a very fruitful seminar with the directors of East African Marine centres, we and we have already started to build the network of institutions, in Africa and the Caribbean. They are discussing among themselves common problems and coming up with priorities. We are thankful to SIDA, Sweden, for supporting this very relevant work.

27 Most of the Millennium goals cannot be achieved without a significant effort in local capacity building. NEPAD and the UK Africa Commission have highlighted the importance of science underpinning the development in Africa. The Challenge for IOC is to demonstrate where do our programmes fit in the development plans of our Member States and how is it that IOC can help them to build their scientific capabilities in ocean sciences to support them. When I think of offshore oil and gas exploitation in the Gulf of Guinea, in Angola or South East Asia, I also see these capacity-building opportunities for the coastal States concerned. We need to further harmonize internally all our programmes to optimise the use of resources and avoid committing the same mistakes. After all, we have a single IOC Capacity Building strategy. GOOS, JCOMM, IODE, ICAM and specially the Science programmes, all have to benefit from this important development. I believe that this is possible and may represent the most long-lasting contribution that IOC can make.

5.4. Ocean services and JCOMM

28 The development of new observation capabilities in oceanography has enabled the development of permanent operational ocean services, i.e., the continuous, routinely delivery of information-products containing early warning information or forecasted conditions for a given

IOC/EC-XXXIX/2 Annex 1 Page 6 set of ocean properties. These products are distributed free as public services for the use of a wide range of end-users.

29 There is no other better example than the 26 of December Tsunami in the Indian Ocean to highlight the importance of Ocean Services to society. If the development of the Aeronautic industry provided a major driving force to develop regular meteorological services, oceanographic services have grown in several, highly specialized fields that make difficult to grasp their overall impact in a single view.

30 The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), under the SOLAS Convention information is made available to all vessels at sea through 17 METAREAS covering the world ocean on 24/24 hours, 7/7 days basis. The Marine Pollution Emergency Response and Support System (MPERSS) covers the same areas than GMDSS outside waters under national jurisdiction. The JCOMM Electronic Products Bulletin [J-EPB] provides information on real-time oceanography. Wave weather and climate Services: first established under WMO in 1984 and now under JCOMM, provides sea-wave analysis and forecasts services. International coordination and cooperation in Sea Ice Services provide, both climatological and real-time ice analyses and forecasts, principally through the Expert Team on Sea Ice of the JCOMM and through the Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (DBCP).

31 IOC has pioneered the development of Ocean services. ITSU, the Tsunami Warning System of the Pacific Ocean was established in 1965. The International Ocean Data Exchange system and the production of Bathymetric charts were two delayed-mode services implemented by IOC early during its history.

32 The emergence of the Joint IOC-WMO Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology, is proof that Ocean Services are today of major interest of Member States, and that they see IOC as one of the instruments to contribute in their development and extension to regions of the world where oceanographic capabilities are limited. This assertion still needs to be proven.

33 JCOMM has consolidated an important community of practice. It is a community of oceanographers and marine meteorologists, mostly coming from operational agencies running daily forecasts of atmospheric weather over the oceans and also ocean weather, forecasting, for example, wave weather at coastal locations 72 hours in advance. As you can well imagine, these are areas of activities well represented in developed countries, but much weaker in developing countries. I should also repeat once more that national meteorological institutions, in general, are better equipped to deal with operational activities than oceanographic institutions, with few remarkable exceptions. This is a reality. So the question that emerges is what is it that IOC is planning to do to fulfil these expectations?

5.5. Current Budget restrictions

34 The budget approved by the IOC Assembly did not reinforce the contribution to JCOMM programmes. Compared to the original proposal tabled at the Assembly in fact the contribution was seen as being reduced. And JCOMM is not the only case. At the end of the last Assembly, when approving the Programme and Budget Resolution, an important change was adopted following a proposal from the USA endorsed by the Assembly, that instead of having half of the support for WCRP from the regular budget and half from a Voluntary Trust Fund, IOC should contribute the whole from regular budget. This decision is having implications that might alter significantly the budget composition of all programmes and is creating serious difficulties to

IOC/EC-XXXIX/2 Annex 1 page 7 fulfil this obligation. I sincerely hope that these budgetary issues are revised by the intra-sessional working group, with a view of finding a reasonable solution.

35 As a result of the reduced budget for this biennium [2006–2007], IOC adopted the decision to reduce and concentrate the programme, exploiting the synergies between different areas. Today we have three main lines of action: 1) Ocean Science, 2) Ocean Observations and Ocean Services, 3) Capacity Building. Ocean Observation and Services include GOOS, IODE and the support for JCOMM. This new scheme leaves all the Policy activities directly under my responsibility as well as the new Tsunami Unit, which is also directly attached to the Office of the ADG. The different regional programme and project offices are attached to each of the programmes that finance them, with exception of the only two Secretariats for WESTPAC and IOCARIBE. The amount that was left available for regional activities, after paying for the staff and fixed cost of the regional apparatus is of US$ 75,000, for two years and for seven regional bodies. This is clearly unsustainable. The cost in personnel for IOC is a significant budgetary burden since in contrast with other programmes in UNESCO, IOC has a disproportional ration between staff covered by the UNESCO Staff Allocation and personnel that must be financed by other means. Today we have 8 Professional and 11 General Service posts financed by the Staff Allocation, while we have a total Staff annually, including long-term consultants, of over 53 people. If there is an area in which UNESCO could help to give stability to IOC and at the same time increasing its ownership of the Commission, is in steadily increasing the number of Posts financed by the Staff Allocation.

36 IOC can choose to use the extraordinary window of opportunity originating in its successful leadership and increased visibility to provide tsunami early-warning worldwide. This should help IOC to carve a permanent niche in the view of Member States as an organization that can provide useful ocean services, like tsunami early-warning. This promise cannot be delivered without implementing a wide-range capacity-building programme in the developing world financed with development aid. This would allow for a better balance between the international coordination needs that the developed world seeks in IOC’s Programmes and the development needs of the majority of its members coming from the developing world.

37 The bottom line to me is clear and is the following: IOC cannot expand or even maintain its regional coverage and its regional activities and at the same time maintain expanding programmes worldwide with the existing budget.

38 If the budget is the same or is a reduced one, the options are clear. However, if Member States are able and willing to find innovative ways to finance the programme, in a modestly foreseeable way, through voluntary contributions, as they have been doing in the last years, these two apparently contradictory options could be integrated in a more stable medium-term resource plan that could give a positive outlook for IOC’s future.

Restricted Distribution IOC/EC-XXXIX/2 Annex 1 Add.1 Paris, 15 May 2006 Original: English


Thirty-Ninth Session of the Executive Council

Paris, 21–38 June 2006

Agenda Item: 3.2


ADDENDUM 1

IMPLEMENTATION OF IOC GOVERNING BODY RESOLUTIONS

(SC-2006/CONF.201/CLD.8 Add.1)

This document is an addendum to the Report of the Executive Secretary presented to the 39th session of the IOC Executive Council. It provides in a tabulated form:

A) the status of implementation of Resolutions adopted by the Thirty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council (2004) and the Twenty-Third Session of the Assembly (2005), and

B) a review of previous Resolutions from the: − IOC Assembly XIX (1997) − IOC Executive Council XXXI (1998) − IOC Assembly XX (1999) − IOC Executive Council XXXIII (2000) − IOC Assembly XXI (2001) − IOC Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council

(2001) − IOC Executive Council XXXV (2002) − IOC Assembly XXII (2003)

IOC/EC-XXXIX/2 Annex 1 Add.1

Part A

IMPLEMENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE THIRTHY-SEVENTH EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF IOC (23 June–29 June 2004)

Resolution EC-XXXVII.1 Preparation for the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (Barbados+10)

A brochure including the IOC Declaration was prepared and distributed at the International Meeting for the 10-year Review of the Barbados Programme of Action (BPoA +10) 10–14 January, 2005, Port Luis, Mauritius. It was also distributed to IOC Member States and relevant UN agencies and international organizations. The role and contribution of IOC to SIDS sustainable development was highlighted in the Mauritius Strategy adopted by the Summit.

A report on this activity and its follow-up was presented by the Executive Secretary at the 23rd Assembly, which urged SIDS to strengthen their participation in IOC programmes.

Resolution EC-XXXVII.2 The Earth Observation Summit (EOS)

IOC and GOOS have been participating in the process of GEO establishment since the first Earth Observation Summit; IOC Circular Letters were sent for information to Member States on the GEO process. A close collaboration with UNESCO programmes and other UN agencies such as UNEP, FAO and WMO is under way, to ensure that GEO/GEOSS structures and activities optimally interact with the existing structures and activities of the various systems.

IOC also closely collaborates with POGO, in particular, providing GEO with the scientific and technical information on the existing marine observing systems and programmes.

The 23rd Assembly discussed this subject and adopted Resolution XXIII-1 calling for a strengthened communication between GOOS and GEO and for the follow-up of Executive Council decision and continuous attention of Member States on this issue.

Resolution EC-XXXVII.3 The International Polar Year (IPY) 2007–2008

The secretariat has been actively involved in IPY planning in full compliance with this resolution. The GPO director is serving as ex-officio IOC representative on the ICSU/WMO Joint committee for the IPY.

The 23rd Assembly urged Member States concerned to participate actively in the implementation of the IPY Core Projects related to polar oceanography and requested the Executive Secretary to develop a plan for IOC’s participation in IPY scientific initiatives.

IOC/EC-XXXIX/2 Annex 1 Add.1 page 2

Resolution EC-XXXVII.4 The International Co-ordination Group for the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific

An integrated tsunami database for the Pacific and the Indian Ocean has been made available in a CD. Support to ITIC has been provided through regular budget and extra budgetary resources. Member States have indicated their willingness to provide staff secondments. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) have started to provide interim tsunami advisory information to authorized contacts in the Indian Ocean States within and bordering the Indian Ocean. Through Resolution XXIII-12, the 23rd Assembly established an Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System.

Resolution EC-XXXVII.5 Ocean Mapping

International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean (IBCSO) was established jointly with IHO. The first meeting of experts was organized in Alfred Wegener Institute last July 2004. The discussions on the proposal to streamline the ocean mapping supporting mechanisms by bringing together GEBCO and IBC’s under a joint IOC/IHO Ocean Mapping Board were continued. During the intersessional period, several countries such as Canada, China, Italy, Russian Federation expressed their disagreement with the above-mentioned proposal.

Resolution EC-XXXVII.6 Review of the Structure of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)

The secretariat invited Member States to submit their comments on the draft terms of reference with some delay was due to lack of sufficient manpower in the secretariat. The responses received and were summarised in document IOC-XXIII/2 Annex 4 and discussed under Item 4.4.1 by the 23rd Assembly.

The views of the GOOS co-sponsors (UNEP, ICSU and WMO) were also solicited and incorporated within the Working Paper. The 23rd Assembly adopted Resolution XXIII-5, with the revised terms of reference for IGOOS and the GSSC.

Resolution EC-XXXVII.7 Eighth Session of IOC Sub-Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (IOCARIBE)

IOCARIBE Strategic Science Plan first draft is ready.

The Project “Sustainable Management of the Shared Living Marine Resources of the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem and Adjacent Regions” was approved by GEF and is in its final endorsement process. A Planning Workshop to develop concept paper for PCAC-LME for submission to GEF is planned for the third quarter of 2005.

Third Session of the IOCARIBE-HAB-ANCA was held in Cumanà, Venezuela July 2003. ANCA Action Plan for 2005–2006.

A Joint IOC-UNEP Project Proposal covering the Wider Caribbean, Colombia, Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago was submitted on September 2004 to the Swedish International

IOC/EC-XXXIX/2 Annex 1 Add.1 Page 3

Development Agency (SIDA) to Develop a Project Proposal named “Regional Network in Marine Science and Technology for the Caribbean the “Know-why Network”, for enabling the Land-based Sources of Marine Pollution (LBS) Protocol Implementation. Timeframe 2005–2007. Executing Agency: IOCARIBE.

Workshop for Developing Tools for Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) in Latin America and the Caribbean was organized in Recife, Brazil, 12–13 April 2004.

For enhancing and developing IOC presence in the Caribbean, two IOCARIBE missions were conducted. The first mission was from 13 to 20 of March 2004, led by IOC Executive Secretary to selected CARICOM Member States, accompanied by IOCARIBE Vice-Chairman Mr Bradford Brown and the IOC Secretary for IOCARIBE, Mr Cesar Toro. The Second Mission was undertaken to Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama from 16 to 23 of May 2004 with the participation of the Chairman of IOCARIBE, Dr Marco Polo Bernal, the IOCARIBE Vice-Chair, Dr Guillermo Garcia and the IOC Secretary for IOCARIBE.

The Executive Council endorsed the Executive Report of the Eighth Session of the Sub-Commission and its fourteen recommendations.

Resolution EC-XXXVII.8 Fourth Meeting of the IOC Advisory Body of Experts on the Law of the Sea (IOC/ABE-LOS-IV)

A booklet containing the “Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology” was prepared by the secretariat. Progress on the dissemination of these guidelines was reported to the 23rd Session of the Assembly, as well as the results of the Fifth Meeting of the IOC Advisory Body of Experts on the Law of the Sea (IOC/ABE-LOS-V), held in Buenos Aires, Argentina (11–15 April 2005).

Resolution EC-XXXVII.10 A Strategy for Capacity Building

A final draft Strategy for Capacity-building document has been developed, incorporating comments received from Member States at the 37th EC and further responses to a Circular letter. An associated Implementation Plan, following the guidelines from the EC, has been developed and finalised at an experts workshop held at Paris in March 2005. An assessment of the capacity building carried out by IOC over the last five years has been completed and is being printed as an information document. All the above documents were presented at the 23rd Assembly, which adopted Resolution.


Resolution EC-XXXVII.11 A Plan for the Use of Remote Sensing in Oceanography by Developing Countries

Specific supports were provided to a number of capacity building initiatives in remote sensing including BILKO, IOCCG, PORSEC, Training Workshops in Latin America, Caribbean, Africa and Asia (See the Progress report for the Agenda Item 4.7.3, IOC Plan for Capacity-Building in Remote Sensing in Oceanography).

Resolution EC-XXXVII.12 IOC Programme and Budget for 2006–2007

The 170th Executive Board of UNESCO did not identified IOC within the principal priorities which resulted in a net cut of US$ 900,000 in the draft Programme and Budget, 33 C/5 baseline proposal, compared to 2004–2005. This implied a net reduction in core IOC’s programmes that led to concentrate IOC’s programmes in three Main Lines of Action. One additional staff post for the Operational Observing Systems section was included in the baseline proposal. The instruction regarding the appropriate allocation of permanent professional staff to fulfil effectively and efficiently the IOC’s objectives in the next Medium-term Strategy for 2008–2013, will be prepared once the draft Medium-term Strategy becomes available.


IMPLEMENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE TWENTY-THIRD ASSEMBLY OF IOC (21–23 June 2005)

Resolution XXIII-1 The Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)

To keep the GEO fully informed of the contribution of ocean community as a whole, particularly GOOS as an essential component of GEOSS, the IOC led and coordinated the onset of the “Ocean-United”, a discussion group of experts and representatives of ocean-related organizations/programmes – including GOOS, JCOMM, POGO, and IOC – within the GEO framework. It aims to share the information and continue online discussion on the ongoing issues. To ensure an effectively coordinated role for the UN system in the planning and implementation of GEOSS, the IOC has participated in establishing the UN Interagency Coordination and Planning Committee for GEO/GEOSS (ICPC) in June 2005, together with FAO; UNESCO; UNEP, and WMO. The IOC also have led the GEO Working Group on Tsunami Activities, to create and maximize synergies through close collaboration/ coordination among various national/international post-tsunami activities and that of GEO.

Resolution XXIII-2 Seventh Session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms (IPHAB)

The Work Plan endorsed through Resolution XXIII-2 is being implemented within the availability of funding. The results will be submitted to IPHAB-VIII for review and the 24th Session of the Assembly in 2007 will be presented with the IPHAB-VII recommendation for a work Plan 2007–2008. IPHAB has been invited to be part of the Working Group on Global Ocean Hazard Warning and Mitigation Systems that will work towards the creation of a framework for a global early-warning system for tsunamis and other ocean-related hazards.

Resolution XXIII-3 Census of Marine Life

Prior to the present session of the Executive Council, a circular letter from IODE has been sent to all National Oceanographic Data Centres (NODC) to ask them to inform about potential or existing collaboration between IODE and OBIS. The results will provide the basis for formalisation of future data exchange between IODE and OBIS. A training course was also organised 6 and 11 March 2006 jointly between IODE and MarBEF (Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning, which runs the European node of OBIS). Within the IODE ODINAfrica, there have been several training sessions on Marine Biodiversity Data Management to assist African NODCs in generating input and collaborate with OBIS. Within ODINAfrica IODE will also organize a data mobilization workshop, the first "ODINAFRICA Atlas Data Mining workshop", for 6–16 June 2006, with a view to extracting data from various sources (mainly printed publications) for contribution to the African node of OBIS.


Resolution XXIII-4 International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE)

A formal proposal on a regional Ocean Data and Information Network for WESTPAC may be submitted to IODE-XIX in 2007. Marine libraries from Russia, Bulgaria, Ukraine. Latvia, Croatia, Estonia, and Poland have proposed the establishment of a ODINECET focusing on marine information management. There are similar interests from the Pacific Islands the Black Sea regions but not enough funds from the RP for 2006-2007. Flanders supported several training courses that have assisted with the preparation of ODIN proposals. Within a regional context IODE is actively seeking collaboration with other IOC programmes proposing an end-to-end approach that involves observations (e.g. GLOSS), data management (through the data centres) and product development & dissemination (ICAM). Discussions have also been started with the HAB programme. Formal announcements of establishment of NODCs in IOCINDIO region are expected in 2006. The Government of Flanders is providing financial support to IODE at this moment. No experts have been seconded (yet) in 2006.

Resolution XXIII-5 Terms of Reference of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Global Ocean Observing System (I-GOOS) and the GOOS Scientific Steering Committee (GSSC)

In accordance with the ToRs for I-GOOS, the I-GOOS board met from 9-10 March 2006 in Paris, France. The board consists of Fracois Gerard (Chair), Mary Altalo (Vice -chair), Lin Shao (Vice-chair) and Kouadio Affian (Interim Vice-chair). Draft ToRs for the I-GOOS board were developed and will be submitted to the next meeting of I-GOOS for consideration. In accordance with the ToRs for the GSSC, the GSSC met from 6–8 March 2006 in Paris.

Resolution XXIII-6 Regional Cooperation in Marine Science and Technology and the Role of Regional Subsidiary Bodies

An Intersessional Working Group has been created in April 2006 by the Executive Secretary under the chairmanship of Vice-chairman of IOC, Prof. Mário Ruivo. The Intersessional Working Group has initiated by e-mail a preliminary consultation among the Officers of Regional Subsidiary Bodies on its modalities of work. The discussion will be further considered at the Meeting of IOC Subsidiary Bodies held on the 20th of June, focusing on criteria for assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of regional programmes and their role in implementing regional components of the scientific programme, ocean services and reflected capacity building, structure of the communication, namely in the medium-term strategy 2008–2013 of the Commission.


Resolution XXIII-7 Sixth Session of the IOC Regional Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC)

In relation to the resolutions endorsed at WESTPAC-XI in Vietnam and presented at the GA-38, Resolution SC-WESTPAC-VI.1 (Establishment of an Intersessional Working Group on Reform of Programme and Project Structure) is in the process of completing the membership as earlier suggested. So far, only Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam have confirmed. We are still awaiting responses from Australia, China, Republic of Korea, South Pacific Member States (may be represented by SOPAC), and USA. In relation to Resolution SC-WESTPAC-VI.2 (Establishment of an Inter-sessional Working Group on the Establishment of an Ocean Data and Information Network (ODIN) for WESTPAC) has been implemented with JODC of Japan as chair. The group is now in the process of inviting WESTPAC countries for membership. WESTPAC received a new fund allotment from the Japanese Fund-In-Thrust for 2006 in the amount of US$ for the implementation of its programmes and projects. For the same purpose, China has committed US$20,000 and will second a Chinese Expert to the WESTPAC Office in Bangkok this year. In addition WESTPAC was able to raise US$122,540 for the implementation of the International Workshop: Post-Disaster Assessment and Monitoring of Changes in Coastal and Ocean Systems in the Indian Ocean and Asian Waters” (Phuket, Thailand, 20–23 February 2006).

Resolution XXIII-8 Fifth Meeting of the IOC Advisory Body of Experts on the Law of the Sea (IOC/ABE-LOS V)

A new IOC/ABE-LOS website was opened to provide all the relevant information on IOC activities related to UNCLOS (Recommendation 1.a of IOC/ABE-LOS V). An “Orientation Guide” was elaborated and the “Roster of Experts” was established to provide advise/guidance to Member States to develop legislation and practice on marine scientific research and transfer of marine technology (Recommendation 1.b of IOC/ABE-LOS V). The “Procedure for the application of Article 247 of UNCLOS by the IOC” was adopted; it was welcomed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA Resolution A/60/30). Progress was made by the sub-group on the “IOC Legal Framework within the context of UNCLOS which is applicable to the Collection of Oceanographic Data” (Recommendation 1.3 of IOC/ABE-LOS V). The Sixth Meeting of IOC/ABE-LOS was held in Málaga, Spain from 3-7 April 2006. All the above documents and information mentioned are available at: http://ioc3.unesco.org/abelos/

Resolution XXIII-9 IOC Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology

The Criteria and Guidelines on Transfer on Marine Technology were actively promoted within the relevant international fora and the within the IOC activities, particularly in the establishment of Tsunami Warning and

http://ioc3.unesco.org/abelos


Mitigation Systems. (Recommendation 1.c of IOC/ABE-LOS V). The Publication on Criteria and Guidelines on Transfer on Marine Technology was disseminated within the International Community.

Resolution XXIII-10 IOC Principles and Strategy for Capacity-building

The regional assessments of existing capacity began in the Western Indian Ocean by visits of several marine institutes in the region. The visits and discussions with scientists and directors provided valuable insight to guide future capacity-development activities, and comparison with previous surveys shows a rapid growth in scientific capacity in the region, especially in qualification of researchers. A major grant was obtained from the Swedish International Development Agency to support IOC capacity-development activities, and a brochure has been prepared to present activities to other potential sponsors, who are still urgently needed.

Resolution XXIII-11 Implementation Plan for the IOC Principles and Strategy for Capacity-building

A leadership workshop was held for directors of institutes in the IOCWIO region in Maputo, Mozambique, 29 October to 1 November 2005, and another in Kingston, Jamaica, 15-19 May 2006, for directors in the IOCARIBE region. Activities planned to develop Decision Support Systems in East Africa were presented and discussed at the 9th Session of the GOOS Scientific Steering Committee in Paris, 6-8 March 2006. Harmonisation of capacity-development activities with other sections of IOC has been strengthened, and contacts were established with the other sectors of UNESCO to prepare cross-sectoral harmonisation.

Resolution XXIII-12 Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System

The ICG/IOTWS met at its First Session in Perth, Australia on 3–5 August 2005. It elected the officers and established five working groups: (a) Seismic measurements; (b) Sea-level data; (c) Risk assessment; (d) Modelling and forecasting; and (e) Interoperability. The ICG had its Second Session in Hyderabad, India on 14–16 December 2005. To address awareness and preparedness, IOC and ISDR will conduct a coordination workshop from 14 to 16 June 2006 in Bangkok.

Resolution XXIII-13 Establishment of an Intergovernmental Coordination Group for Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions

The First Session of the ICG/CARIBE-EWS met in Bridgetown, Barbados, on 10–12 January 2006. The meeting elected the officers and established four working groups: (a) Tsunami and coastal inundation hazard risk assessment and research; (b) Monitoring and detection systems, warning guidance; (c) Warning, dissemination and communication; and (d) Preparedness, readiness and resilience. During SC-IOCARIBE-IX (Cartagena, 19-22 April 2006) a 22-item action plan was adopted based on the recommendations of the working groups.


Resolution XXIII-14 Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and connected seas

The First Session of the ICG/NEAMTWS was held in Rome on 21–22 November 2005 and (a) elected the officers of the ICG; (b) defined the scope of work of four intersessional working groups (Hazard assessment, risk and modelling; Seismic and geophysical measurements; Sea level measurements; and Advisory, mitigation and public awareness); (c) set a initial series of national focal points to receive tsunami warning; and (d) identified milestones for the work of the ICG/NEAMTWS during 2006–2007. The second session of the ICG/NEAMTWS was held in Nice from 22 to 24 May 2006.

Resolution XXIII-15 Establishment of a Framework for the Global Tsunami and Other Ocean-Related Hazards Early Warning System

The Working Group on Global Ocean Hazard Warning and Mitigation Systems (GOHWMS), composed of the chairpersons of the existing regional tsunami early warning and mitigation systems and of the IOC subsidiary bodies GOOS, JCOMM, IPHAB and IODE, with representatives of WMO, ISDR, GEO and IMO as invited observers will meet during the Executive Council at its 39th session. The Working Group will discuss draft TOR for its scope and modalities of work.

Resolution XXIII-16 IOC Programme and Budget for 2006–2007

Approved 33 C/5


Part B

REVIEW OF PAST RESOLUTIONS

RESOLUTION IMPLEMENTATION STATUS

XIXth Assembly (1997)

Resolution XIX-1 Fourth Session of the IOC Intergovernmental Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms (IPHAB)

IOC-XX/3, para. 100 & 101 RES. XX-3 RES. EC-XXXIII.3

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XIX-2 Ocean Science in relation to Non-Living Resources (OSNLR)

IOC-XX/3, para. 73 & 74 IOC/INF-1121

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XIX-3 Ocean Mapping

IOC XXI/3, para. 239 RES. XX-5

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XIX-4 Restructuring of GIPME Programme Activities

IOC-XX/3, Item 3.3 IOC/EC-XXXIII/3, Item 4.1.5 IOC-XXI/3, Item 5.1.4.

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XIX-5 Marine Science and Observation Inputs to ICAM

IOC/EC-XXXI/3, Item 5.7 RES. EC-XXXI.5

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XIX-6 Third Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Global Ocean Observing System (I-GOOS)

IOC/EC-XXXI/3, Item 5.5 (specially para. 196-197) IOC-XX/3, Item 5.1 (specially para. 197)

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XIX-7 GOOS Capacity Building

IOC/EC-XXXI/3, Item 5.5.1 IOC-XX/3, para. 192 IOC/EC-XXXIII/3, para. 207 IOC-XXI/3, para. 187-188

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XIX-8 Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS)

IOC Technical Series No. 50, UNESCO 1997 (English)

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XIX-9 IOC Sub-Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions

IOC-XXI/3, para. 277 IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XIX-10 Fourth Session of the IOC Regional Committee for the Co-Operative Investigation in the North and Central Western Indian Ocean (IOCINCWIO-IV)

RES. EC-XXXI.7 IOC-XX/3, Item 6.1.4 IOC/EC-XXXIII/3, Item 4.4.3 (specially para. 320) IOC-XXI/3, Item 5.4.5 (para. 297)

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XIX-11 IOC Regional Committee for the Central Indian Ocean

IOC-XX/3, Item 6.1.5. RES. XX-16 IOC/EC-XXXIII/3, Item 4.4.1 (specially para. 282 & 294)

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XIX-12 Activities of the IOC Regional Committee for the Southern Ocean (IOCSOC)

IOC-XX/3, Item 6.1.3 IOC/EC-XXXIII/3, Item 4.4.5 (i) RES. EC-XXXIII.14 IOC-XXI/3, para. 292 IOC/EC-XXXV/3, para. 30

IMPLEMENTED


RESOLUTION IMPLEMENTATION STATUS Resolution XIX-13 Matters Relating to the Economic and Social Inputs of the Ocean/Atmosphere Phenomenon El Nino and The Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

IOC/EC-XXXI/3, Items 5.1.3–5.1.4 IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XIX-14 IOC Activities in the Caspian Sea

IOC-XXI/3, Item 6.1.9 RES. XX-19 IOC/EC-XXXIII/3, Item 4.4.4 (specially para. 335 & 339) IOC-XXI/3, Item 5.4.10 & para. 393

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XIX-15 Resolution for DOSS-2

IOC/EC-XXXI/3, Item 6 RES. EC-XXXI.14 IOC/EC-XXXII/3, Item 4 IOC-XX/3, Item 2.4 RES. XX-1

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XIX-16 Support for the Global Programme of Action for Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities

IOC-XXI/3, Item 4.2.2 IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XIX-17 Synthesis -Assessment of Ocean Science

IOC/EC-XXXI/3, Item 4.2 IOC-XXI/3, Item 9.2 Oceans 2020 IOC/SCOR/SCOPE

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XIX-18 1998 International Year of the Ocean

IOC/EC-XXXI/3, Item 7 RES. EC-XXXI.11 IOC-XX/3, Item 10 RES. XX-24

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XIX-19 IOC and UNCLOS

IOC-XX/3, Item 9.3 RES. XX-6 IOC-XXI/3, Item 4.2.1 RES. XXI-2 IOC/EC-XXXIII/3, Item 6.2 IOC/EC-XXXV/3, Item 6.1 RES. EC-XXXV.7

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XIX-20 Programme and Budget 1998–1999

Approved 29 C/5 IMPLEMENTED

XXXIst Executive Council (1998)

Resolution EC-XXXI.l The Development of an International Science Programme on the Global Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (GEOHAB)

IOC-XX/3, para. 101-110 IOC/EC-XXXIII/3, para. 83-85 RES. EC-XXXIII.3 IOC-XXI/3, Item 5.1.3 (i) GEOHAB, 2001. Global Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms. Science Plan.

IMPLEMENTED


RESOLUTION IMPLEMENTATION STATUS Resolution EC-XXXI.2 Ocean Sciences in Relation to Living Resources (OSLR)

IOC-XX/3, Item 3.4. General OSLR IOC/EC-XXXIII/3, Item 4.1.6 IOC-XXI/3, Item 5.1.5 RES. XXI-6 IOC/EC-XXXV/3, Item 4.2.2

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXX1.3 International Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific (ITSU) and other IDNDR-related Activities

IOC/EC-XXXIII/3, Item 4.2.2 RES. EC-XXXIII.5 & 6 IOC-XXI/3, para. 281 & 392 IOC-XXI/3, para. 388

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXXI.4 IOC Support of Efforts to Reduce Vandalism of Oceanographic Equipment at Sea

IOC/EC-XXXIII/3, para. 202 UN Resolution A/RES/54/31

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXXI.5 Marine Science and Observation Inputs into Integrated Coastal Area Management (ICAM)

IOC-XX/3, Item 3.2 IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXX1.6 Pan-African Conference on Sustainable Integrated Coastal Management (PACSICOM) and the African Ocean Days (AOD 1998)

IOC-XX/3, Item 6.2 RES. XX-20, 21 & 22 IOC/EC-XXXIII/3 Item 4.4.1 IOC/EC-XXXIII/3 Item 4.4.2 IOC/EC-XXXIII/3 Item 4.4.3 RES. EC-XXXIII-11, 12 & 13 IOC-XXI/3 Items 5.4.5, 5.4.7 & 5.4.12. RES. XXI-11 IOC/EC-XXXV/3, Item 4.5.2

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXX1.7 Priority Africa

IOC-XX/3, Item 6.2 RES. XX-20, 21 & 22 IOC/EC-XXXIII/3, Item 4.4.1 IOC/EC-XXXIII/3, Item 4.4.2 IOC/EC-XXXIII/3, Item 4.4.3 RES. EC-XXXIII.11, 12 & 13 IOC-XXI/3, Items 5.4.5, 5.4.7 & 5.4.12 RES. XXI-11 IOC/EC-XXXV/3, Item 4.5.2

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXX1.8 Integrated Global Observing System (IGOS)

IOC-XX/3, para. 406-410 IOC/EC-XXXIII/3, para. 210-212

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXXI.9 Inventories of Coastal Monitoring Systems

IOC-XX/3, para. 183 IOC-WMO-UNEP-ICSU/GSC-III/3, Item 4.1.1.2 IOC-WMO-UNEP-ICSU/GSC-IV/3, Item 6.2.3.4 I-GOOS-VI/36B

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC XXX1.10 Global Ocean Observing System

IOC-XX/3, para. 168 RES. XX-7

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXX1.11 1998 International Year of the Ocean

Document IOC-XX/2 Annex 9 IOC-XX/3, Item. 10 RES. XX-24

IMPLEMENTED


RESOLUTION IMPLEMENTATION STATUS Resolution EC-XXX1.12 IOC Programme and Budget for 2000-2001 (Draft 30 C/5)


Resolution EC-XXX1.13 Joint Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM)

IOC-XX/3, Item 5.4. RES. XX-12

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXXI.14 Progress Report of the Ad Hoc Study Group on IOC Development, Operation, Structure and Statutes (DOSS-2)

IOC-XXXII/3, Item 4 IOC-XX/3, Item 2.4 RES. XX-1

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXX1.15 IOC Statement to the Seventh Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development

UN-CSD 7th Session Report [E/1999/29-E/CN.17/1999/20]

IMPLEMENTED

XXth Assembly (1999)

Resolution XX-1 Statutes of the Commission

30 C/58 30 C/Resolution 22

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XX-2 Measurement and Management of Submarine Groundwater – Discharge (SDG) in the Coastal Zone as a Contribution to the IOC/ICAM Programme

IOC/INF-1140 IOC-XXXII/3, para. 102 IOC-XXI/3, para. 143, 144, 145

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XX-3 The Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Programme

IOC-XXXIII/3, para. 86 & 90 IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XX-4 International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange System (IODE)

IOC/IODE-XVI/3, Items 4.4, 5 & 11 IOC-XXI/3, para. 217

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XX-5 Ocean Mapping

IOC-XXI/3, para. 238 RES. XXXIII-7 IOC-XXXIII/3, para. 407 & 423 IOC-XXI/3, para. 377

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XX-6 The Argo Project

IOC-XXXIII/3, para. 65 & 66 IOC-XXI/3, para. 53 & 131

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XX-7 The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)

IOC-XXXIII/3, Item 4.3.1 IOC-XXI/3, Item 5.2.1

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XX-8 Revised Terms of Reference for I-GOOS

No action needed IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XX-9 The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)

IOC-XXXIII/3, para. 204 IOC-XXI/3, para. 182

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XX-10 The Permanent Commission for the South Pacific (CPPS)

IOC-XXII, Item 4.5.4 IMPLEMENTED


RESOLUTION IMPLEMENTATION STATUS Resolution XX-11 Oceanographic Data Exchange Policy

IOC/INF-1144 IOC-XXXIII/3, Item 4.2.1 IOC-XXI/3, Item 4.6 IOC-XXII, Item 4.3.2 Res.XXII-6

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XX-12 The Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM)

IOC-XXXIII/3, Item 4.3.2 IOC-XXI/3, Item 5.2.2 (i) IOC-XXXV/3, Item 4.4.3 IOC-XXII, Item 4.4.4

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XX-13 Fourth Session of the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (IOC/WESTPAC)

IOC-XXI/3, Item 5.4.2 IOC-XXII, Item 4.5.2

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XX-14 The IOCARIBE Sub-Commission

IOC-XXI/3, Item 5.4.3 IOC-XXXV/3, Item 4.5.1

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XX-15 Establishment of a Regional IOCINCWIO Office

IOC-XXXIII/3, Item 4.4.3 IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XX-16 Implementation of IOCINDIO Work plan and Establishment of a Regional Support Office

IOC-XXXIII/3, para. 290 IOC-XXXIII/3, Item 4.4.1

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XX-17 IOC Regional Committee for the Central Eastern Atlantic (IOCEA)

IOC-XXXIII/3, Item 4.4.2 IOC-XXXIII/3, para. 297 & 300

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XX-18 Black Sea Regional Committee (BSRC)

IOC-XXI/3, Item 5.4.8 Res. XXI-10

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XX-19 IOC Activities Related to the Caspian Sea

IOC-XXXIII/3, Item 4.4.2 IOC-XXI/3, Item 5.4.10 IOC-XXI/3, para. 393

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XX-20 Pan-African Conference on Sustainable Integrated Coastal Management (PACSICOM)

IOC-XXXIII/3, para. 207 Res. EC-XXXIII.13 IOC-XXI/3, Item 5.4.12 Res. XXI-11 IOC/INF-1169 IOC-XXXV/3, Item 4.5.2 IOC-XXII, Item 4.5.3

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XX-21 Priority Africa

IOC-XXXIII/3, para. 298, 299, 301, 320, 321, 332 Res. EC-XXXIII.13 IOC-XXI/3, para. 363 Res. XXI-11 IOC-XXXV/3, para. 167. IOC-XXII, Item 4.5.3

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XX-22 Ocean Data and Information Network for Africa - Second Phase (ODINAFRICA-II)

IOC-XXXIII/3, para. 324 IMPLEMENTED


RESOLUTION IMPLEMENTATION STATUS Resolution XX-23 Regional Secretariat Office of the Sub-Commissions for IOCARIBE and WESTPAC


Resolution XX-24 Follow-up Actions to the 1998 International Year of the Ocean

IOC-XXI/3, Item 6.2 Only very few actions have been taken for implementation of this resolution due to lack of resources.

PENDING

Resolution XX-24 IOC Programme and Budget for 2000-2001


XXXIIIrd Executive Council (2000)

Resolution EC-XXXIII.l Medium-Term Strategy of UNESCO (31 C/4)


Resolution EC-XXXIII.2 External Evaluation Team Report

IOC-XXI/2 Annex 3 IOC-XXI/3, Item 4.4 IOC/EC–XXXV/2 Annex 3 IOC/EC–XXXV/3, Item 3.3 IOC-XXII, Item 4.1.6 IOC/EC–XXXVII/3, Item 4.1.2 IOC-XXII/3, Item 4.1.3

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXXII1.3 Fifth Session of the IOC Intergovernmental Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms (IPHAB-V)

IOC-XXI/3, Item 5.1.3(i) IOC-XXII, Item 4.2.3

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXXIII.4 IOC Oceanographic Data Exchange Policy

IOC-XXI/3, Item 4.6 IOC-XXI/3 Annex V IOC/INF-1175 IOC-XXII, Item 4.3.2 Res. XXII-6

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXXIII.5 International Coordination Group for the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific (ICG/ITSU) 7

IOC-XXI/3, para. 242, 245 & 281 IOC/EC–XXXV/3, para. 153

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXXIII.6 Storm Surges Project Proposal

IOC-XXI/2 Annex 10 IOC-XXI/3, para. 308, 388 & 392

SUPERSEDEDby the

establishment of ICG/IOTWS

Resolution EC-XXXIII.7 General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO)

IOC-XXI/3, para. 237 & 238 IOC/INF-1153 Res. XXI-9

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXXIII.8 Data Buoy Cooperation Panel


Resolution EC-XXXIII.9 Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS)

IOC-XXII, Item 4.4.5. IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXXIII.10 Global Climate Observing System

IOC-XXI/3, Item 5.2.4 IOC-XXII/3, Item 4.4.3

IMPLEMENTED


RESOLUTION IMPLEMENTATION STATUS Resolution EC-XXXIII.11 Third Session of the IOC Committee for the Central Indian Ocean (IOCINDIO-III)

IOC-XXI/2 Annex 10 IOC-XXI/3, Item 5.4.6 IOC-XXI/3, para. 308, 388 & 392 IOGOOS First Conference

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXXIII.12 Fifth Session of the IOC Regional Committee for the Central Eastern Atlantic (IOCEA-V)

IOC-XXI/3, Item 5.4.7 Res. XXI-11 (3)

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXXIII.13 African Concerns

IOC-XXI/3, Item 5.4.7 Res. XXI-11 IOC/INF-1169 IOC/EC–XXXV/3, Item 4.5.2 IOC-XXII, Item 4.5.3

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXXIII.14 IOC Regional Committee for the Southern Ocean (IOCSOC)

IOC-XXI/3, Item 5.4.4 IOC/EC–XXXV/3, para. 30

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXXIII.15 Training-Through-Research Concept and the Floating University Project


Resolution EC-XXXIII.16 United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (UNICPOLOS)

UN ICP II Report [A/56/121] IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXXIII.17 Cuts in the Regular Budget

IOC-XXI/3, para. 26, 418 IOC-XXII, Item 3.4. & 5.1 Res. XXII-14

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution EC-XXXIII.18 Incompressibility of the Regular Budget

IOC-XXI/3, para. 26, 418 IOC-XXII, Item 3.4 & 5.1 Res. XXII-14

IMPLEMENTED

XXIst Assembly (2001)

Resolution XXI-1 Administration and Management

IOC/EC–XXXV/3, Item 4.1.1 IOC-XXII/3, Item 4.1.4

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXI-2 IOC and UNCLOS

IOC/EC–XXXV/3, Item 6.1 Res. XXXV-7

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXI-3 Preparation for the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)

IOC/EC–XXXV/3, para. 70 IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXI-4 IOC Rules of Procedure

IOC/EC–XXXV/3, Item 4.2 IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXI-5 Further Development, Consolidation and Strengthening of IOC

IOC/EC–XXXV/3, Item 4.1.3 IOC-XXII/3, Item 4.1.2

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXI-6 Restructuring of the Ocean Science Programmes of the Commission

IOC/EC–XXXV/3, Item 4.2.2 IOC-XXII/3, Item 4.2.2.

IMPLEMENTED


RESOLUTION IMPLEMENTATION STATUS Resolution XXI-7 A Review of the Structure of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)

IOC/EC–XXXV/3, Item 4.4.1 IOC-XXII/3, Item 4.4.2 IOC/EC-XXXVII, Item 4.4.1 IOC/EC-XXXVII, Item 4.4.1 IOC-XXIII/3, Item 4.4.1

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXI-8 International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange System (IODE)

Res. XXXV-6 IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXI-9 Ocean Mapping

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXI-10 IOC Black Sea Regional Committee (BSRC)

IOC-XXII/3, para. 184 IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXI-11 African Priorities

IOC/INF-1169 IOC-XXII/3, Item 4.7.4 Res. XXII-10 Approved 32 C/5 (Cross-cutting projects)

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXI-12 Co-operation with the International Ocean Institute

IOC-XXII/2 Annex 2 IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXI-13 Programme and Budget for 2002-2003

Approved 32 C/5 Res. EC-XXXV.8

IMPLEMENTED

Extraordinary Executive Council (December 2001)

Resolution EC-Ext. 1.1 Preparation for the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)

IOC/EC–XXXV/3, para. 2, 71, 80 IOC-XXII/3, para. 5

IMPLEMENTED

XXXVth Executive Council (2002)

Resolution XXXV-1 The International Co-ordination Group for the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific

IOC-XXII/3, para. 10 PENDING The draft evaluation of the tsunami programme was cancelled

Resolution XXXV-2 IOC Strategic Plan for Oceanographic Data and Information Management

IOC-XXII/3, Item 4.3.1 IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXXV-3 Feasibility of Establishing a Regular Process for the Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment

IOC-XXII/3, Item 4.1.5 Res. XXII-2 IOC/EC-XXXVII/3, Item 4.1.1 IOC/EC-XXXIX, Item 4.1.1 (Foreseen)

IMPLEMENTED


RESOLUTION IMPLEMENTATION STATUS Resolution XXXV-4 First Session of the Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM-I)

IOC/EC-XXXVII, Item 4.4.3 IOC-XXIII/3, Item 4.4.3 IOC/EC-XXXIX, Item 4.3.1 (Foreseen)

IMPLEMENTED (continuous)

Resolution XXXV-5 Seventh Intergovernmental Session of the IOC Sub-Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (IOCARIBE-VII)

IOC/EC-XXXVII/3, Item 4.5.1 IOC/EC-XXXIX, Item 4.5.2 (Foreseen)

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXXV-6 Ocean Data and Information Network for the Caribbean and South American Regions (ODINCARSA)

IOC-XXII/3, para. 147, 159 IOC-XXIII/3, para. 122

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXXV-7 Second Meeting of the IOC Advisory Body of Experts on the Law of the Sea (IOC/ABE-LOS II)

IOC/-XXII/3, item 4.6.1 Res. XXII-12

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXXV-8 IOC Programme and Budget for 2004-2005


XXIIst Assembly (2003)

Resolution XXII-1 Guidelines for the Establishment of Decentralised Offices

IOC/EC-XXXVII/2 Annex 13 IOC/EC-XXXVII/3, Item 4.5.4 IOC/INF-1193

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXII-2 Feasibility of Establishing a Regular Process for the Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment

IOC/EC-XXXVII/3, Item 4.1.1 IOC/EC-XXXIX, Item 4.1.1 (Foreseen)

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXII-3 Improved Governance of IOC Affairs within UNESCO

31 C/4 (UNESCO Medium-term Strategy, 2002-2007)

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXII-4 Review of the Structure of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)

IOC/EC-XXXVII/3, Item 4.4.1 Res. EC-XXXVII.6 IOC-XXIII/3, Item 4.4.1 Res. XXIII-5

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXII-5 Sixth Session of the IOC Intergovernmental Panel On Harmful Algal Blooms (IPHAB)

IOC-XXIII/3, Item 4.2.3 Res. XXIII-2

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXII-6 IOC Oceanographic Data Exchange Policy

No action requested


RESOLUTION IMPLEMENTATION STATUS Resolution XXII-7 International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE)

IOC-XXIII/3, Item 4.3.2 Res. XXIII-4 IOC/EC-XXXIX, Item 4.3.3 (foreseen)

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXII-8 Sixth Session of the IOC Intergovernmental Committee for the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)

IOC/EC-XXXVII/3, Item 4.4.2 IOC-XXIII/3, Item 4.4.2 IOC/EC-XXXIX, Item 4.3.2

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXII-9 Memorandum of Understanding between ICES and IOC

IOC/EC-XXXVII/3, Item 4.1.3

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXII-10 Fifth Session of IOC Regional Committee for the Co-operative Investigation in the North and Central Western Indian Ocean (IOCINCWIO)

IOC/EC-XXXIX, Item 4.5.3 (Foreseen)

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXII-11 IOC Activities in the Caspian Sea Region

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXII-12 Third Meeting of the IOC Advisory Body of Experts on the Law of the Sea (IOC/ABE–LOS-III)

IOC/EC-XXXVII/3, Item 4.6.1 Res. EC-XXXVII.8 IOC-XXIII/3, Item 4.6.1 Res. XXIII-8 Res. XXIII-9

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXII-13 A Strategy for the Use of Remote Sensing in Oceanography

IOC/EC-XXXVII/3, Item 4.7.2 IOC/EC-XXXVII/2 Annex 15 Res. EC-XXXVII.10

IMPLEMENTED

Resolution XXII-14 Programme and Budget for 2004–2005

32 C/5 (UNESCO Medium-term Strategy, 2002-2007)

IMPLEMENTED

Restricted Distribution IOC/EC-XXXIX/2 Annex 1 Add.2 Paris, 15 May 2006 Original: English


Thirty-Ninth Session of the Executive Council

Paris, 21–38 June 2006

Agenda Item: 3.2


ADDENDUM 2

STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE IOC EXTERNAL EVALUATION REPORT

Prepared by the Secretariat

(SC-2006/CONF.201/CLD.8 Add.2)

In conformity with decisions adopted by the 21st Assembly, the Executive Council at its 35th session, the 22nd Assembly, the Executive Council at its 37th session and the 23rd Assembly, this document provides a consolidated report on the actions undertaken and the progress achieved in the fulfilment of the recommendations contained in the IOC External Evaluation Report (doc. IOC/EC-XXXIII/2 Annex 3; 2000) and a post-evaluation of the results achieved in the last six years compared to the original recommendations. Many of the recommendations have been integrated in the IOC Medium Term Strategy (2004–2007) or in the IOC statutory documents and consequently are not reported in detail here.

This internal document is complementary with documents IOC-XXI/2 Annex 3 (Assembly, 2001), IOC/EC-XXXV/2 Annex 3 (Executive Council, 2002), IOC-XXII/2 Annex 8 (Assembly, 2003) and IOC/EC-XXXVII/2 Annex 3 (Executive Council, 2004).

IOC/EC-XXXIX/2 Annex 1 Add.2

1 Following the discussion of item 4.1.3, “Prioritized Follow-up of Key Recommendations of the External Evaluation” at the 23rd Assembly, China highlighted the fact that some issues might still need follow-up and suggested a post evaluation study to be prepared by the Secretariat to evaluate the results achieved in the last six years compared to the original recommendations. The Assembly decided to discontinue the follow-up of the key recommendations of the External Evaluation as instructed in previous IOC governing-body meetings and accepted the proposal of China. The Assembly then instructed the Executive Secretary to conduct a post-evaluation study to evaluate the results achieved in the last six years relative to the original recommendations and to report to the Officers Meeting in January 2006, and, if appropriate, submit the results of this assessment to the Executive Council at its 39th Session.

2 The external evaluation report of 2000 provided forty-one (41) recommendations dealing with:

(a) IOC leadership as the UN specialized agency for the oceans supported by UNESCO (recommendations 1, 2, 2.1, 2.5, 3.3);

(b) Improved programme strategic planning, management and evaluation, and administrative procedures (recommendations 2.3, 2.10, 3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.5, 3.7, 3.8, 4.1, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.11, 4.14);

(c) Strengthened long-term capacity, both in human resources and financial terms, to manage programmes (recommendations 2.1, 4, 4.2, 4.3, 4.9, 4.10, 4.12, 4.15);

(d) Qualified and supportive engagement of Member States in the work of the IOC (recommendations 2.4, 2.7, 3.8, 4, 4.3, 4.13, 4.15);

(e) Enhanced cooperation with other agencies of the UN system and international programmes (recommendations 2, 2.2, 2.8, 2.9, 3.6, 5, 5.3); and

(f) Improved focus on regional needs and priorities (recommendations 2.6, 3.9, 4.8).

3 Of the recommendations provided by the external evaluation report, thirty-two (32) have been accomplished, six (6) are in progress and three (3) are pending. Fourteen (14) recommendations were accomplished over the period 2001–2003, eleven (11) were accomplished, in full or partly, after 2003, and sixteen (16) require a continuous effort.

4 The implementation of the recommendations shows that the IOC is pursuing and consolidating its international leadership role in marine science and services. This development has been accompanied by an important effort to implement a system of strategic planning and programme evaluation, programme review and restructuring, and streamlined administrative arrangements.

5 Partial accomplishment can be reported for the recommendations concerning regional programmes and activities, in particular their focus on regional priorities, efficiency and effectiveness.

6 Cooperation with other agencies of the UN system, most notably WMO and UNEP, has increased, but additional efforts are required to strengthen linkages with other key actors such as IMO and FAO.


7 Nine new Member States have joined the IOC since 2000, new National Oceanographic Committees are being created — although only in twenty percent of Member States — and there is increased support from Member States to key areas of activity such as tsunami early warning systems and capacity building.

8 Yet the IOC Secretariat remains seriously under-staffed to fully accomplish the mandate of the Commission. The fulfilment of the recommendations concerning the increase of the core professional staff remains pending and critical, as UNESCO did not provide an effective support to the IOC as expected.

9 While strategic planning and administrative efficiency have been substantially improved, the ability of the IOC to effectively deliver its services to Member States requires the leverage of additional resources.

10 In summary, important outstanding issues are:

(a) The need to reinforce the creation of National Oceanographic Commissions;

(b) The urgent steps to be taken to increase the core professional staffing of IOC in the field and at Headquarters;

(c) The need to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of regional activities; and

(d) The need to expand collaboration with other UN agencies.

11 The document will be discussed at the Officers Meeting to be held before the 39th session of the Executive Council. If appropriate, the Executive Council will be requested to take note of advancements and pending issues.


INTERNAL FOLLOW-UP OF KEY RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE EXTERNAL EVALUATION

EXTERNAL EVALUATION REPORT ACTIONS

Part 5.11: CONCLUSIONS

Part 5.21: RECOMMENDATIONS Already accomplished Status Time-frame

1. The oceans represent a unique but seriously threatened global commons whose scientifically based monitoring, understanding, prediction and protection will be vitally important to community welfare and planetary survival in the Twenty-first century.

1. That UNESCO and its Member States seize the opportunity to build on their initial investment in the scientific study of the oceans in the second half of the Twentieth century to provide the urgently needed global leadership in the development of operational oceanographic services for the benefit of all humanity through the Twenty-first century.

IOC identified as one of the flagship programmes of UNESCO in the 31 C/4 Medium-term Strategy (2002-2007), approved by the 31st General Conference of UNESCO

DONE 2001–2002

2. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) has responded effectively to the changing national and international needs for co-ordination and co-operation in oceanography and its current statutes and its governance and working methods are appropriate to the contemporary international situation in marine science. Improvement is needed in a number of areas including the arrangements for national representation, regional co-ordination arrangements and co-operation with other

2. That UNESCO sponsor and support the progressive development of the IOC as the UN specialized agency for the oceans, formally within the UNESCO framework, but working increasingly closely with the WMO and other partner agencies in the UN system.

Cooperation with WMO is being pursued through the creation of JCOMM and its working groups. Specific actions were identified and developed following JCOMM-1 in June 2001 and JCOMM-2 in September 2005. Further cooperation with WMO is being pursued in the development of tsunami early warning systems. Close coordination with UNEP in regional seas, GPA, Global Assessment; with IMO in GESAMP; with FAO in GOOS, GESAMP, Fisheries Indicator, HAB and UN Atlas of the Ocean; with IAEA Monaco Laboratory, and with DOALOS through IOC/ABE-LOS.

DONE

Continuous

1 Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of the External Evaluation Report (IOC/EC-XXXIII/2 Annex 3)





international organizations. The opportunity exists for the IOC to assume a proactive leadership role in international marine affairs in the Twenty-first century

2.1 The IOC possesses the experience, structure, linkages and scientific competence to contribute more strongly to the total science effort of UNESCO and to the broader UN system.

2.1 That the UNESCO Director-General, Executive Board and General Conference endorse a new and more proactive leadership role for the IOC in international marine science and services based on a substantially strengthened commitment to the role of the Commission as a central element of the science mission of UNESCO.

Open-ended Informal UN Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea, 2nd Meeting (7 – 11 May 2001, New York), and 3rd Meeting (5-16 April 2002, New York), 4th Meeting (2-6 June 2003), 5th Meeting (7-11 June 2004), 6th Meeting (6-10 June 2005) and 7th Meeting (12-16 June 2006).

Report to the 56th (2001/2002), 57th (2002/2003), 58th (2003/2004), 59th (2004/2005) and 60th (2005/2006) sessions of the UN General Assembly.

DONE 2001–2006

2.2 The ICSPRO (Inter-secretariat Committee on Scientific Programmes Relating to Oceanography) Agreement is no longer working effectively and is in urgent need of reactivation or replacement by something more suited to contemporary needs.

2.2 That UNESCO and the IOC, in partnership with the other ICSPRO (Inter-secretariat Committee on Scientific Programmes Relating to Oceanography) agencies, review the appropriateness of the ICSPRO mechanism with a view to its rejuvenation or replacement by some new mechanism more suited to contemporary needs.

Following the discontinuing of SOCA in 2001, in 2003 the United Nations System Chief Executives Board (CEB/2003/7) endorsed the creation of an Oceans and Coastal Areas Network (subsequently renamed UN-OCEANS) to establish an effective, transparent and regular inter-agency coordination mechanism on ocean and coastal issues within the United Nations system. The IOC holds the coordination of UN-OCEANS and leads its Task Force on Post-Tsunami Response.

DONE Continuous





2.3 The new IOC statutes provide an appropriate legal and organizational framework for the future development of the Commission but they need to be supported by appropriate rules of procedure and agreed administrative structures and practices.

2.3 That new IOC rules of procedure be developed as a matter of urgency to facilitate and support the operation of the new statutes.

DOSS 2 (3 – 16 February 2001) and the 21st Assembly considered and adopted the revised Rules of Procedure.

DONE 2001

2.4 The concept of operation of the Executive Council has proven to be effective and appropriate to the IOC role but it is important, when electing Member States to Council membership, to ensure that the Council retains a high level of specialist oceanographic expertise.

2.4 That Member States nominating for membership of the IOC Executive Council be encouraged to identify individuals with strong personal marine science credentials as their representatives on the Council.

Communication of request: 33rd Executive Council. 21st Assembly. 35th Executive Council. 22nd Assembly. 37th Executive Council. 23rd Assembly.

DONE Continuous

2.5 While the IOC is widely recognised for its scientific expertise, there has been a significant tendency in the past for its input not to be sought in the negotiation and implementation of international conventions and agreements that require substantial marine expertise.

2.5 That the IOC plays a more effective role in global and regional marine conventions and agreements that impose obligations on Member States.

IOC worked more closely with UNEP Regional Seas programme. IOC and UNEP developed a MoU to link IOC programmes to UNEP Regional Seas conventions and action plans. Coordination of workplans with UNEP/GPA-LBA was done.

DONE. Continuous





2.6 The regional substructure of the Commission is poorly defined and largely ineffective with particular problems associated with its ability to provide a working framework for addressing agreed regional marine priorities.

2.6 That the IOC governing bodies undertake a comprehensive review of the regional structure of the Commission with a view to its rationalisation and sharper focussing on regional needs and priorities.

The Guidelines for the Establishment of Decentralized Offices approved by the 22nd Assembly have been complemented with a Concept Paper on the modalities of implementation of IOC Programmes in regions. Following the 23rd Assembly, an Intersessional Working Group on Regional Cooperation has been established with a view to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of IOC Regional Subsidiary Bodies and their role in the IOC long-term plans.

In progress. Discussion being initiated following the establishment of the Inter-sessional Working Group.

2001–2003 2004 2006

2.7 Many Member States do not have effective national co-ordination mechanisms and, in general, the linkages between National IOC Committees (where they exist) and National Commissions for UNESCO are weak or non-existent.

2.7 That Member States, who have not done so, be urged to establish formal national oceanographic committees (National Committees for the IOC) as focal points for IOC within their countries; and that these be established in close collaboration with National Commissions for UNESCO so as to ensure effective linkages between the National Commissions and all those institutions and agencies with an interest in the marine environment.

A Circular Letter was issued in 2002 requesting updated information on the national coordinating body for liaison with the Commission and providing guidance to Member States to constitute Oceanographic National Commissions. A reminder was sent in 2003. Twenty one (21) countries have established national coordinating bodies and/or Oceanographic National Commissions are: Benin, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Mauritius, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Turkey, Tanzania, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Vietnam. Six (6) countries have expressed that they intend to create Oceanographic National Commissions: Argentina, India, Libya, Madagascar, Peru and Togo. After 2000, eight (8) new countries have joined the IOC: Comoros (2000), Namibia (2001), Czech Republic (2005), Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (2005), Kazakhstan (2005), Serbia and Montenegro (2005), Cook Islands (2006), Djibouti (2006)

In progress. 2003–2006

2.8 The IOC has an excellent opportunity through its chairing and Secretariat responsibilities for the new UN ACC-SOCA (United

2.8 That the present IOC role as Chair and Secretariat of the UN ACC-SOCA (United Nations Administrative Committee on

Permanent consultations through SOCA.

Increased communication links with agencies focal points for different areas of programmes.

DONE.

2001–2003





Nations Administrative Committee on Co-ordination - Subcommittee on Oceans and Coastal Areas) to play a much stronger role in the UN handling of marine affairs.

Co-ordination - Subcommittee on Oceans and Coastal Areas) be given high priority and that the IOC communities within Member States be encouraged to develop complementary linkages into the UNCSD (UN Commission for Sustainable Development) process.

SOCA discontinued. See item 2.2

2.9 There is substantial scope to build on the IOC-WMO (World Meteorological Organization) JCOMM (Joint Technical Commission on Oceanography and Marine Meteorology) model to enhance IOC collaboration with several other marine-oriented agencies and programmes in the UN system.

2.9 That the Executive Secretary investigate the scope for stronger and more effective ties with IMO (International Maritime Organization), UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) and the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), based on the IOC-WMO (World Meteorological Organization) JCOMM (Joint Technical Commission on Oceanography and Marine Meteorology) model, with a view to improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the IOC role.

Ocean Atlas and Global Assessment of the Marine Ecosystem open new modes of coordination. Emphasis on networks and task-oriented, time-bound task forces.

In progress.

2001–2006

2.10 The IOC lacks an adequate framework and system for strategic planning and programme evaluation.

2.10 That the IOC governing bodies and Executive Secretary give priority to the development and implementation of an appropriate system of strategic planning and programme

Restructuring of the Ocean Science Section.

New structure of IOC in 31 C/5.

New Structure approved by 21st Assembly.

Internal budgetary system on-line.

DONE. 2000–2001 June 2002





evaluation compatible with the needs and working methods of the Commission.

Draft Medium Term Strategy (2002-2007). Internal oversight audit of performance to IOC special accounts, the governance process in relation to UNESCO governing bodies and expected for IODE. Other programmes may follow.

3. The IOC Programme has an enviable record of achievement over many years but has become too unfocussed and thinly spread to be adequately carried out with the resources available. Although the recent restructuring of the Programme has provided a much more appropriate framework for conduct of the scientific work of the IOC and several individual components of the Programme are now progressing well, the Programme is in need of a much more strategic and focussed leadership if the IOC is to deliver the results which Members expect of it over the coming decade.

3. That the IOC governing bodies and Executive Secretary review and revitalise the IOC programme structure and its planning, priority setting and management systems in line with its new statutes and based on modernised and streamlined arrangements for consultation and communication within the IOC Secretariat and Regional Offices.

31 C/5.

Ocean Sciences restructured and Ocean Observing Systems in a review process.

Intranet fully operational including links with regional offices.

IOC contribution to 31 C/5 by the 21st Assembly approved by the 31st General conference of UNESCO.

IOC pilot unit in using new UNESCO planning tools (SISTER and FABS). Advisory Group for the IOC Ocean Science Section (2005).

DONE. 2001–2005

3.1 The recent regrouping of the IOC’s scientific and technical programmes into Ocean Science, Operational Observing Systems and Ocean Services has significantly improved the IOC programme structure but the IOC currently lacks a well-developed

3.1 That the IOC give very high priority to further review of its scientific and technical programme structure and management with a view to implementing a more strategic and systematic approach to programme planning,

GOOS streamlined with a more flexible planning.

Regular meetings of IOC Officers.

35th Executive Council.

External evaluation carried out and follow-up reported (see documents IOC-XXI/2 Annex 3, IOC/EC-XXXV/2 Annex 3,

DONE. 2001–2003





programme planning, management and evaluation framework.

management and evaluation.

IOC-XXII/2 Annex 8 and IOC/EC-XXXVII/2 Annex 3.

.

3.2 The IOC Ocean Science Programme has served the Commission and IOC Member States extremely well but it is very thinly spread and in need of expert review and re-focusing.

3.2 That the IOC prepare an overall strategic plan for the Commission’s future role in ocean sciences with particular emphasis on ensuring that the plan is realistic and focussed on the identified priorities of Member States.

Science programme reviewed and restructured.

External evaluation (2000). 21st Assembly.

DONE. July 2001

3.3 IOC has played an effective role in the international planning and co-ordination of climate research and its joint sponsorship of climate programmes with WMO, UNEP, ICSU and other international organizations has greatly facilitated a co-operative and integrated international approach to climate research.

3.3 That the IOC maintain and strengthen its role, in partnership with other relevant international organizations, in sponsoring international climate research and, particularly, in involving the relevant science agencies of its Member States in the co-ordinated research effort.

Sponsoring of WCRP and CLIVAR. Continue sponsorship.

DONE. Continuous

3.4 The IOC has performed a valuable role in participation with other organizations in the study of marine pollution but it needs to avoid duplication and overlap with other international programmes.

3.4 That GIPME (Global Investigation of Pollution in the Marine Environment) technical design ensure that the future role of the IOC is compatible with other international mechanisms for dealing with marine pollution whilst also preserving a clear and appropriate role for the IOC.

Review and restructuring of the GIPME programme within the Ocean Science Section.

21st Assembly.

DONE. 2001





3.5 The planning and development of GOOS is proceeding very well but the need to support the wide range of planning and interagency co-ordination activities is placing excessive demands on the GOOS Project Office.

3.5 That the GOOS Steering Committee (GSC) and GOOS Project Office (GPO) continue to explore ways of reducing the complexity of the GOOS organization and the number of GOOS-associated meetings.

Five Committees have been dissolved. The Assembly endorsed a review of the organizational structure of GOOS in 2002 to be carried out by an external independent Review Group. The Review Group was nominated in January 2002 and delivered his Report to the 22nd Assembly. An inter-sessional group chaired by R. Radhakrishnan was charged to further analyse the Report. The review provided new TOR for I-GOOS.

DONE.

2000–2003 2004–2005

3.6 The International Oceanographic Data Exchange (IODE) programme has been very effective in establishing a common framework and standards for exchange of vitally important ocean data. It is performing a continuing valuable function in ensuring that IOC moves with the times in the use of new technologies for data archival and exchange.

3.6 That the IOC continue to strongly support the work of IODE (International Oceanographic Data Exchange) through the Joint Technical Commission on Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) and in other ways and encourage its efforts to establish widely accepted global standards for marine data.

IODE-XVI Resolutions.

2 consultants hired.

21st Assembly supported the work of IODE.

IODE is actively participating in JCOMM.

DONE. Continuous

3.7 The IOC Tsunami Warning (ITSU) programme has been very successful but its extension into regions beyond the Pacific basic will require more resources than can be expected to be available from within the IOC Secretariat. The more direct involvement of potential beneficiary countries will be essential.

3.7 That the International Tsunami Warning (ITSU) programme be examined to establish the extent of the continuing role needed of the IOC with Member States of regions desiring support being encouraged to undertake more direct responsibility for resourcing of the programme.

ITSU Master Plan approved and published, circular letter 1680, 21 February 2001.

ITSU-XVIII session.

Evaluation and extension of programme. IOC entrusted with the establishment of tsunami and other ocean-related hazard early warning systems in all oceans and seas as part of a global operational, multi-purpose detection and multi-hazard warning system (UNESCO Resolution 33/26). Four Intergovernmental Coordinating Groups for Tsunami Early

DONE. 2000–2006





Warning and Mitigation Systems were established in 2005:

– Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWS)

– Intergovernmental Co-ordination Group for the Tsunami and other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean Sea and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARTWS)

– Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and connected Seas (ICG/NEAMTWS)

– Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the Pacific (ICG/PTWS)

3.8 The decision to treat capacity building as an integral part of all of IOC’s scientific and technical programmes, and thus as a crosscutting activity, is appropriate and timely. Because of its importance to so many Member States, IOC’s TEMA (Training, Education and Mutual Assistance) activities need to be carefully assessed to ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness in the overall use of resources.

3.8 That the IOC efforts in Training, Education and Mutual Assistance (TEMA) be strongly endorsed and strengthened and that both donor and recipient Members be encouraged to give priority to TEMA activities as part of their participation in IOC scientific and technical programmes.

ODINAFRICA Project, OceanTeacher, resource kit, Earthquake tsunami educational books, etc. 25% of Programme and Budget allocated to TEMA activities.

21st Assembly and 31st General Conference approved a P-5 post for TEMA and the post is being advertised.

DONE. Continuous

3.9 Despite its unquestioned importance to Members, the regional programme of IOC

3.9 That the IOC governing bodies and Regional Sub-Commissions and Committees

China is in the process of seconding staff to WESTPAC. In progress. See item 2.6 above.

2001–2003 2004





has not been easy to plan or implement effectively. A greatly increased commitment of Members is needed to focus the regional programme on priority issues with expert staff seconded by Members to support the regional effort, with only general co-ordination from IOC Headquarters.

give priority to redefining the IOC approach to regional programme planning and implementation with a view to ensuring that IOC programmes focus clearly on regional priorities.

4. The IOC, as an organization, and, in particular, its Secretariat, is doing a remarkable job with very limited resources. However, continuation of present arrangements indefinitely is not an option if the Commission is to perform the role Members expect of it. The Commission and its Secretariat are in urgent need of improved management processes and increased resources, both from Regular Budget and external sources.

4. That UNESCO and IOC Member States be urged to strengthen their contribution to the work of the IOC through enhanced national marine programmes and increased financial and other support for the international planning and implementation of marine activities; and especially through extra-budgetary funding and the secondment of expert staff to participate in the international planning and management processes in both the IOC Secretariat and the Regional Offices.

Promotion of secondments to IOC. Increased coordination with global science programmes (ICSU, IGBP, WCRP, IHDP). Co-sponsorship of LOICZ, SOLAS and Ocean Futures. Secondments for tsunami activities have been provided by Germany (1) and Japan (1).


4.1 The IOC Secretariat carries out a vitally important role with great professionalism and dedication but it lacks the

4.1 That the Executive Secretary vigorously pursue his efforts to strengthen and streamline the overall working

Restructuring of the Secretariat completed.

Budget execution on-line for managers.

Reinforcement of sub-Commissions.

DONE. 2000–2002





resources and management systems and capabilities to adequately meet Members’ expectations of it.

of the Secretariat by programme implementation of more efficient management support arrangements and improved work practices.

4.2 Although recent reallocation of responsibilities in the Secretariat has provided an improved framework for management of IOC programmes, the staffing situation is sub-critical in most areas with a severe shortage of core professional staff and insufficient continuity and corporate memory to ensure effective and accountable programme management.

4.2 That urgent steps be taken to increase the core professional staffing of the Secretariat with a target of increasing the permanent professional posts in the Paris Headquarters from nine to eighteen within two years.

Preparation of Programme and Budget 2002–2003 (UNESCO 31 C/5) and 2004–2005 (UNESCO 32 C/5) included requests for additional professional posts at IOC. However, these initial proposals have not been retained. Permanent Professional Posts in the 31 C/5: 8. Permanent Professional Posts in the 32 C/5: 8. Permanent Professional Posts in the 33 C/5: 9.

Still pending. A reinforcement of the Secretariat is critical.

2002–2003 2004–2005

4.3 The secondment of staff to the Secretariat by Members for periods ranging from a few months to a few years has played a key role in maintaining the viability of several IOC programme activities and has also proved extremely beneficial to Members’ own national marine activities.

4.3 That Member States be strongly encouraged to consider secondment of professional staff to the IOC Secretariat on both a short and extended term basis, consulting with the Executive Secretary in respect of the scientific and management skills of secondees who might contribute most effectively to the achievement of both the individual Member’s objectives and those of the IOC as a whole.

Continued secondment of staff (3). 21st Assembly. 23rd Assembly.

DONE. Continuous





4.4 The Secretariat lacks a performance culture and effective personnel practices for monitoring staff performance, enhancing staff motivation, recognising high performance and managing under-performance.

4.4 That the Executive Secretary introduce an appropriate performance management system into the Secretariat and give increased priority to measures aimed at enhancing staff motivation and recognizing outstanding achievement.

New Human Resources Management strategy (HRM/UNESCO) has been approved by DG.

The Assessment Report of staff is conducted regularly: Promotions to merit for the Administrative Staff. Evaluation of consultants working at Headquarters for more than 1 year.

DONE. 2002

4.5 The IOC cannot afford to be left behind in the use of emerging technology for internal and external communication, information management, documentation and programme management.

4.5 That the Secretariat progressively modernises and streamlines its internal and external communication and information management systems and introduces appropriate management methodologies consistently across programme areas.

Computers are replaced regularly, Internal account system is computerized and available on-line, Websites and e-library are updated regularly.

DONE. Continuous

4.6 Substantial Secretariat time and financial resources are consumed in the preparation of often excessively detailed and repetitive documentation which is frequently late in its availability to Members and other stakeholders.

4.6 That a review of IOC documentation preparation and distribution be undertaken to see if simpler, more timely and less time-consuming and less costly systems can be put in place.

Revision of address lists and Email lists databases.

Web-publishing of documents.

New Editorial Policy emphasizes e-publishing and diminish paper publishing.

DONE. 2001–2002

4.7 Despite substantial goodwill on both sides, the interface between the IOC Secretariat and UNESCO Administration does not work well and is in need of

4.7 That the Executive Secretary and his counterpart in UNESCO Administration be invited to explore ways of improving the efficiency and

Establishment of focal points for coordination with central services.

Regular review of Administrative Office support arrangements with SC/AO (AO for the Science sector).

DONE. Continuous





review and streamlining to produce more responsive and efficient administrative support for IOC programme management.

responsiveness of UNESCO administrative support for the IOC.

4.8 The WESTPAC Office is well located and performs a very useful function but is not fully meeting Members’ expectations and needs dynamic leadership to inspire co-operation in the scientific community and raise the profile of IOC in the Western Pacific region.

4.8 That the WESTPAC Office be maintained in Bangkok with significant internal reorganisation and improved arrangements for communication and co-ordination within the region and enhanced planning and devolution of resource management from IOC headquarters.

Access to planning management instrument through Internet.

Appointment of Head of IOCARIBE Office.


4.9 The IOC has benefited from significant extra-budgetary supplementation of the resources made available from the UNESCO Regular Budget but the overall IOC Programme is severely under-resourced and is in urgent need of increased budgetary support from both the Regular Budget (to maintain the viability of its core functions) and increased contributions to the IOC Trust Fund (to enable urgently needed programmes to proceed at a viable level).

4.9 That the Executive Secretary be invited to prepare a strategic resourcing plan for the highest priority work of the Commission over the next decade as a framework for increased support from the UNESCO Regular Budget and enhanced contribution from extra-budgetary sources.

Draft initial proposal Assessment of programme needs.

21st Assembly.

P-5 post for TEMA and fund raising.

Pending. Continuous

4.10 While available economic 4.10 That the IOC should take a Consultant hired to scope the demand for GOOS products (2001). DONE. Continuous





analysis suggests that UNESCO and its Members have much to gain from substantially increased investment in the work of the IOC, there is an urgent need for a more rigorous framework for cost-benefit analysis of marine science programmes and for a range of case studies at both the national and international level.

lead in encouraging and assisting Members and their marine institutions in carrying out cost-benefit analysis of a range of marine science and technology projects to assist in decision-making on IOC Programme funding at both the national and international levels.

4.11 The IOC’s accounting and budgetary systems and procedures are inadequate to provide the Executive Secretary, governing bodies and Members of the Commission with a sufficiently clear basis for sound decision-making and effective resource management.

4.11 That, as a matter of urgency, UNESCO assist the IOC Secretariat in the implementation of modern cost accounting and financial management systems and procedures to enable the IOC Executive Secretary, governing bodies and Members to be provided with essential programme-based financial information for decision-making.

Establishment of result-based management system through SISTER and introduction of the new Finance And Budget System (FABS) in UNESCO. Progress Report on Budget Execution improved significantly.

DONE 2001–2002

4.12 The IOC has benefited from the recent allocation of an incompressible budget for its established level of Regular Budget-supported activities but requires a secure long-term resource base compatible with the substantially increased

4.12 That UNESCO provides an increased fixed percentage of its Regular Budget for support of the operation of the IOC.

Internal discussion by UNESCO Secretariat. Letter from the IOC Chairman to the Director-General.

Still pending. 2000–2002 2003 2004 2005





programme needed to meet the expectation of Members.

4.13 The use of the IOC Special Account through which IOC Members and other donors contribute to the IOC Trust Fund (in addition to the provision of seconded staff and in-kind support) has enabled the Secretariat to maintain some support for a wide range of programmes required by Members and has proved highly beneficial to the overall work and effectiveness of the IOC.

4.13 That IOC Member States and partner organizations be encouraged to contribute on a regular basis, and at an increased level, to the IOC Trust Fund to complement and reinforce the increased core capabilities resulting from stronger Regular Budget support of the IOC.

Specific requests through circular letters. Continued support from Member States. Regular Programme of UNESCO only 30% of programme budget.

DONE. Continuous

4.14 The IOC has inadequate experience in, and capabilities for, external fund raising.

4.14 That the IOC seek external assistance in strengthening its capabilities for raising funds from new sources to supplement the resources available from the UNESCO Regular Budget and the IOC Special Account.

Planning and participation in Human Resources Management strategy of UNESCO.

Training of professional staff.

Hired P-5 for TEMA and region with special skills and experience in fund raising.

DONE 2001–2002

4.15 While it is not possible, at this stage, to establish the optimum level of overall long-term resourcing of the work of the IOC, it is important that the UNESCO and IOC governing bodies endorse an overall strategic approach to funding of the IOC Programme in line with Members’ expectations over the

4.15 That the UNESCO and IOC governing bodies and Members endorse and support the progressive strengthening of the IOC and international marine science programmes through increased resourcing from both Regular Budget and extra-budgetary sources in the light of the IOC strategic

Budget of IOC re-established in 31 C/5. Coordinate forum with interested parties. Coordinate Budget planning with UNESCO.

DONE. 2002–2003





next 5-10 years. resource plan.

5. The follow-up action on the 1999-2000 Evaluation of the IOC provides a unique opportunity for UNESCO to draw on its forty years of investment in the development of international oceanography, and the IOC’s own established relationships with the many other marine science-related agencies in the international system, to assist nations to reap the enormous benefits potentially available from marine research and operational oceanography in the Twenty-first century.

5. That IOC's partner agencies and programmes within and outside the UN system be invited to join in the new and more integrated approach to exploiting the opportunities which recent developments in marine science and technology offer to the global community in the Twenty-first century.

Joint actions with UNEP in Africa, the Caribbean and South-east Asia.

Coordination of Oceans Agencies at ICP and in WSSD process.

IOC invited to join UNEP and FAO regional programmes effort.

56th UN General Assembly (October 2001)

DONE. Continuous

From 5.3: Lessons learned Initiate a wide awareness campaign to make the international marine research community aware of IOC activities.

Closer contact with the scientific community organizations.

"One planet…One Ocean" campaign (design of 9 posters)

World Partnership of Aquariums and Science Centres.

Development of a communication strategy. No professional staff dedicated.

DONE.

In progress.

Continuous

Use widely the experience and goodwill of other international marine-oriented agencies to build the Commission into an effective specialized agency.

Close cooperation with UNEP, WMO, FAO, IAEA and IMO in the context of SOCA and Consultative Process.

Continue efforts.

Integrated review of ocean programmes of the UN.

Ocean Assessment initiative (UNEP-2001).

DONE Continuous

Documents

IOC. Executive Council; 39th; Report by the IOC Executive ...unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001462/146237e.pdf · submit to each session of the Assembly and the Executive Council