200 EX/20.INF.2 PARIS, 23 August 2016 English & French only Executive Board Two hundredth session Item 20 of the provisional agenda NEW AUDITS BY THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR AUDIT REPORT ON THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISSION (IOC) SUMMARY Pursuant to Article 12.4 of the Financial Regulations, the External Auditor submits the audit report on the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) (2013-2016). The short form of this report and the comments by the Director-General are contained in document 200 EX/20 Part II.
Transcript
200 EX/20.INF.2 PARIS, 23 August 2016 English & French only
Executive Board Two hundredth session
Item 20 of the provisional agenda
NEW AUDITS BY THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR
AUDIT REPORT ON THE
INTERGOVERNMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISSION (IOC)
SUMMARY
Pursuant to Article 12.4 of the Financial Regulations, the External Auditor submits the audit report on the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) (2013-2016). The short form of this report and the comments by the Director-General are contained in document 200 EX/20 Part II.
1. A team of three auditors conducted an audit of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) from 11 to 24 April 2016. Samples of the accounts and documentation of the IOC were examined and open interviews were conducted with the senior staff members of the Commission and several representatives of Member States.
2. The audit was conducted in accordance with the International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions,1 established by the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions,2 and in accordance with applicable texts, in particular Article 12 of the UNESCO Financial Regulations and the Annex on the Additional Terms of Reference Governing the Audit.
3. Each finding has been discussed with IOC senior staff members at Headquarters. The comments and responses to the audit findings, and also those made by the Headquarters units to which the draft report was sent, have been fully taken into account as warranted in the External Auditor’s final position.
B. The context
4. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) was created by the UNESCO General Conference in 1960, in collaboration with the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the International Council for Science (ICSU), to develop international marine science research programmes and provide oceanographic services to Member States: “the oceans […] exert a profound influence on mankind and even on all forms of life on Earth [...] [T]hey must be studied from many points of view. […] [O]ceanic investigations present far too formidable a task to be undertaken by any one nation or even a few nations.”
5. IOC was established as a coordination mechanism, initially in the Inter-Secretariat Committee on Scientific Programmes Relating to Oceanography (ICSPRO), and now in that of UN-Oceans, 3 to enhance the coherence and effectiveness of the United Nations’ and the International Seabed Authority’s delivery.
6. Its action is focused on four themes: international marine science research, the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), 4 education and training, and technical assistance. It also addresses two objectives of UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy for 2014-2021 (37 C/4): Strategic Objective 4 “Strengthening science, technology and innovation systems and policies – nationally, regionally and globally” and Strategic Objective 5 “Promoting international scientific cooperation on critical challenges to sustainable development”. 1 ISSAI. 2 INTOSAI. 3 In September 2003, the High-Level Committee on Programmes of the United Nations approved the creation of an
Oceans and Coastal Areas Network (subsequently named UN-Oceans). It is an inter-agency mechanism to ensure better coordination, coherence and effectiveness of the competent organizations of the United Nations system and the International Seabed Authority, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (also known as the Montego Bay Convention) of 1982, the competences of each of the participating organizations and the terms of reference and priorities approved by their respective governing bodies. UN-Oceans was established to: strengthen and promote coordination and coherence of United Nations system activities related to ocean and coastal areas; regularly share ongoing and planned activities of participating organizations within the framework of relevant United Nations and other mandates with a view to identifying possible areas for collaboration and synergy; facilitate, as appropriate, inputs by its participating organizations to the annual reports of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea and on sustainable fisheries to be submitted to the Secretariat; and facilitate inter-agency information exchange, including sharing of experiences, best practices, tools and methodologies and lessons learned in ocean-related matters.
4 IOC’s Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) is one of the global observation systems set up in 1992 following from the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. It contributes to the Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS) and the United Nations System-wide Earthwatch monitoring programme.
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7. On this basis, IOC has set four high-level objectives for the period 2014-2021. 5 IOC’s mandate and objectives are also based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea6 as well as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 137 (Climate Action) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water)8 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted on 25 September 2015 by the United Nations in New York.
II. LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendation No. 1. The External Auditor recommends that Article 3 of the Statutes of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) be amended to include the “requirements” relating to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); likewise, IOC’s medium-term strategy should take into account the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.
Recommendation No. 2. In liaison with the respective governing bodies, conduct a study of the potential pooling of periodic reports to the governing bodies of the United Nations, UNESCO, the Commission and its subsidiary bodies.
Recommendation No. 3. The External Auditor suggests that the autonomy and specificity of IOC, with regard to governance, decision-making, partnerships, funding, operating and external reporting, should be better reflected in the presentation of UNESCO’s budgetary and accounting documents.
Recommendation No.4. The External Auditor recommends a review of the organization of the work of the IOC’s Assembly and Executive Council to enable them to make more strategic decisions on the key issues and challenges facing IOC. To that end, he recommends, in particular, a review of the Commission’s programmes and activities, starting with the analysis, which has already started with regard to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, of the main international agreements and conventions with an impact on IOC’s mandate and objectives, in order to propose an overall strategy.
Recommendation No. 5. The External Auditor recommends that the quality of the information provided to the Executive Council and the Assembly be improved by:
• ensuring consistency between the presentation of budget implementation and the expenditure plan and reconciling the two in a single table;
• providing information on the use of the surplus balance of the Special Account;
• for IOC bodies only: establishing dashboards specifically for IOC to monitor its strategic actions and budget.
Recommendation No. 6. The External Auditor recommends that reporting to the Assembly be improved with respect to human resources management by providing detailed information, in each budget implementation and activity report, on:
− the present situation: number of staff working for the Commission, corresponding number of full time equivalents, corresponding total expenditure and funding sources, table of planned and actual staffing levels, including a comparison with the previous consolidated financial period;
5 Objectives: (1) Healthy ocean ecosystems and sustained ecosystem services; (2) Effective early warning systems
and preparedness for tsunamis and other ocean-related hazards; (3) Increased resiliency to climate change and enhanced safety, efficiency and effectiveness of all ocean-based activities; (4) Enhanced knowledge of emerging ocean science issues.
6 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (with annexes, final act and records of the rectification of the final act dated 3 March 1986 and 26 July 1993) concluded at Montego Bay on 10 December 1982.
7 SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. 8 SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
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− performance indicators with respect to human resources management, including expected trends in staffing and payroll, as well as a short-term and medium-term goal regarding the share of staff costs under the regular budget.
Recommendation No. 7. The External Auditor recommends a comprehensive review of the Headquarters-field staff ratio, given the challenges, workload and new tasks that lie ahead for the Commission.
Recommendation No. 8. The External Auditor recommends that the Bureau of Financial Management (BFM) improve the monitoring, accounting and annual reporting of overtime paid to UNESCO staff members performing ad-hoc tasks for IOC.
Recommendation No. 9. The External Auditor recommends a return to compliance with the Organization’s rules of geographical mobility and contract renewal, as defined by UNESCO’s Staff Regulations and Staff Rules.
Recommendation No. 10. The External Auditor recommends that the question of reactivating the mobility mechanism for the staff of UN-Oceans’ member organizations be raised at a future meeting of UN-Oceans.
Recommendation No. 11. The External Auditor recommends, without delay, a return to strict compliance with recruitment conditions for external consultants, by confining waivers to the competitive process to the exceptional circumstance justifying such waivers, in accordance with the UNESCO Human Resources Manual. He recommends, in particular, putting a stop to the recruitment of consultants for functions for which there is a continuing need at the Commission and for multi-year extrabudgetary assignments, and returning to strict compliance with the applicable texts.
Recommendation No. 12. The External Auditor recommends that IOC staff be reminded of their obligation to write a substantial report upon their return from a mission. These reports should be reviewed periodically to verify the appropriateness of certain categories of mission.
Recommendation No. 13. The External Auditor recommends that the achievement of expected results and performance indicators be clearly distributed between the sections of IOC.
Recommendation No. 14. The External Auditor recommends establishing partnerships with new universities or research centres in order to end the oligopoly with current partners and enable an effective competitive bidding process when launching and renewing projects.
Recommendation No. 15. The External Auditor recommends that a draft resolution be submitted to the IOC Assembly calling for Member States to work together, with the support of IOC, to construct a universal information system and ocean data portal, along with a cost-benefit analysis prepared in advance by the IODE project.
III. AUDIT FINDINGS
A. Framework for action
1. Statutes, mandate
8. The Statutes of IOC, established under 11 C/Resolution 2.31, adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO at its 11th session (November-December 1960), in conformity with the recommendation of the Intergovernmental Conference on Oceanic Research (Copenhagen, 11–16 July 1960), set out in Article 1, paragraph 1, that “the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission […] is established as a body with functional autonomy within the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization” and that it “defines and implements its
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programme according to its stated purposes and functions and within the framework of the budget adopted by its Assembly and the General Conference of UNESCO”.
9. Likewise, the Statutes, under Article 2, provide that the “purpose of the Commission is to promote international cooperation […] in order to learn more about the nature and resources of the ocean […] and to apply that knowledge for the improvement of management, sustainable development, the protection of the marine environment, and the decision-making processes of its Member States”, and stipulate that IOC “will collaborate with international organizations concerned with the work of the Commission and especially with those organizations of the United Nations system which are willing and prepared to contribute to the purpose and functions of the Commission […] in the field of ocean and coastal area scientific research, related services and capacity-building”.
10. The principle of functional autonomy of the Commission, within UNESCO, is clearly stated in its Statutes, as is its vocation to interact directly with United Nations organizations concerned with ocean and coastal issues. This is important at a time when the interrelation between oceans and development are increasingly recognized.
11. As a result of this autonomy, the specificity of IOC’s governance, which is in fact relative insofar as most of UNESCO’s programmes have a similar organization, thus leading to what is known as “double governance”. This tends to increase upstream – towards the United Nations in the framework of many ocean-related conventions9 – and downstream, towards many thematic groups or regional subcommittees set up under scientific cooperation, networking or geographic cooperation.
12. Note that in Article 3.1(c) of the Statutes, on the functions of IOC, mentions “the requirements deriving from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) [and] the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)”. Given their key issues and implications relevant to the Commission, it would certainly be useful and strategically important to amend that article to include the requirements relating to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015, as SDG 14 directly concerns oceanography 10 and expressly names the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission - indeed, it is the only United Nations agency mentioned by name in the SDGs.
Recommendation No. 1. The External Auditor recommends that Article 3 of the Statutes of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) be amended to include the “requirements” relating to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); likewise, IOC’s medium-term strategy should take into account the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.
13. With regard to reporting to the governing bodies, Annex 2 to this report, drawn up at the request of the auditors by the Secretariat of the Commission, shows the diversity and abundance of the reports that IOC has to produce periodically and intermittently. Thus, during the last biennium, the Secretariat had to produce at least 50 reports of various types, while also contributing to the information of Member States and IOC partner institutions, which accounts for a
9 Article 3.2 of the Statutes: “The Commission shall prepare regular reports on its activities, which shall be
submitted to the General Conference of UNESCO. These reports shall also be addressed to the Member States of the Commission as well as to the organizations within the United Nations system covered by paragraph 2 of Article 2.”.
The IOC’s reporting obligation regularly increases with the adoption of conventions such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED); United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); the “Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway”; the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted on 22 May 1992 at the Nairobi Conference; the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations General Assembly; etc.
10 See below.
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significant and growing share of the Commission’s work. As indicated by the IOC Secretariat, this significant workload, which was previously taken care of by a Deputy Executive Secretary (grade D-1) and a Professional-grade staff member (grade P-4), was transferred in 2011 to the Commission’s section heads. Nevertheless, the material covered is often the same and the questions are similar.
14. Joint discussions should be held with the governing bodies of the United Nations, UNESCO, the Commission and its subsidiary bodies for the pooling of some of these reports – even if this means sending them in the presentational format of each individual recipient – so as to reduce the workload that they generate.
Recommendation No. 2. In liaison with the respective governing bodies, conduct a study of the potential pooling of periodic reports to the governing bodies of the United Nations, UNESCO, the Commission and its subsidiary bodies.
15. This study, in the opinion of the auditors, would not exempt IOC (Secretariat and governing bodies) from also conducting an objective evaluation of its organization and workload at a time when its mandate has been extended significantly, following the adoption, as mentioned above, of major international conventions on climate change and sustainable development.
2. IOC governance and autonomy
16. The sessions of the Assembly (148 Member States) and the Executive Council (at the most 40 Member States) are juxtaposed, but other sessions are held at technical or decentralized levels: meetings of experts, regional subcommittees or programmes. The sessions of the IOC Assembly give rise to the transcription of a great many statements by Member States and associated organizations (144 at the 27th session), during the session and the meetings of subcommittees. This painstaking work results in a large volume of records and expands the operational nature of the documents produced.
17. Member States should take into account the scientific and technical character of the purposes and functions of the Commission when nominating members to the Commission’s subsidiary bodies. They make the nominations, in principle, through the official designated national coordinating body specified for liaison with the Commission. This guarantees that the members of the IOC governing bodies have the required scientific level. Conversely, it can result in the excessive specialization of the discussions and guidelines. The risk that this could lead, in organizational terms, to silos focusing on science and technology rather than on development, climate change or environmental protection issues should not be ruled out.
18. It would probably be more effective to summarize the report of Member States’ positions by electoral group to make the session documents easier to use. Prior to publication of the reports, unless otherwise justified, it could also be useful to group speeches by electoral groups during sessions of the General Assembly and the Executive Council. The summary record of the last session of the Assembly11 in June 2015, shows a substantial improvement in this respect, as the text of the Member States’ speeches was presented in the form of references at the end of the report accessible via hyperlinks.
19. In addition, some sessions should address the new challenges and crosscutting issues, as it is clearly necessary to develop the strategy and organization of IOC. It would therefore seem appropriate to encourage the Executive Council and the Assembly to focus more on “policy” issues, in line with the recommendations of the policy brief submitted in June 2015 by the United
11 IOC-XXVIII/3.
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Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO.12 This point is developed below, in the section on the Commission’s strategy.
20. The Commission’s statutory autonomy does not seem to be sufficiently reflected in UNESCO’s budgetary documents. The elements of this autonomy are nonetheless clearly stated in several articles of its Statutes:
- it has functional autonomy in UNESCO and defines and implements its programme according to its stated purposes and functions, within the framework of the budget adopted by its Assembly and the General Conference of UNESCO (Articles 1.1 and 1.2 of the Statutes);
- it directly communicates its activity reports, which are submitted to the General Conference of UNESCO, to the Member States of the Commission as well as to the organizations within the United Nations system that are concerned with the work of the Commission (Article 3.2);
- Commission membership takes effect from the date on which the notification is received by the Executive Secretary, through the Director-General of UNESCO (Article 4.4);
- the IOC Assembly establishes the general policy and the main lines of work of the Commission and approves the IOC Biennial Draft Programme and Budget, in the framework of the budget adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO (Article 6.B.4);
- the Secretariat of the Commission may be provided with staff provided at the expense of other organizations, the United Nations system and by Member States of the Commission (Article 8.1);
- the Executive Secretary of the Commission is at the Assistant Director-General level, and is appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO following consultation with the Executive Council of the Commission (Article 8.2);
- the financial resources may include contributions by Member States of the Commission that are not Member States of UNESCO and representatives of such other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations as may be invited subject to conditions specified in the Rules of Procedure (Articles 10.1 and 6.C.10(c));
- voluntary contributions may be accepted in accordance with the financial regulations of the Special Account of IOC, as adopted by the Assembly and UNESCO; such contributions shall be allocated by the Commission for its programme of activities (Article 10.3);
- the Commission may decide upon any additional financial arrangements to ensure the implementation of an effective and continuing programme at global and/or regional levels (Article 10.4);
- the Commission may cooperate with specialized agencies of the United Nations and other international organizations whose interests and activities are related to its purpose, including signing memoranda of understanding with regard to cooperation; it shall give due attention to supporting the objectives of international organizations with which it collaborates; it may request these organizations to take its requirements into account in planning and executing their own programmes; it may act also as a joint specialized mechanism of the organizations of the United Nations system in the fields of marine sciences and ocean services (Article 11).
21. These provisions show that the founders of IOC, including UNESCO, intended to give it room for manoeuvre within a wider framework dedicated to knowledge. However, this specificity is only partially included in the budgetary documents, as IOC appears as a sub-group of the Natural Sciences Sector, while it is considered separately, like a category 1 institute, in the UNESCO 12 “An evaluation of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission’s role in global marine science and
oceanography”.
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organizational chart, available online on the Organization’s website (see Annex 1). Category 1 institutes and centres are established under the auspices of UNESCO; they are governed by their own rules, approved by the General Conference; and they contribute to the implementation of UNESCO’s programme. All of this applies to IOC.
22. The current presentation of budgetary documents includes IOC under the Natural Sciences programme, but it does not reflect its autonomy with regard to decision-making, partnerships, funding, operating and external reporting. Thus, in the Approved Programme and Budget 2016-2017 (38 C/5 Approved):
- IOC is only mentioned in a footnote in the appropriation resolution (page v);
- in the provision prohibiting transfers of funds from the budget appropriations for IOC to other parts of the budget (page vi);
- Main line of action (MLA) 3 and its expected results cover ocean issues, but without explicitly mentioning IOC (page 90);
- Main line of action 3 in the table on page 88 does not mention IOC;
- the performance indicators considered on pages 98 to 108 show, however, that they are clearly attributable to the Commission.
23. These points may seem minor from UNESCO’s viewpoint. However, they have a real symbolic and organizational dimension for some Member States and the Executive Secretariat and they reflect the sustained will to assert the identity of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission within the Organization. This should be more apparent in UNESCO’s budget. In an interview with the auditor, the Assistant Director-General for the Natural Sciences (ADG/SC) said that development in this direction was possible.
Recommendation No. 3. The External Auditor suggests that the autonomy and specificity of IOC, with regard to governance, decision-making, partnerships, funding, operating and external reporting, should be better reflected in the presentation of UNESCO’s budgetary and accounting documents.
24. Some of the representatives of Member States met by the auditors, and at least one Chairperson/Vice-Chairperson of the Assembly, 13 spoke about the lack of visibility; insufficient interface with the political world; need for the greater integration of IOC in the international ocean environment; need for communication relevant to the scientific world to be more “political” in order to be “better understood by policymakers”; and the need to adopt an approach more focused on the “valorization of ocean research”.
25. Similarly, the budgeting and accounting information is described as abundant but disorganized, dispersed or unclear. Furthermore, in terms of human resources management, one of the consequences of the Organization’s financial crisis in 2011 was the departure of many young experts who were funded by voluntary contributions from the United States of America, while older staff members who held posts funded by the regular budget remained, which has delayed the renewal of skills.
26. Lastly, the current strategy is deemed relevant but: (i) is not without the risk of renewal of outdated solutions; (ii) requires adjustments (objectives, indicators, expected results) to take account of major agreements and recent global conventions involving the oceans; (iii) implying an overall reflection on the Commission’s ability to face the significant needs for information and monitoring by these conventions. All of these points are examined hereinafter.
13 See the list of people interviewed outside the Executive Secretariat in Annex 1.
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3. Strategy
(a) UNESCO’s strategic orientations play a significant part in IOC’s mandate
27. Ocean issues play a significant part in the UNESCO strategy for 2014-2021. Thus, document 37 C/4 includes in its introduction a substantial passage on the issue of oceans.14
28. Similarly, in that strategy document, the five functions that UNESCO has set itself,15 draw on the activities of IOC, whose functions, stipulated in Article 3 of its Statutes, are to:
− recommend, promote, plan and coordinate international ocean and coastal area programmes in research and observations and the dissemination and use of their results;
− recommend, promote and coordinate the development of relevant standards, reference materials, guidelines and nomenclature;
− respond to the requirements deriving from international instruments relevant to marine scientific research, related services and capacity-building;
− make recommendations and coordinate programmes in marine science, ocean and coastal observations and the transfer of related technology;
− support intersectoral activities relevant to UNESCO.
29. With regard to UNESCO’s overarching objectives, IOC sees its role in the service of equitable and sustainable development, to the extent that most of its activities are directed towards the sharing of knowledge, skills and data from the North to the South, particularly to Africa, which also meets the “global priority” that UNESCO has assigned itself in that regard. IOC Member States should keep that in mind, insofar as the emergence of North-North partnerships in science and technology, including ocean science, within the Group of Eight Industrialized Countries (G8) or the European Union (EU), could lead to the marginalization of countries that are not included.
30. Among UNESCO’s nine strategic objectives, two concern IOC directly. Strategic Objective 4 aims at “strengthening science, technology and innovation systems and policies – nationally, regionally and globally” and Strategic Objective 5 aims at “promoting international scientific cooperation on critical challenges to sustainable development” and the description of these objectives includes significant developments relating to IOC’s mandate.16
14 Introduction to document 37 C/4, as approved by the General Conference at its 37th session (37 C/Resolution 1)
and validated by the Executive Board at its 194th session (194 EX/Decision 18), paragraph E: “More than 40% of this global population lives within 100 kilometres of a coast, with projections that by 2025 this number will rise to 75%. Rapid urbanization will lead to more coastal mega-cities containing 10 million or more people. Thirteen of the world’s 20 megacities lie along coasts and nearly 700 million people live in low lying coastal areas less than 10 metres above sea level. Yet the ocean, once thought to be a vast, resilient area able to absorb practically unlimited waste and withstand increasing human population, fishing and shipping pressures, is increasingly vulnerable. At least 40% of the global ocean is “heavily impacted” by human activities, and 60% of the world’s major marine ecosystems that underpin livelihoods have been degraded or are being used unsustainably. This has a direct impact on sustainable development since hundreds of millions of people depend on the quality of the marine environment and the availability of living marine resources for their wellbeing.”
15 Namely: serving as a laboratory of ideas and generating innovative proposals and policy advice in its fields of competence; developing and reinforcing the global agenda in its fields of competence through policy analysis, monitoring and benchmarking; setting norms and standards in its fields of competence and supporting and monitoring their implementation; strengthening international and regional cooperation in its fields of competence, and fostering alliances, intellectual cooperation, knowledge-sharing and operational partnerships; providing advice for policy development and implementation, and developing institutional and human capacities.
16 See Strategic Objective 5: “The work in relation to ocean and coasts will continue to be a flagship area for UNESCO and will include interdisciplinary initiatives for science, education, culture and communication. UNESCO will further promote international collaboration to generate strong scientific understanding and systematic observations of the changing world climate and ocean ecosystems. This will ensure that information is actionable to address a wide variety of social and environmental challenges, including climate change and variability, marine biodiversity, tsunami and other ocean-related hazards, and the sustainability of ocean ecosystem services. Scientific information about the status of the ocean will underpin global governance for a healthy ocean, and global, regional and national management of ocean risks and opportunities. UNESCO will endeavor to strengthen
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31. Lastly, IOC’s budget has to date been integrated, though identifiable, within Major Programme II (Natural Sciences), in the budget line “promoting knowledge and capacity for protecting and sustainably managing the ocean and coasts”.17 The budget document (38 C/5) states that appropriations for IOC shall not be decreased by transfers of funds to other parts of the budget.
(b) IOC adopted a medium-term strategy in 2013 and 2015
32. The timeframe of IOC’s strategy, adopted in June-July 2013 by its Assembly (Resolution XXVII-2), is based on UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy for 2014-2021, and it has four objectives:
− healthy ocean ecosystems and sustained ecosystem services;18
− effective early warning systems and preparedness for tsunamis and ocean-related hazards;19
− increased resiliency to climate change and enhanced effectiveness of ocean-based activities;20
− enhanced knowledge of emerging ocean science issues.21
33. This strategy should be implemented through six “functions”: ocean research; observations and data/information management; early warning systems; evaluation and information; management and governance; and capacity development. The crucial question of mobilization of extrabudgetary resources is referred to the Complementary Additional Programmes each biennium.
34. In June 2015, the Assembly adopted, in Resolution XXVIII-2, the IOC Capacity Development Strategy (2015-2021). IOC thus assigns itself the following objectives:
its leading role within the United Nations system in ocean science, services and observations, to respond within its mandate to requirements of various United Nations ocean-related conventions, as well as resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly.”
17 That is, for the 2016-2017 biennium, an amount of $13.86 million, representing 20.6% of the Natural Sciences Sector. These funds are allocated to three expected results: Scientific understanding of ocean and coastal processes bolstered and used by Member States to improve the management of the human relationship with the ocean (ER4 – $4.88 million); Risks and impacts of tsunamis and other ocean-related hazards reduced, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures taken, and policies for healthy ocean ecosystems developed and implemented by Member States (ER5 – $4.09 million); Member States’ institutional capacities reinforced to protect and sustainably manage ocean and coastal resources (ER6 – $4.89 million).
18 Developing indicators of ocean status and the functioning of marine and costal information services; assessing the resilience of ecosystems; forecasting any major changes (acidification, deoxygenation, loss of biodiversity, plastic pollution, etc.) with an integrated ecosystem approach; all through a regionalized approach and by strengthening the capacities of the developing countries.
19 Namely: reducing the risks relating to the sea level, as the vulnerability of coastal populations is increasing; encouraging States to implement effective mitigation measures, to assess risks, implement early warning systems and educate vulnerable populations. At the regional level, this involves four intergovernmental coordination groups – Pacific, Caribbean, Indian Ocean and North-East Atlantic/Mediterranean – and the International Tsunami Information Centre for regional coordination, capacity strengthening and warning exercises.
20 This objective aims to measure the impacts of climate change on the ocean, the coasts and ecosystems through the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) within the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS); to contribute to the actions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; to study the impacts of climate change an promote a scientific knowledge base for policymaking; share oceanographic data and information; produce integrated coastal zone management tools; and develop adaptation and mitigation strategies base on the ocean. IOC aims to assists Member States party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to include ocean-related issues in the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
21 Aiming to understand new pollutants, marine renewable energy, deoxygenation of the ocean; their impact on health and on marine ecosystems as well as on important services they provide for the planet and humanity; the links between climate change and the pressure on the oceans; improving understanding of the changes under way, including on the high seas, while mobilizing political and scientific players; encouraging scientific research, technical analyses and syntheses of scientific information to inform policy and advance solutions.
− develop programmatic and regionally relevant capacity development work plans based on this strategy and related needs assessments conducted in a consistent manner, building on ongoing activities and making use of existing training and education facilities;
− mobilize resources in order to reinforce the Secretariat staffing of the regional Sub-Commissions, other subsidiary bodies and global programmes;
− catalyze capacity development through global, regional, and national programme development, including projects prepared in consultation with Member States with a view to raise extrabudgetary resources;
− enhance collaboration and communication between its global programmes and Regional Subsidiary Bodies.
The Assembly thus urges its Member States to further support the Commission in the capacity development goals in marine science, early warning systems, and ocean governance.
35. These two strategies seem mainly to reflect the prevailing situation. On the one hand, it is unclear whether the structures, some of which have existed for a long time, determine the activities or whether the opposite is true, as if the strategy was based on the Commission’s sections or units (IOC Tsunami Unit – IOC/TSU; Ocean Observations and Services Sector – IOC/OOS; IOC/UNESCO Project Office in Ostend22 – IOC/OST; Ocean Sciences Section – IOC/OSS; Marine Policy and Regional Coordination Section – IOC/MPR). On the other hand, crosscutting issues such as sustainable development, Africa, gender equality, relations with other United Nations agencies and the role of IOC in UN-Oceans scarcely appear, or do not appear at all.
36. Moreover, they neither pre-empt nor respond to the evaluation made by the aforementioned policy brief submitted to the IOC Executive Council in June 2015, by the United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO, which rightly identifies several challenges: the emergence of new ocean bodies;23 the development of UN-Oceans; changing jurisdiction of the seas, depleting the United Nations’ area of influence; the emergence of a new ocean paradigm without any input from IOC; reluctance of IOC to get involved with policy; and, all in all, the risk of being side-lined by other ocean bodies that are more visible. The policy brief proposes some recommendations centred on the Commission’s comparative advantages.24
37. Similarly, they do not specify whether IOC should indeed be maintained within UNESCO, how the Commission intends to enforce its functional, budgetary and scientific autonomy, while subscribing to its governance and operational procedures.
38. Furthermore, subsidiary strategies – important nonetheless – are barely addressed, if at all: communication and information (the only document available on communication is a study conducted by a consultant in January 2008 for a short-term approach,25 and a communication strategy was being prepared at the time of the audit, by another consultant), generation of extrabudgetary resources, management of jobs and careers,26, relations between the Secretariat
22 Coordinating and implementing the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE)
programme. 23 The policy brief estimates that there are significant ocean-related roles in over 20 other United Nations bodies. 24 Eleven recommendations: (1) Position IOC as a global hub for ocean science advice and information; (2)
Confidently embrace full-spectrum ocean science, using an ecosystems approach, with an additional focus on areas beyond national jurisdiction; (3) Encourage cooperation with NGOs and industry; (4) Ensure common standards for scientific measurements at sea in conjunction with the International Standards Organization; (5) Initiate dialogue and perhaps have an Associate Member category for private industry contractors; (6) Work with international professional bodies and learned societies to promote accreditation of training standards; (7) Consider how to ‘switch off’ legacy programmes; (8) Continue to promote capacity building and knowledge exchange; (9) Continue to support the tsunami warning systems; (10) Encourage all national delegations to be fully supported by expert scientific advice; (11) Tailor IOC’s scientific outputs towards suitable stewardship of the ocean so that IOC is operating in line with the United Nations sustainability agenda.
25 Rachel Dahl, Communication Strategy. 26 See below.
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and its many epigones, decompartmentalization of the many information systems relating to ocean science, and relations with the other agencies working on ocean-related issues and with UN-Oceans, are not yet envisaged and seem to have been left to the behest of the Secretariat.
39. Lastly, the implications of the adoption, in 2015, of two major global decisions concerning climate change and sustainable development, must be integrated without delay.
(c) The need to take into account the new challenges of sustainable development
40. IOC’s two strategies were adopted shortly before the adoption of two texts with major implications for ocean sciences and IOC’s mandate: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in September 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly, and the Paris Agreement of 12 December 2015 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
41. Thus, the Paris Agreement, which does not seem to have provisions explicitly concerning the oceans, nonetheless notes in its introduction, “the importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems, including oceans, and the protection of biodiversity”. A fortiori, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) directly relating to IOC’s mandate:
− Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts;
− Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
42. The reasoning in Goal 14 of the 2030 Agenda is eloquent: the oceans cover three quarters of the Earth’s surface, contain 97% of the Earth’s water and represents 99% of the living spaces available on Earth in terms of volume. More than three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity to meet their needs. Globally, the market value of marine and coastal resources and industries is estimated at $3 trillion a year, or around 5% of global GDP. The oceans contain nearly 200,000 identified species, but the actual number could go into the millions. They absorb around 30% of the CO2 produced by humans and mitigate the impacts of global warming. They are the world’s largest source of protein, with over three billion people dependent on the oceans for their main source of protein. Marine fisheries directly or indirectly employ over 200 million people. Fishing subsidies contribute to the rapid depletion of many fish species and hinder efforts to safeguard and restore global fisheries and the associated jobs, generating a loss of $50 billion per year for the marine fishing sector. Some 40% of the world’s oceans are heavily affected by human activities, including pollution, depletion of fishing resources and the loss of coastal habitats.
43. Such reasoning calls for IOC to seize this opportunity to assert its central role in the information and coordination system that will be necessary for the implementation of Goal 14.
44. This new dimension of climate and ocean issues in connection with development has not escaped the Commission, which played an active role, sometimes well in advance, during the preparation of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. For example, the Secretariat drafted a study in November 2015, entitled “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: what role for IOC?”.27 This document rightly considers the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as “an essential point of reference for IOC’s future engagement with its Member States as well as for its programmatic presence at the global, regional and country levels. IOC needs to take a comprehensive look at its objectives, priorities, operations and funding, to ensure it is able to effectively support its Member States in achieving the 2030 commitments”.28
27 IOC/EC-XLIX/2 Annex 4. Paris, 2 May 2016. 28 First paragraph of the document’s introductory summary.
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45. Drawing up an inventory of the different themes of the 2030 Agenda concerning IOC’s mandate, the study identifies some 20 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and related targets that have a direct link with the Commission’s tasks or strategy. Consistent with the abovementioned policy brief by the United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO on IOC’s role, it also analyses the Commission’s real comparative advantages for the implementation of the SDGs.29 This document was due to be submitted to the Executive Council at its 49th session in June 2016.
46. This virtual review of IOC’s tasks and objectives is the beginning of an objective and potentially innovative approach. It should, if extended to each of the major global agreements or conventions, help to provide an updated outlook on the Commission’s current aims and organization. It is worth undertaking such an exercise in order to offset the risk of “legacy programmes” mentioned in the aforesaid evaluation report submitted to the IOC governing bodies by the United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO.
47. In a similar vein, in its contributions to UNESCO’s programme implementation report for 2014 and 2015, 30 IOC stated that it “placed much programmatic and outreach focus around climate change and COP 21” and that it “is up to facing these challenges through refocusing and reinvigorating its programmes with the aim of increasing awareness and mobilizing the scientific capacities of its Member States to address the challenges defined by the SDGs, the Samoa Pathway, the Sendai Framework and the Paris Agreement on Climate”. Later in the document, it analyses in detail the impact of international agreements on its mandate, objectives and indicators.
48. The strategy to be proposed to Member States should lead them to decide upon and, ideally, to commit themselves to the following issues:
- What response should be brought to the emergence of new players with ocean-related roles (ONU-Oceans, European Commission, OECD, G8, etc.)?
- What role should developing States play in relation to the development of North-North cooperation (United States of America, Canada, European Union, Japan, Australia)?
- What strategic, organizational and sectoral developments should result from the recent adoption of major global agreements or conventions (2030 Agenda, COP 21 Paris Agreement, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway)?
- What support should Member States provide to IOC to collectively respond to the important new expectations regarding ocean science?
- What initiatives and what protection should be provided for the “zone” – a part of the ocean that is not subject to national jurisdiction and exposed to many risks?
- How should IOC take into account crosscutting issues such as gender equality, Africa, capacity-building and networking of the many ocean science information systems?
- What position – autonomous but compliant – should IOC hold within UNESCO?
- What should the relative distribution of power be between Headquarters and the Commission’s many offices in the field?
29 Comparative advantages include: a unique mandate within the United Nations system for ocean science with
broad objectives relevant to the 2030 Agenda; a crosscutting mandate touching on most of the SDG framework; recognized field expertise, structure and world-wide presence, working in full cooperation with the United Nations system to coordinate ocean-related activities in 148 Member States; global ocean observation systems and operational programmes already active in core SDG areas, in particular the near totality of SDG 14; strong coordination for analysing and monitoring of relevant SDG indicators; active participation and leadership in relevant United Nations inter-agency coordination mechanisms (i.e. UN-Oceans) and processes (i.e. World Ocean Assessment, Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction, etc.); outreach capacity and convening power to mobilize multiple stakeholder networks including national policy makers, scientific institutions and civil society.
30 199 EX/4, 4 March 2016, UNESCO Executive Board, 199th session.
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- What human resources policy should IOC operate for the career of the staff of the Secretariat and what should the division of roles and resources be between the Secretariat and offices in the field?31
- What strategies should be implemented for communication and information and raising new funds?
Recommendation No.4. The External Auditor recommends a review of the organization of the work of the IOC’s Assembly and Executive Council to enable them to make more strategic decisions on the key issues and challenges facing IOC. To that end, he recommends, in particular, a review of the Commission’s programmes and activities, starting with the analysis, which has already started with regard to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, of the main international agreements and conventions with an impact on IOC’s mandate and objectives, in order to propose an overall strategy.
B. Budget management
1. The IOC budget
49. The Programme Implementation Report for 2014 and 2015 states that IOC “was particularly affected by the financial situation with a reduction in its regular budget affecting its leadership in key global programmes [and that] IOC’s core mission [had been put] in jeopardy as regards its critical role in long-term sustained systems that provide monitoring and observations of the ocean, and in the management, transformation and dissemination of data and information to help Member States mitigate ocean-related risks.
50. The cut in funding from the United States of America has had a drastic impact on the amount of resources available to the Commission and, as a result, on its activities:
Table 1: Impact on the budget of the withdrawal of funding from certain Member States (2010-11 / 2014-15) (in United States dollars)
51. The approved budget for UNESCO’s 2014-2015 financial period was $653 million, including $12.026 million allocated to IOC. To prepare for the reduced cash flow that UNESCO had to face
31 Bangkok, Brest, Cartagena, Copenhagen, Jakarta, Nairobi, New York, Ostend, Perth, Port-au-Prince, Suva, etc.
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in 2014–2015 owing to the non-payment of assessed contributions by certain Member States, the General Conference adopted a $507 million expenditure plan. At the end of the financial period, IOC was allocated $8.644 million of the budget, not including extrabudgetary expenditure.
52. The funds allocated to IOC cannot be decreased by transfers of funds to other parts of the budget. IOC is authorized to receive funds, other than from Member States’ assessed contributions, for the implementation of programmes and projects in line with the aims, policies and activities of the Organization, and to incur expenditure and make payments for such activities in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Organization and the agreements made with funding sources.
53. UNESCO’s budget is structured around the notions of expected results and programmes, based on the principle of results-based management (RBM). IOC is part of “Major Programme II – Natural Sciences” and, more specifically, main line of action (MLA) 3: “Promoting knowledge and capacity for protecting and sustainably managing the ocean and coasts”. This MLA includes the following three expected results:
• Expected result 6 (ER4):32 Scientific understanding of ocean and coastal processes bolstered and used by Member States to improve the management of the human relationship with the ocean;
• Expected result 7 (ER5): Risks and impacts of ocean-related hazard reduced, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures taken, and policies for healthy ocean ecosystems developed and implemented by Member States;
• Expected result 8 (ER6): Member States’ institutional capacities reinforced to protect and sustainably manage ocean and coastal resources;
54. For each expected result, a minimum of 20% of resources needs to be earmarked for operational activities. This ratio was met by IOC for the 2014-2015 budget, with an average rate of 21%. The ratio further improved for the 2016-2017 budget, with an average rate of 27%. This figure remains below the 34% average at UNESCO for the 2014-2015 expenditure plan.
Table 2: 2014-2015 budget for expected results (in United States dollars)
Source: approved 2016-2017 37 C/5 Programme and Budget
Table 3 : 2016-2017 budget for expected results (in United States dollars)
38 C/5 Operational Budget Staff Budget Total 38 C/5
55. The 37 C/5 budget for the 2014-2015 period was established in the context of a new eight-year Medium-Term Strategy (2014-2021) and four-year Programme and Budget (2014-2017), as 32 The difference in reference numbers is owing to the removal of two expected results in the context of the reduced
expenditure plan versus the approved budget.
37 C/5 Operational Budget Staff Budget Total 37 C/5
decided by the General Conference in 2011. Owing to the non-payment of significant assessed contributions, the Executive Board had requested “an implementation plan for the 37 C/5 that set out spending priorities for the Organization based on the expected cash flow situation for 2014-2015”. This implementation plan, based on an expected cash flow of $507 million and on programme priorities defined by the Executive Board, was also approved by the General Conference and is contained in an Addendum to the Approved Programme and Budget (37 C/5 Approved). Budget allocations were divided into three budget priority levels: A (80-100% of the amount foreseen in document 37 C/5), B (40-80% of the amount foreseen in document 37 C/5) and C (0-40% of the amount foreseen in document 37 C/5). Expected results 4 and 5 were prioritized A, and expected result 6 was prioritized B. However, the two high-priority budgets do not reach the planned minimum of 80%. IOC’s expenditure plan is only 72% of the amount allocated in the approved budget.
Table 4: prioritization of IOC’s expected results – 37 C/5 (in United States dollars)
Source: 37 C/5
Table 5: prioritization of IOC’s expected results – 38 C/5 (in United States dollars)
Source: 38 C/5 56. The budget reduction mostly affected the operational budget, which was cut by 53%, from $3.855 million to $1.816 million. The programme activities defined in document 36 C/5 were allocated $842,199, plus $1.102 million from the emergency fund. The activities initially planned in document 36 C/5 were allocated $3.439 million. Staff costs were cut by 16.4%, from $8.171 million to $6.827 million. Therefore, the budgetary adjustment consisted more in a cut to IOC’s planning activity than to staff costs. UNESCO’s Approved Programme and Budget for 2016-2017 (38 C/5) was $667 million, and its expenditure plan was $518 million. The IOC budget for 2016-2017 grew by 17.5%, which was above-average growth at UNESCO (up by 2.2%). The operational budget increased by $931,800 and extrabudgetary resources rose by $2.662 million. However, the IOC budget for 2016-2017 remains below that of 2012-2013.
Evolution 7.3% -0.4% 2.2% -2.6% Sources: documents 37 C/5 and 38 C/5 57. Staff costs for UNESCO’s Approved Programme and Budget for 2014-2015 (37 C/5) amounted to $335.187 million, corresponding to 69.4% of the expenditure plan. IOC staff costs amounted to $6.827 million, which represents 79% of the expenditure plan. The correlation between the share of staff costs and the level of activities in the budget was low.
Table 8: Share of staff costs in the expenditure plan (in United States dollars)
IOC budget
Expenditure plan Proportion
staff / budget
Staff / operat. + extrabud.
Operational budget Staff budget Total approved Extrabudgetary
* Provisional envelope and Emergency Fund Sources: documents 35 C/5, 36 C/5, 37 C/5 and 38 C/5
58. While on average at UNESCO the expenditure plan was topped up by 79% in extrabudgetary resources, this rate was only 42% for IOC, increasing to 62% for the 2016-2017 period. However, it remains lower than UNESCO’s average rate of 77%.33
59. Seeking extrabudgetary resources is the responsibility of all staff members. This mission is often spelled out in their job descriptions. A comprehensive framework is established in the Draft Complementary Additional Programme of Extrabudgetary Resources. Each action is described,
33 IOC states that in 2014-2015, it mobilized $9.7 million in extrabudgetary resources (including $1.1million from the
Emergency Fund and funds reallocated from UNESCO’s regular budget). These additional resources (some $8.6million) were obtained under the $507 million expenditure plan.
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costed and contact information for one person is provided. The priorities and opportunities to be continued or discontinued are regularly discussed at IOC management meetings. The Bureau of Strategic Planning (BSP) organizes annual meetings for the main bilateral donors. IOC’s management team monitors the meetings internally.
60. The appropriation of extrabudgetary funds was justified by the postponement of ongoing operations and operations undertaken during the previous budgetary period, financial commitments entered into the accounting system and commitments that were made but not yet entered into IOC’s information system. The appropriation of pre-existing or practically contractualized funding did not enable ambitious goals to be set during the preparation process of document C/5 in order to reach a higher level of extrabudgetary funding.
Table 9: Justification for the extrabudgetary funding appropriation lines in document 38 C/5 (in United States dollars)
Progress made in 38 C/5 extrabudgetary projects Proposed / retained %
Projects from previous C/5 documents 1 720 000 27.5% Funds-in-trust recorded in the System Applications and Products (SAP) system during the C/5 preparation process 2 150 000 34.3%
Projects approved but not yet recorded in the SAP system 2 392 000 38.2%
Total 6 262 000 100.0% Source: IOC
2. Financial reporting
61. Budget implementation in document 36 C/5 includes the regular budget and extrabudgetary funds divided between the Special Accounts and Funds-in-trust. The document mentions another category of expenditure named ‘emergency fund’. The 37 C/5 budget replaced the term “emergency fund” with “expenditure plan”. The 38 C/5 budget features two expenditure plans. The first plan amounts to $507 million for UNESCO and is listed in the budget scenarios, and the second amounts to $518 million. These two scenarios feature in the documents submitted to the governing bodies, but the series of different presentations interferes with the readability and analysis of the documents.
62. IOC established an annual report on budget implementation for the financial period ended 31 December. This document, prepared by IOC, was reviewed by the Bureau of Financial Management34 with regard to its compliance with the management charter. The report covered the three types of IOC budget funding: funds allocated under the regular programme, voluntary (extrabudgetary) contributions to IOC’s Special Account and voluntary (extrabudgetary) contributions allocated to specific projects. The latter contributions, called Funds-in-Trust, were individualized and underwent a special follow-up for the donor. First, a table summarized the annual budget implementation by expected result, with isolated staff costs. This presentation differed from the one in the C/5 document, in which staff costs were disaggregated by expected result. In this table, results were not reconciled with the allocated expenditure plan. Income and expenditure were not reconciled in a synthetic document nor compared with the budget. The tables provided specified the types of budgets for planned operations. The number of operations undergone or the development stages of projects was not summarized. Upon reading the document, it was difficult to analyse the budget and planned project implementations.
63. Article 6.1 of the IOC Financial Regulations enables the constitution of a Reserve Fund “to cover end-of-service indemnities and other related liabilities”. The annual report provided the statement of income and expenditure as well as changes in reserves and fund balances of the IOC’s Special Account for the financial period starting 1 January and ending 31 December, established by the Bureau of Financial Management (BFM). The document established for the financial period of 2014 recalls the implementation of the 2012 financial period. The 2013 financial
34 BFM.
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period is not recalled, which does not allow for a proper follow-up of the changes in reserves and fund balances. This document did not recall which funds were initially allocated to the Special Account. The comparison was not shown between appropriations entered into the budget and those that were realized. There was no mention in the document of the origin of the significance of the Special Account balance of $3,642,352 on 31 December 2015, for expenditure of $2,575,319 in 2014 and 2015, nor of its future use. The balance of the Special Account, reported to governing bodies at each session, is intended to fund the following budgetary period, according to the priorities established and in the context of the Complementary Additional Programme.
3. Budget implementation
64. According to Article 4.2 of the IOC Financial Regulations, “the appropriations voted in the budget shall constitute an authorization to the Secretary to incur obligations and to make expenditures”. The budget in document 37 C/5 authorized expenditure totalling $8,643,600. During the financial period, extra funds were granted in the form of additional appropriations ($48,001), the emergency fund ($500,000) and transfers of appropriations ($632,000). The initial35 budget was then revised to $8,540,996. The allocated budget was therefore $9,720,997.36 Expenditure during the financial period amounted to $9,639,794, with an implementation rate of 99%. Staff costs accounted for 68.4%.
Table 10: 2014-2015 budget implementation (in United States dollars)
Main line of action 3 9 720 997 4 052 450 5 587 345 9 639 794 99.2% Source: IOC, BFM (IOC/EC-XLIX/2, Annex 2)
65. Extrabudgetary expenditures of over $10.9 million were made, corresponding to a volume of activity higher than the regular budget. This figure has declined by 3.2% compared to the 2012-2013 financial period, during which extrabudgetary expenditure was $11.289 million. This difference can be explained by the way in which forecasts were made, based on previous projects validated by partners. The forecast that was presented to the governing bodies does not reflect the reality of the activity generated by extrabudgetary projects.
Table 11: 2014-2015 extrabudgetary implementation (expenditure) (in United States dollars)
Main line of action 3 3 600 200 6 336 289 4 595 152 10 931 441 303.6% Source: IOC 35 The initial budget of $8,643,600. Revisions were made to indirect and staff costs. 36 $8,540,996 + $48,001 + $500,000 + $632,000.
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Table 12: Extrabudgetary implementation (income)
(in United States dollars)
Income 2014 2015
Special Account Funds-in-trust Special Account Funds-in-trust
Chart: Distribution of extrabudgetary resources by donor in 2014-2015
Source: IOC
4. Management tools
66. IOC does not have a monitoring chart for its strategic actions or its financial follow-up. UNESCO’s generic monitoring charts are used instead. The geographical distance between staff members and the plurality of IOC actions could warrant the creation of activity monitoring tools.
Recommendation No. 5. The External Auditor recommends that the quality of the information provided to the Executive Council and the Assembly be improved by:
• ensuring consistency between the presentation of budget implementation and the expenditure plan and reconciling the two in a single table;
• providing information on the use of the surplus balance of the Special Account;
• for IOC bodies only: establishing dashboards specifically for IOC to monitor its strategic actions and budget.
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67. IOC budget management relies on the System of Information on Strategies, Tasks and the Evaluation of Results (SISTER) available through the Intranet. This tool provides the tree structure of UNESCO’s projects and is interfaced with the System Applications and Products (SAP) software. The interface is based on budget codes. Owing to the fact that SAP settings date further back than the adoption of results-based management (RBM), robustness problems in the restitution of information have been detected, which prevent the automatic restitution of budget implementation to decision-making bodies. The management of extrabudgetary funds is not coded according to biennia. This results in difficulties in automated data processing, which in turn creates the risk of errors in the financial statements produced and in the consistency of methods in the absence of the staff member in charge of producing financial statements.
68. The External Auditor recalls his recommendation in the document entitled “Financial Report and Audited Financial Statements of UNESCO for the period ended 31 December 2007, and Report by the External Auditor” (180 EX/33): “The acquisition and deployment of new functions in the accounting and financial information technology (IT) system (FABS) should be considered, in order to provide for an automated or at least secure production of the financial statements. In the immediate future, it is recommended that a document be drawn up detailing which accounts in the chart of accounts each line of the financial statements refers to”.
69. IOC does not use project management software. UNESCO has started the process of developing this type of tool. IOC representatives have been invited to take part in the work of the steering group. Setting up a project management tool, as the Executive Secretary announced would be done, following the audit, would facilitate project monitoring as well as the organization of missions and tasks assigned to geographically remote staff members.
C. Human resources
70. As at 1 March 2016, the Commission had 44 staff members. Members are divided into staff appropriated to the regular budget and staff appropriated to extrabudgetary activities. At the same date, 24 staff members were working on projects under the regular budget and 20 on extrabudgetary projects. During the 2014-2015 biennium, IOC staff costs stood at $6.6 million, representing 79.1% of the regular budget expenditure.
1. Quality of reporting to the Assembly
71. The Assembly is informed about IOC activities via three reports: the biannual budget adopted by UNESCO’s General Conference, the annual budget implementation report and the biannual progress report of the Commission.
72. In accordance with Article 6.B.4 of the Statutes of the Commission, “The Assembly shall establish general policy and the main lines of work of the Commission, and shall approve the IOC Biennial Draft Programme and Budget”. This responsibility implies that the Assembly needs to be provided with reliable and precise information on human resources management and staff costs.
73. However, human resources management reporting to the Assembly is limited. The 2014-2015 progress report, adopted in June 2015,37 does not contain any information regarding the payroll or the number of staff working for IOC. Likewise, although staffing is mentioned in part of the report submitted to the Assembly in April 2015 on budget implementation for the financial period of 2014, the report fails to mention the number of staff working for IOC, the change in this number compared to the previous financial period, or the expected trend for the following financial period.
74. Furthermore, the accounting item for staff costs varies depending on the status of Commission staff members. In 2014, staff costs featured under three different budget items:
37 Decision IOC–XXVIII/3.5.
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− detailed staff costs under the regular budget, corresponding to the salaries paid to permanent staff members of the Commission;
− the Special Account, which included a budget item relating to the salaries of some temporary staff members of the Commission;
− the other budget items of the Special Account and Funds-in-Trust, which, although they were not mentioned explicitly, included the salaries paid to staff members assigned to extrabudgetary activities funded by voluntary contributions from Member States.
75. Under these conditions, upon reading the documents presented to the Assembly, Member States cannot analyse the Commission’s total staff costs, because some are not identified. Furthermore, no division of staff by grade, nor indication of the number of full time equivalents (FTE) working for IOC were submitted to the Assembly.
76. Overall, the lack of consolidated data relating to the management of human resources adversely affects reporting to the Assembly and limits its capacity to define and monitor a budget and human resources management strategy for IOC.
2. Trends in staffing and payroll
77. Between 2013 and 2016, IOC staff numbers increased by 10%, rising from 40 to 44. This change was mostly owing to the rise in the number of staff members assigned to extrabudgetary activities. Indeed, the number of staff under the regular budget of the Commission dropped from 26 in 2013 to 24 in 2016.
78. Staff costs are IOC’s main expenditure. During the 2014-2015 biennium, they amounted to $6.6 million and corresponded to 79.1% of the regular budget spending.
79. Between 2013 and 2015, the Commission’s staff costs were curbed. They diminished by over $20,000 between the 2012-2013 and 2014-2015 biennia. The control of the Commission’s main item of expenditure was necessary in order to ensure the continuity of a number of operational costs.
Table 13: Trends in the Commission’s staffing
2013 2014 2015 2016* Evolution
Regular programme open posts (documents 36 C/5, 37 C/5 and 38 C/5) 28 30.5 30.5 31.5 +3.5
Number of staff under the regular programme (A) 26 25 25 24 -2
Number of staff in extrabudgetary projects (B) 14 18 19 20 +6
Total (A+B) 40 43 44 44 +4
Staff costs under the regular budget (in $) (C) 3 342 144 3 205 366 3 385 758 3 703 318 -
Total expenditure under the regular budget (in $) (D) 3 881 603 4 052 450 5 587 345 5 077 500 -
Source: budgets approved by the General Conference, Bureau of Human Resources Management and budget implementation reports.
* Budget estimates under the $667 million 38 C/5 budget, including $13.9 million for IOC.
80. During the 2016-2017 biennium, the staff costs of the Commission should rise to $7.4 million, which corresponds to 72.9% of its regular budget expenditure. Therefore, they could rise by 12.3%
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between 2014 and 2017, owing to the increase in the budget appropriated to IOC by the General Conference. However, their share in total expenditure could fall by more than 6%, owing to the choice of the Commission to allocate most of the additional budget resources to operational costs.
81. However, control of staff costs was taken in 2012 to address the loss of resources in 2011. It was not part of a multi-year human resources strategy adopted by the Assembly and implemented by the Executive Secretary. Furthermore, neither IOC’s medium-term strategy for 2014-2021 nor the budget adopted for the 2016-2017 biennium mention any performance indicators for human resources. Indeed, staff costs should rise by $317,000 between 2015 and 2016, mostly owing to the hiring of staff under extrabudgetary funding.
82. In the context of the changes in the Commission’s resources, the definition by the Executive Secretary of a general management strategy for human resources, and particularly staff costs, is essential to support the development of IOC. This strategy could include multi-annual goals for staffing trends and control of staff costs under the regular budget. It could also define a target for staff costs in relation to total expenditure under the regular budget.
Recommendation No. 6. The External Auditor recommends that reporting to the Assembly be improved with respect to human resources management by providing detailed information, in each budget implementation and activity report, on:
− the present situation: number of staff working for the Commission, corresponding number of full-time equivalents, corresponding total expenditure and funding sources, table of planned and actual staffing levels, including a comparison with the previous consolidated financial period;
− performance indicators with respect to human resources management, including expected trends in staffing and payroll, as well as a short-term and medium-term goal regarding the share of staff costs under the regular budget.
3. Staffing structure under the regular budget
83. During the biennium, staff costs were curbed primarily via the number of vacant posts at IOC. Since 2013, the number of permanent staff members at the Commission has been far below the number of open posts approved by the General Conference.38 Thus, as at 1 March 2016, there were 16 permanent staff working at the Commission’s Headquarters. However, the budget adopted by the Assembly and the General Conference for the 2016-2017 biennium, counting the contribution of the United States of America to the Organization’s budget, allowed for 23 permanent posts at Headquarters. More than 30% of posts at the Commission Headquarters were therefore not filled in 2016.
84. This structural gap between authorized posts and posts filled leads to a situation of chronic understaffing. Thus, the draft programme and budget for 2016-2017, submitted to the Assembly in April 2015, stated that five extrabudgetary posts funded by a voluntary contribution from the Unites States of America had been lost by the Commission to other international organizations. Likewise, owing to diminishing resources, the post of Head of the Secretariat of the IOC Sub-Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions in Cartagena (Colombia) could not be filled during the 2014-2015 biennium. This situation of understaffing mostly concerns Professional category (P) and General Service category (G) staff working at Headquarters.
38 Annex 2 to document 36 C/5 (2012-2013), document 37 C/5 (2014-20) and document 38 C/5 (2016-2017).
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Table 14: Structure of IOC staff (regular budget)
Posts at Headquarters Field posts Total
Job title
Assistant Director-General (ADG)
Director (D)
Professional category (P)
General Service category (GS)
Total Director (D) Professional category (P) NPO Total
Source: IOC, staffing levels from 31 March 2013 to 31 March 2016.
85. As at 1 March 2016, two posts at IOC Headquarters were vacant. This figure does not correspond to the difference between open posts under the budget and filled posts, since post authorizations are given on the basis of the scenario in which the United States of America pay their contribution to the Organization. This situation weakens the functioning of the Commission. Furthermore, since 31 December 2013, three vacant General Service posts39 have been abolished.
86. Thus, as at 1 April 2016, the Ocean Science Section did not have a Chief of Section. It only had one permanent Professional category staff member, based in Copenhagen and performing duties as acting Chief of Section. The five other staff members of the Section were non-permanent, funded by Member States in the context of extrabudgetary projects. Yet the area of expertise of the Section includes addressing ocean acidification, climate change and the presence of carbon dioxyde in marine ecosystems. In this context of understaffing, the activity of the section is limited and does not cover all its areas of expertise.
87. Lastly, IOC’s staffing structure is in need of permanent staff, especially Professional category40 staff based at IOC Headquarters. In this context, the recruitment process that started at the beginning of 2016 should give priority to the strengthening of management staff at IOC Headquarters, to enable all the sections to apply all of their skills.
4. Distribution of posts between Headquarters and field offices
88. As at 1 March 2016, counting all permanent and extrabudgetary staff, half of the Commission’s staff were serving in field offices. At the same date, counting only permanent staff funded by the regular budget, one third were located in field offices. The share of Commission staff serving in the field has increased significantly during the recent period. As at 1 March 2013, counting all categories of staff, 32.5% were serving in field offices, compared with 50% in 2016. Similarly, in 2013, the share of permanent staff located in field offices was below 27%, compared to 33% in 2016.
39 GS. 40 P.
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Table 15: distribution of staff between Headquarters and field offices
2013 2014 2015 2016
Established posts at Headquarters (A) 19 17 17 16
Established posts in the field (B) 7 8 8 8
Total established posts (C) 26 25 25 24
Extrabudgetary posts at Headquarters (D) 10 8 9 6
Extrabudgetary posts in the field (E) 4 10 10 14
Total extrabudgetary posts (F) 14 18 19 20
Total (C+F) 40 43 44 44
Share of established posts in the field (B/C) 26.9% 32.0% 32.0% 33.3%
Share of extrabudgetary posts in the field (E/F) 42.9% 56.0% 52.6% 70.0%
Posts in the field / total posts ((B+E)/(C+F)) 32.5% 41.9% 40.1% 50.0%
Source: IOC, staffing table
89. Changes in the share of staff serving in field offices shows that the budget adjustment relating to the reduction in IOC’s resources has led to a decrease in the number of IOC staff at Headquarters. Regardless of the scope considered, the share of staff serving in the field has increased during the 2013-2016 period.
90. As at 1 March 2016, there were IOC offices in the following locations:
− Nairobi (Kenya), comprising one permanent Professional category staff member (P-4);
− Cartagena (Colombia), comprising one permanent Professional category staff member (P-4) and one extrabudgetary General Service category staff member (G-4);
− Bangkok (Thailand), comprising one permanent Professional category staff member (P-4) and three extrabudgetary administrative assistants;
− Suva (Fiji Islands), comprising one permanent staff member under a national contract;
− Perth (Australia), comprising three extrabudgetary Professional category staff members (P-5, P-2 and P-5);
− Jakarta (Indonesia), comprising one permanent staff member under a national contract (half-time – post shared with the Natural Sciences Sector (SC));
− Brest (France), comprising one extrabudgetary Professional category staff member (P-2) and one extrabudgetary General Service category staff member (G-3);
− Ostend (Belgium), comprising two permanent Professional category staff members permanents (P-5 and P-3) and four extrabudgetary Professional category staff members (P-1, P-1, P-2 and P-3);
− Copenhagen (Denmark), comprising one permanent Professional category staff member (P-4), serving as acting Chief, Ocean Sciences Section;
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− Port-au-Prince (Haiti), comprising one extrabudgetary Professional category staff member (P-2);
− New-York (United States of America), comprising one permanent Professional category staff member (P-3), mainly working for UNESCO’s Natural Sciences Sector (SC).
91. The growing number of field office posts poses a real managerial challenge for the Executive Secretary. As IOC’s mandate is primarily one of standard setting and conception, it is difficult to imagine that it could be fully implemented by a few Professional category staff at Headquarters, while almost half of its staff are scattered across a dozen different postings. This relationship between Headquarters and the field, and the burden that it places on the capacity of IOC’s staff to fulfil its functions, deserves further reflection.
92. Furthermore, the place of the various offices in the IOC organizational chart differs depending on each office’s activity. Thus, the offices in Nairobi, Cartagena and Bangkok are IOC subsidiary bodies and support subcommissions reporting to the Executive Secretary. Staff at the IOC/UNESCO Project Office in Ostend are also under the direct authority of the Executive Secretary, as are the staff at the Perth Programme Office (PPO). Staff at the offices in Perth, Jakarta, Suva and Port-au-Prince report to the IOC Tsunami Unit. Staff located in Brest report to the Ocean Observations and Services Section (IOC/OOS), and the Copenhagen office is a component of the Ocean Science Section (IOC/OSS). Beyond their function and their place in the organizational chart, a distinction must be made between field office staff that are permanent staff of IOC, as in Copenhagen and Nairobi, and extrabudgetary staff, paid by the Commission through voluntary contributions from Member States, as in Brest, Perth and Port-au-Prince.
93. In a Note dated 3 January 2014,41 the Director-General of UNESCO defined the conditions of administrative management and professional monitoring of field office staff. Nevertheless, the functional autonomy of IOC carries some field staff management specificities. The complexity of the status and missions of these staff members does not facilitate the definition of a comprehensive human resources management strategy for the Commission. In addition, the administrative and professional monitoring of these staff members is conducted jointly at Headquarters by the Executive Secretary, the IOC’s Operational Support Unit and UNESCO central services. The Executive Secretary has not established a formalized document, specifically for IOC, describing the management modalities of these staff members.
94. In conclusion, the distribution of the Commission’s staff has changed since 2013, with field offices gaining in numbers. Expenditure control on staff costs has mainly led to streamlining in the number of IOC posts at Headquarters, prompted by constant situation of under-staffing. This trend has undermined IOC’s operations to the extent that half of its staff are now working in the field – a distribution that does not facilitate their supervision by the Executive Secretary.
Recommendation No. 7. The External Auditor recommends a comprehensive review of the Headquarters-field staff ratio, given the challenges, workload and new tasks that lie ahead for the Commission.
5. Use of overtime
95. IOC and UNESCO staff occasionally work overtime for the Commission. During the 2014-2015 biennium, all staff included, the amount of overtime for IOC staff and UNESCO staff for the Commission was 1,195 hours, with 430 hours served by IOC staff and 765 hours served by UNESCO staff.
41 Director-General’s Ivory Note (DG/Note/14/3) of 3 January 2014.
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96. Overtime is defined in Chapter III of UNESCO’s Staff Regulations and Staff Rules. In accordance with Rule 103.5, compensation for overtime is only possible for staff members in the General Service category (G). Staff members may be required by their supervisors to work overtime. Compensation shall, whenever possible, be granted in the form of time off.
97. Overall, IOC complies with the conditions set by UNESCO’s Staff Regulations and Staff Rules. However, the cost of overtime is not governed by the Executive Secretariat. While overtime served by IOC staff has not received compensatory pay since 2013, UNESCO staff who have served overtime for the benefit of IOC systematically receive payment for these hours.
98. Only part of the amount paid to these staff members is funded by the regular budget. During the 2014-2015 biennium, only the cost of 193 paid hours was funded by the regular budget, equal to 25.2% of the paid overtime or $24,269, which is an average of $126 per hour of overtime. The remaining paid overtime was funded by the Special Account and the Funds-in-Trust (FIT). The cost was not itemized in the budget-implementation documents, but the amount could total more than $75,000. Moreover, the Executive Secretariat did not keep a record of overtime from 2013, and the number of hours worked and paid during that year can no longer be analysed.
99. In addition, overtime paid by the Commission could be recorded in the accounts under staff costs. This would facilitate monitoring of this expenditure and, above all, would allow better identification of staff costs in the budget-implementation documents. It would prevent listing expenditure of the same type under different budget chapters.
Recommendation No. 8. The External Auditor recommends that the Bureau of Financial Management (BFM) improve the monitoring, accounting and annual reporting of overtime paid to UNESCO staff members performing ad-hoc tasks for IOC.
6. Career management of IOC staff
100. On average, on 1 March 2016, permanent staff members at IOC had held their post for more than 11 years. Among them, eight staff members had been working for the Commission for more than 15 years and five staff members for more than 20 years. On average, the chiefs of section and project managers had been working for IOC for more than 13 years in the same job. In Bangkok, Cartagena, and Nairobi, the three Professional category (P) staff members were native to the continent where they were assigned, which could explain these staff members’ lack of mobility.
101. However, all of these staff members are hired by the Organization on fixed-term contracts of two years, which have been continuously renewed since their first recruitment. None of the staff members has an indeterminate appointment.
102. In accordance with Rule 104.7 (b) of UNESCO’s Staff Regulations and Staff Rules, “an indeterminate appointment may be granted to a staff member who has completed at least five years of continuous service and who has shown that he or she meets the standards of efficiency, competence and integrity”. In this particular case, at the end of March 2016, some 18 of the IOC staff members had worked at the Commission for more than five years, that is to say, three-quarters of the permanent staff.
103. Furthermore, in accordance with Chapter 5.11.F of the UNESCO Human Resources Manual, the Standard Duration of Assignment (SDA) of a staff member at Headquarters is six years. Geographical mobility is encouraged within the Organization in order to facilitate skills development.
104. IOC, therefore, is not complying with substantive provisions in the UNESCO Human Resources Manual. None of the staff members working for the Commission for more than five
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years have benefited from a conversion of their fixed-term contract to an indeterminate appointment. The contracts of these staff members are renewed every two years by a simple letter, signed by a human resources officer. Furthermore, on 31 March 2016, some 15 staff members had held posts at IOC Headquarters for more than six years.
105. The contradiction between the long working period of IOC staff members and the limited duration of their contracts adversely affects the functioning of IOC:
− it prevents career mobility, which entails a twofold managerial and scientific risk, since routine and habit can be detrimental – one of the clear signs of this routine is shown in the choice of consultants, which is marked at the Commission by the renewal of contracts for the same people, in violation of the competition rules set in the texts;42
− with regard to the seniority of some staff members, the non-renewal of their contract, without notice or indemnity, in accordance with the conditions set in Rule 109.3 of UNESCO’s Staff Regulations and Staff Rules,43 represents a high risk of legal insecurity under the labour laws of the United Nations;
− it penalizes staff members by limiting their career prospects, geographically and professionally, and limits their acquisition of skills and experiences;
− it prevents IOC from renewing its Professional category staff and its potential.
106. Nevertheless, staff members at the Commission are subject to UNESCO’s Staff Regulations and Staff Rules, which implies their mobility inside and outside the Organization. In this context, human resources management could be significantly improved, by legally securing the status of staff working for the Organization - sometimes for more than 15 years - and encouraging staff renewal.
Recommendation No. 9. The External Auditor recommends a return to compliance with the Organization’s rules of geographical mobility and contract renewal, as defined by UNESCO’s Staff Regulations and Staff Rules.
107. What is more, IOC fulfils its mandate in ocean-related subjects by collaborating to varying degrees with around 20 international organizations, such as the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). All of these organizations are members of UN-Oceans. At its inception, the Inter-secretariat Committee on Scientific Programmes Relating to Oceanography (ICSPRO) – predecessor to UN-Oceans – provided for the exchange or provision of staff among member organizations.44 This interesting mechanism was not, however, repeated in the framework agreement governing relations within UN-Oceans.
108. Admittedly, the specialization of the staff concerned does not always facilitate their career development. However, at a time when ocean-related issues are becoming increasingly interdisciplinary and of highly strategic importance, the question of reactivating this staff mobility mechanism for the organizations concerned should be raised at a future meeting of UN-Oceans.
Recommendation No. 10. The External Auditor recommends that the question of reactivating the mobility mechanism for the staff of UN-Oceans’ member organizations be raised at a future meeting of UN-Oceans.
42 See below. 43 Rule 109.3: A fixed term appointment […] shall expire automatically and without notice or indemnity on the
109. Since 1 January 2013, no expenditure relating to staff training has been funded by the IOC’s budget. No individual learning and development plan or monitoring of staff training has been formalized by the Executive Secretary. Owing to reduced budgetary resources at UNESCO, the programme and budget for the 2014-2015 biennium (37 C/5) made no provisions for staff training.
110. However, in accordance with Item 15.2, paragraph 2, of the UNESCO Human Resources Manual (HR Manual), “learning is an integral part of the career development framework of staff”. Under paragraph 7, “managers should ensure that […] individual work objectives are supported by targeted and efficient learning measures”. Each manager must define a learning and development plan with staff members under their supervision.
111. In this instance, contrary to the provisions of the Human Resource Manual, no individual learning and development plan was established for IOC staff. While a range of free courses is available online for those interested, there is no monitoring of staff training in the Commission. IOC staff were, however, able to benefit from several training programmes free of charge, such as a results-based management (RBM) session, provided by the Bureau of Strategic Planning (BSP), lessons on “intervention criteria”, organized by the Internal Oversight Service (IOS), and workshops intended for administrative personnel led by the Operational Support Unit (IOC/EO/AO). The lack of a budget for learning and development is a constraint that management is attempting to overcome within the limit of available means.
112. This lack of definition and monitoring of an appropriate training plan undermines the skills and careers development of staff. While the Commission is composed of Professional category (P) staff with advanced university degrees, often meaning a doctorate in a specialized field, the development of skills inherent to their post, such as managerial abilities not within their field of study, could be provided to them through training organized by UNESCO. Moreover, some General Service category (G) staff could benefit from extensive training to further their careers.
113. Consequently, the lack of training is detrimental to the functioning of IOC and the career development of its staff, who already face low professional mobility. In this context, establishing an individual learning and development plan is advisable to ensure that the Commission update its administrative and scientific practices.
8. Use of consultants
(a) Persistent lack of competition and permanent employment
114. IOC regularly uses external consultants to accomplish its tasks. During the 2014-2015 biennium, it concluded 55 temporary individual consultant contracts, totalling $937,643 and more than 5% of its total expenditure. The conditions for use, selection and evaluation of external consultants are defined in Item 13.10 in the HR Manual. 45 The governing bodies of the Commission have not defined any other rules.
115. In accordance with Item 13.10, paragraph 5, of the HR Manual, individual consultants are not staff members of the Organization. The use of their services is only for a temporary, short-term need and never, in any case, for a permanent task. Under paragraph 18, before concluding a consultation contract amounting to less than $20,000, the recruiting service must review the curriculum vitae of at least three suitably qualified candidates for the assignment.
116. In compliance with Item 13.10, paragraph 19, of the HR Manual, contracts of $20,000 or more should be concluded after requesting a curriculum vitae from at least three candidates, a statement specifying their qualifications for the assignment, an indication of the approach he/she would adopt to carry out the assignment and its overall cost. However, paragraph 23 stipulates that, 45 UNESCO Human Resources Manual, published 16 December 2009, updated 30 July 2013, Item 13.10,
“Individual consultants and other specialists contracts”.
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“there are a limited number of exceptional circumstances where a competitive process may be waived and the candidate selected even if fewer than three candidates were considered”. The criteria for using this waiver are strictly defined. It can only be used in an emergency, if the consultant is internationally recognized in his/her field, if the contract involves zero or nominal remuneration, if the assignment is a joint project with other international organizations or if, despite contacting several candidates, less than three offers were sent to the recruiter. In all cases, the waiver must be reasoned and documented by the Executive Secretary.
117. These provisions are not respected by IOC. In 2014 and 2015, more than 35% of consultants recruited were not selected through a competitive process. The payments received by the consultants who did not go through the competitive process amounted to more than $490,000 over the course of the biennium, which is almost 53% of all payments made to consultants. The exceptional circumstances specified for the waiver in Item 13.10, paragraph 23, of the HR Manual were overlooked, since more than half of the expenditure on consultants paid by IOC went to people recruited without undergoing a competitive process.
118. Moreover, the justification for using a waiver is often summary and does not fulfil all the criteria in the HR Manual. However, on several occasions, the Operational Support Unit of the Executive Secretary has reminded the management team of the regulatory obligations for the recruitment of consultants.
119. These errors could have several consequences: loss of skills, lack of renewal, routine, complacency or favouritism and overspending. In many Member States, such public procurement practices could lead to disciplinary action and even prosecution.
120. Moreover, contrary to the provisions in Item 13.10, paragraph 10 (e), of the HR Manual, some consultants are used for functions for which there is a continuing need. Thus, between 16 January 2013 and 5 January 2015, one consultant signed five successive external consultation contracts for functions in the Commission and the Natural Sciences Sector (SC). She performed the duties of a communication officer and in particular, developed the IOC website. Some of these contracts contain an amendment to extend their duration. This consultant therefore worked continuously for IOC from 16 January 2013 to 31 March 2015. On 1 April 2015, she was finally recruited by the Natural Sciences Sector and is now an international civil servant of the Organization.
Table 16: Contracts concluded with the website consultant
Contact Number Date of signature Start Date End Date Waiver granted
4500192041 16 January 2013 16 January 2013 15 April 2013 No 4500201621 6 December 2013 22 April 2013 31 December 2013 Yes 4500226917 20 December 2013 2 January 2014 28 February 2014 No 4500232092 3 March 2013 3 March 2014 31 December 2014 Yes 4500261224 5 January 2015 5 January 2015 5 June 2015 No
Source: Contracts transmitted by IOC
* Contracts 4500201621, 4500226917 and 4500261224 were subject to extension amendments
121. This state of affairs is contrary to the provisions of Item 13.10 of the HR Manual. Paragraph 33 stipulates that, “individuals may be hired for up to 11 months in a consecutive 12 months period”. For each year, the consultant in question worked more than 11 months per year under the status of external consultant. Between 1 January 2014 and 1 January 2015, she worked as a consultant for the entire year. What is more, the renewal of her contracts was not submitted to a new competitive process on the grounds that, according to the decision reasoned by the Executive Secretary, the Organization was satisfied with her performance during previous assignments. This lack of competitive process is a flagrant violation of the regulations for the recruitment of consultants.
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122. Similarly, another consultant has performed an uninterrupted assignment as a consultant to IOC since 16 September 2013. In the context of an extrabudgetary project funded by a Member State, she has contributed, in collaboration with the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, to a project on the observation of ocean currents around the Canary Islands. Her initial contract has been renewed three times since 2014, without any competitive process. At each renewal, a waiver signed by the Executive Secretary mentions that the continuation of the same science project requires that the same consultant be retained. Contrary to the provisions in Item 13.10, paragraph 33 of the HR Manual, this person worked for IOC for more than 11 months, between 16 September 2013 and 16 September 2014. On 17 December 2014, the administrator of the Commission’s Operational Support Unit reminded the Chief of Section, in writing, that the situation of this consultant did not comply with the regulations of the Organization.
Table 17 : Contracts concluded with project consultant 514RAF2002
Contract Number Date of signature Start Date End Date Waiver granted
4500216580 13 September 2013 16 September 2013 31 May 2014 No
4500240893 26 May 2014 2 June 2014 30 April 2015 Yes
4500271278 30 April 2015 1 May 2015 31 July 2015 No
4500279152 10 August 2015 1 September 2015 31 July 2016 Yes Source: contracts transmitted by IOC; * Contract 4500240893 was subject to extension amendments.
123. The systematic renewal of this consultant’s contract shows that her work did not fulfil a need for periodic expertise at the Commission, but a permanent assignment linked to a medium-term extrabudgetary programme funded by a Member State. In this context, the conclusion of a fixed-term contract, within the scope of the Organization’s regulations on extrabudgetary staff, would have ensured that the consultant’s scope of activity complied with regulations applicable to IOC.
Recommendation No. 11. The External Auditor recommends, without delay, a return to strict compliance with recruitment conditions for external consultants, by confining waivers to the competitive process to the exceptional circumstance justifying such waivers, in accordance with the UNESCO Human Resources Manual. He recommends, in particular, putting a stop to the recruitment of consultants for functions for which there is a continuing need at the Commission and for multi-year extrabudgetary assignments, and returning to strict compliance with the applicable texts.
(b) The case of the extrabudgetary assignment funded by the Moore Foundation (No. 2986)
124. By letter dated 30 June 2011, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation notified IOC of payment of a grant of $381,090 to fund an extrabudgetary assignment to produce “A Guide to Evaluating Marine Spatial Plans”, as a follow-up to the Commission’s 2009 publication on marine spatial planning. 46 On 11 October 2013, an additional grant of $38,000 was provided by the Foundation for the development of an electronic version of the evaluation guide. Thus, the total amount of the donation was $419,090. The Marine Policy and Regional Coordination Section (IOC/MPR) was responsible for leading the programme.
125. The extrabudgetary assignment funded by the Foundation took place with the support of an external consultant. Between 1 August 2011 and 31 August 2014, this consultant signed four individual service contracts with IOC. These contracts totalled $329,400, accounting for 78.6% of the contribution from the Moore Foundation for this extrabudgetary assignment. The consultant’s fees varied over the course of this period between $9,000 and $9,600 per month. The same
consultant frequently works for IOC in the context of extrabudgetary assignments funded by the Moore Foundation. He had also participated in writing the guide to marine spatial planning published in 2009.
Table 18: Contracts concluded with the consultant (Programme #2986)
Contract Number Date of signature Start Date End Date Waiver
granted Amount ($) Monthly fee ($)
4500148807 29 July 2011 1 August 2011 28 February 2012 No 63,000 9,000 4500168759 29 February 2012 1 March 2012 28 September 2012 Yes 67,200 9,600 Amendment No. 1 14 September 2012 28 November 2012 Yes 19,200 9,600
4200187865 9 October 2012 29 November 2012 28 March 2013 Yes 36,000 9,000 A-1 renewal 28 June 2013 Yes 27,000 9,000 A-2 renewal 31 October 2013 Yes 36,000 9,000 4500223976 25 November 2013 1 December 2013 31 May 2014 Yes 54,000 9,000 A-1 renewal 31 August 2014 Yes 27,000 9,000
Total 329,400 Source: individual contracts transmitted by IOC
126. The conditions of competitive process prior to the signature of the first contract dated 29 July 2011 were insufficient to ensure the transparency of the recruitment process. While two other curriculum vitae were analysed by IOC before selecting a candidate, no description of the candidates’ approach to completing their assignment or any information on the overall cost of the assignment appears in the recruitment file. In addition, individual analyses of the candidates were not carried out. The consultant’s application only mentions that he is an internationally recognized expert in the field of maritime spatial planning, the co-author of the 2009 guide published by IOC, and has already participated in several projects with the Commission. Indeed, he was recruited to write a second guide, which was to evaluate maritime spatial planning practices. Having already worked with IOC on this same theme, the competitive process with two other candidates who, by definition, did not write the 2009 guide or work on this subject with the Commission was a mere formality.
127. In addition, Annex 2 to the grant notification letter, sent by the Moore Foundation to IOC on 30 June 2011, referred to the name of this consultant in the programme financing plan. However, the consultant was recruited for this assignment by IOC in a contract signed on 29 July 2011. In light of this, the competitive process conducted prior to the recruitment of this consultant was artificial to the extent that the letter from the donator and the Executive Secretariat’s reason for selection predetermined the choice of this consultant.
128. Moreover, even if the consultant was the only person to master a technique that he had designed, the maximum length of these consultation contracts established in the HR Manual was not observed. Contrary to Item 13.10, paragraph 33, of the HR Manual, the consultant worked continuously for IOC between 1 August 2011 and 31 October 2013.
129. In accordance with the stipulations of these contracts, and prior to the monthly payment of his fees, the consultant should have sent a progress report to the Chief of Section in charge of supervising him. Although IOC stated that it was in permanent contact with the consultant, the content of his reports was insufficient to justify paying a monthly fee of more than $9,000. The progress reports sent to IOC and validated by the Chief of Section are consistently less than a page, amounting to around 20 lines of text. They briefly describe the consultant’s work without clarifying his daily activities and accomplishments and occasionally repeat text from previous reports. In an email dated 17 July 2014, an IOC officer remarked that the contents of these reports were insufficient to allow the payment of fees.
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130. All in all, the recruitment of the consultant for this extrabudgetary assignment does not comply with criteria for transparency, a competitive processes or activity monitoring defined in the UNESCO HR Manual. On 1 April 2016, the consultant was still working for IOC on a new extrabudgetary assignment with the Moore Foundation. He was recruited after the completion of a new competitive process. The quality of the competitive process was significantly higher to that of the previous process. Nevertheless, the Executive Secretariat must, without fail, strengthen the monitoring of this consultant’s activities, consistently evaluate his work, and ensure a new competitive process in the event that his contract is renewed.
9. Mission travel of IOC staff
131. Between 1 January 2013 and 1 April 2016, IOC expenditure for travel on mission totalled $764,830, for 2,703 days of missions. This amount of spending requires the special monitoring of these missions. Owing to the growing shortage of budgetary resources, the cost of these missions was reduced by 14.8% between 2013 and 2015. This reduction seems to be continuing, as expenditure on IOC mission travel decreased by 29.1% from April 2015 to April 2016.
Table 19: IOC expenditure for travel on mission (in United States dollars)
2013 2014 2015 Total Change April
2016/April 2015
Total mission costs 247,689 276,277 210,956 734,922 -14.8% -29.1% Number of travel days47 961 783 696 2,440 -27.6% -22.0% of which P-4 IOC-TSU 107 69 62 238 - - of which P-5 IOC/OOS 118 69 53 240 - - of which P-5 Ostend 111 129 114 354 - - of which P-5 IOC/OSS 80 88 42 210 - - Analysed sample 37,155 44,166 44,786 126,107 - - Analysed sample/Total cost 15.0% 16.0% 21.2% 17.2% - - Source: IOC
132. The UNESCO Administrative Manual defines the conditions for travel on missions. No other specific rules have been adopted by the IOC governing bodies. In accordance with Chapter 15.1 of the Manual, “Missions that do not appear to […] be essential for the attainment of the objectives […] should be abandoned”. The manual describes the authorization process by the supervisor of the planned mission, and the conditions for use of modes of transportation and reimbursement of expenses. According to paragraph 5.8 of Chapter 15.2, no later than two weeks after completion of the mission, the traveller must submit a mission report to his/her supervisor describing significant aspects and results of the mission. The manual specifies that “Mission reports should provide sufficient information to serve as a basis for evaluating the effectiveness of the mission and for assessing whether the outcomes justified the mission”.
133. A sample of 30 files was analysed by the External Auditor. These files represent a total of $126,107, or 17.2% of total expenditure on missions between 2013 and 2015. The conditions for the management of missions are satisfied overall by IOC. The Executive Secretariat closely monitors the number of missions and the cost of each, and keeps a specific file for each trip. Out of 30 files analysed, eight contained a report that was insufficient to evaluate the effectiveness of the mission. Some of the reports were less than a page for missions lasting several days and should be reviewed to fulfil the conditions set by the Administrative Manual.
134. Some Commission staff members go on many missions. Between 2013 and 2015, two Professional category (P) staff were able to halve the total duration of their missions abroad. While this adjustment helped reduce costs substantially for IOC official missions, it raises the question of a justification for the number of trips previously made by these staff members.
47 Gross figures including, besides working days, non-working days.
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135. All in all, despite a significant reduction over the past three years, international missions are still costly for IOC. While the conditions for completion of these missions generally comply with UNESCO rules, some of the mission reports submitted should be more detailed, in order to provide precise information on the relevance and necessity of the mission to the prerogatives of the Commission. Furthermore, these reports must serve as the basis for regular evaluations of the appropriateness of certain categories of missions.
Recommendation No. 12. The External Auditor recommends that IOC staff be reminded of their obligation to write a substantial report upon their return from a mission. These reports should be reviewed periodically to verify the appropriateness of certain categories of mission.
D. Activities and programmes
1. Expected results and performance indicators
136. As previously noted, the objectives assigned to the Secretariat by the IOC Assembly and Executive Council reappear in the quadrennial programme (2014-2017) adopted by the UNESCO General Conference. Within the framework of Strategic Objective 5, this quadrennial programme establishes three expected results for IOC and 15 related performance indicators.
137. Every two years, the UNESCO General Conference is informed of IOC activities; every six months, the Executive Board of UNESCO is informed of the implementation of the Commission’s objectives and performance indicators. In accordance with Rule 49 of the IOC Rules of Procedure, the Executive Secretary shall submit to each session of the Assembly and the Executive Council a report on IOC activities since the previous session. These various activity reports note the attainment of performance indicators and whether activity targets have been met. The validity of this information was not verified by the auditors.
138. The frequency of meetings of the IOC governing bodies – one session every two years for the Assembly and one session per year for the Executive Council – is less than that of UNESCO’s governing bodies. Consequently, certain progress reports are presented to UNESCO’s governing bodies before being validated by those of the IOC. Thus, the report on implementation of the quadrennial programme, outlining the attainment of performance indicators defined by the IOC Assembly, was presented to the UNESCO Executive Board without having been approved by the Executive Council of the Commission.
139. Independently of the different meeting timeframes, it was noted that the expected results and chosen indicators reflect the current organization of the Secretariat, with clear divisions between observation, risk assessment and science. While these activities concur with the tasks assigned to IOC, they also further reflect the crosscutting issues previously mentioned (transfer of technology, gender issues, Priority Africa) and the responses to the expectations of institutions or conventions that deal with issues of sustainable development, climate change or environmental conservation.
140. A review of IOC’s strategy would provide an opportunity for the objectives and performance indicators adopted in the context of the following quadrennium to better reflect responses to crosscutting issues as well as to major issues of sustainable development, climate change or environmental conservation.
141. That being said, it is impossible to crossmatch the information from the 15 performance indicators with a potential assessment of the activities of the sections of IOC. The breakdown of the quadrennial programme by section does not enable the identification of the stakeholders responsible for expected results and performance indicators. The job descriptions for IOC staff members do not include any objectives linked to expected results or performance indicators.
200 EX/20.INF.2 – page 34
Moreover, the job descriptions are not always renewed in due time and risk not being included in the calendar of activities established by the governing bodies. Thus, the job description of Chief of Section for the Ocean Observing System (OOS) has not been modified since 2011. It therefore does not mention the section’s participation in the different results and indicators for the 2014-2017 quadrennium. On the other hand, the job descriptions of other Chiefs of Section were redefined over the course of 2014.
142. In order to strengthen results-based management at the Executive Secretariat, job descriptions for Chiefs of Section could be redefined every four years, based on the quadrennial programme. Job descriptions could refer to the expected results and performance indicators, which could always be revisited and possibly enhanced following the biennial evaluation of individual performances.
Recommendation No. 13. The External Auditor recommends that the achievement of expected results and performance indicators be clearly distributed between the sections of IOC.
2. Assessment of the Secretariat’s activities
143. Owing to the current management methods of the Secretariat, it is almost impossible to make a consistent and comprehensive assessment of the sections’ activities.
(a) Project management
144. During the 2014-2015 biennium, IOC undertook almost 137 programmes and projects. On average, the budget of an extrabudgetary programme was $138,372, including salaries. The budgetary programmes, on average, and not including staff costs, amounted to $52,563. There were 3.1 programmes per staff member on average, but this ratio varied greatly. For example, the Perth Programme Office (PPO) only managed one project – the “Pacific and Indian Ocean Projects through PPO”, with a total expenditure of $19,999.73 over two years, for one Professional grade (P-5) staff member. Two staff members assigned to the IOC Sub-Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (IOCARIBE) managed three programmes, amounting to $72,741, two funds-in-trust totalling $8,319, and a project funded by $467 in a Special Account. There was a low volume of programmes undertaken by this office and a significant difference in the number and importance of the matters dealt with by this office in relation to other offices.
145. Between January 2013 and December 2015, IOC published almost 50 manuals and brochures, totalling more than 2,650 pages of literature. Publication activities were equally distributed between the four sections at IOC Headquarters.
Table 21: Publication of science manuals and guides
Tsunami Unit 7 - 438 pages 3 - 138 pages 4 - 116 pages 14 - 692 pages Source: IOC
146. In addition, IOC produced many reports, brochures and summaries online and in print.48 Annex 4 of the present report summarizes the number and different types of publications, for which the consolidated cost and the real impact (dissemination, estimated number of readers, number of citations in scientific literature) were not given.
147. Next to this impressive publication endeavour, the number of visits to the IOC website49 significantly increased during the biennium, from 67,088 visits for 96,373 pages read in 2014 to 203,188 visits for 308,327 pages read in 2015. This was undoubtedly owing to the relevance of sustainable development and environmental concerns in the news, in particular COP 21 and the adoption of the SDGs, thus supporting the idea that these themes must be further promoted in IOC strategies and reports.
(c) Exercises
148. It is mainly the section responsible for ocean-related hazards that organizes exercises for the benefit of the Member States. Almost 100 public awareness campaigns were launched by the different sections of the Commission, more than half of which were launched by the Tsunami Unit. The use of the results, good practices and lessons learned from these exercises was not always clear.
149. Lastly, IOC staff organized or participated in almost 200 bilateral meetings and international conferences. In addition, there were many international missions, which were noted in the section of the audit regarding human resource management.
48 In 2012/2013, 480 documents of all types, totalling some 1,457 pages (on line or in print) were published. 49 IOC website: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/ioc-oceans.
Tsunami Unit 133 100 115 348 Source: External Auditor, IOC database
3. Training
150. Partnering with Flanders Marine Institute at Ostend and the Flemish Government, IOC has developed a training programme. Since the launch of this programme, around ten years ago, approximately 2,000 interns have been trained, on average 20 per month.50 The teachers of the programme are marine science professionals, who volunteer and are only paid the per diem rate related to their presence in Ostend. The IODE project, in conjunction with the other sections of the Commission, has also developed an online platform to provide training in ocean science, called “Ocean Teacher”. The project manages a database of interns who were trained by the centre in Ostend, as well as experts and correspondents who were or are working with the various IOC sections.
151. In the context of the aforementioned IOC Capacity Development Strategy of June 2015, addressing Member States, several training centres, almost all in emerging or developing countries, are currently being created and accredited.51 They are, or should soon be backed by leading universities or research centres.
4. Competitive bidding
152. The External Auditor consulted five partnership proposals for amounts higher than $90,000, or 17% of the value of service and partnership contracts signed during the period under review:
• Agreement with the University of California, Santa Barbara, concluded in February 2014, for a total amount of $113,819, for the Transboundary Water Assessment Programme (TWAP);
• Agreement with the University of British Colombia, signed in October 2013, amounting to $90,790, also for TWAP;
• Agreement with the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii, concluded in March 2013, for $163,961, for the Indian Ocean tsunami monitoring and warning system project;
• Agreement with the University of Utrecht, signed in September 2014, for a total of $114,766, for the “Global foundations for reducing nutrient enrichment and oxygen depletion from land-based pollution, in support of Global Nutrient Cycle” project;
50 The training centre has only one room, which limits its capacity. 51 Santa Masta, Miami, Dakar, Nairobi, Maputo, Johannesburg, Hyderabad, Tian Jun, Kuala Terengano.
200 EX/20.INF.2 – page 37
• Agreement with Washington State University, for $104,000, for the same project as the University of Utrecht.
153. As these universities are leaders in the fields of research concerned, none of the agreements were subject to a preliminary competitive bidding process. However, the agreements were often renewed after the first contract, without documented proof of steps taken to ensure that no other university was able to conduct similar work.52
154. It should be noted that for the aforementioned project concerning an Indian Ocean tsunami monitoring and warning system, the contract explicitly mentions previous contracts. The co-contractor application form shows that this agreement is part of a procedure started in June-July 2005, covering the procurement and installation of monitoring facilities in the Indian Ocean. The contract stipulates the recruitment of a technician, the procurement, installation and monitoring of equipment, and an advance of $54,000 on the submission of the CV of the person responsible for missions (a technician recruited by the university in 1997), a schedule of the missions, and an itemized budget. The itemized budget shows the invoicing of 20% of indirect costs and $25,475 of mission costs for three trips, totalling 37 days. The final report consists of a mere two pages summarizing the interviews and two pages of photographs. The situation clearly resembles a contract renewal intended to fund, at the University of Hawaii, a project completed by IOC. The economic equilibrium of the agreement seems to be imbalanced to the detriment of IOC.
155. This evidence of the repeated lack of a competitive bidding process, in addition to the aforementioned evidence concerning the selection of consultants, shows that the need for a competitive bidding process has not been completely integrated into the Commission’s management. Furthermore, as was previously stated, it carries the very serious risk that IOC is cutting itself off, little by little, from the new scientific community and is thus missing valuable opportunities. Moreover, by working exclusively with renowned centres and neglecting newcomers, IOC risks falling short of its mission of capacity building and the transfer of technology.
Recommendation No. 14. The External Auditor recommends establishing partnerships with new universities or research centres in order to end the oligopoly with current partners and enable an effective competitive bidding process when launching and renewing projects.
5. Information exchange system and marine data management
156. Annex 4 of this report lists all databases and marine science websites connected in one way or another to IOC. There are 36 online databases or information exchange systems in total, for 155 centres or relevant counterparts.53
157. There is no common database for all marine sciences, which is certainly unattainable when one considers the amount, complexity and heterogeneity of the information to be assembled, but there is also no common portal for all marine sciences that connects all websites and relevant disciplines through web links.
158. This array of data and information reflects the diversity of the stakeholders, the complexity of the subjects, the variety of material and the obsolescence of several systems. For its users, it appears to be part of the avowed landscape of marine science. For the outside observer, it seems to be the product of historical, technical, organizational, and disciplinary build-up, rather than the result of rational construction. This is even more evident as programmes like the International
52 The Secretariat states that while the current wording in Chapter 7.5 of the Administrative Manual requires
“comparison with other potential […] partners” and does not formally require a “comparative process”, at the undergoing revision of this manual, the wording should be changed in order to establish a more systematic competitive bidding process for partnership agreements valuing more than $50,000.
53 Such as the 65 National Oceanographic Data Centres (NODC) and the 20 Associate Data Units (ADU).
200 EX/20.INF.2 – page 38
Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) 54 have existed for more than 50 years, with the express goal of encouraging the exchange of data, at least of metadata, between the different counterparts of oceanographic disciplines.
159. Naturally, the diversity of subjects (physics, chemistry, biology, climate, ecosystems, health, etc.) and the disparity of the information technology used are also obstacles to putting them in perspective. Similarly, geostrategic and legal considerations may also be obstacles to pooling these systems. Lastly, typical sociological obstacles to information sharing or frequently used methods are also probably responsible. It remains the case that – at a time when the Member States, United Nations bodies, and various stakeholders in the fight against climate change and environmental conservation expect reliable, universal and up-to-date information from marine science – this wide variety of data and information systems seems outdated.
160. The Executive Secretary emphasized the following points relating to this complex issue:
− In compliance with its statutes, the Commission promotes and coordinates programmes on research, services and capacity development; oceanographic data exchange has been an important aspect of the IOC programme since its founding in 1960;
− Observation and test procedures are essential to marine science – we cannot manage something that is not tested and observations today cannot be delayed; no country can truly observe the ocean by itself, whether for scientific purposes or to monitor risks;
− IOC makes it possible to gather contributions from all national observation systems, data centres and research centres; IOC has defined a pre-established framework, based on a framework agreement for data exchange and standardized intergovernmental coordination; no other institution is in a position to propose this type of framework;
− The notion of these services in the oceanographic community is recent when compared with the meteorological community, which started data exchange over 150 years ago; operational oceanographic services are rapidly growing and the discipline now encompasses an operational focus. Many Member States have committed to pursuing this goal by transitioning from pure observation to production intended for sustainable development of oceans and coasts; some programmes are headed by IOC, others programmes are headed by IOC and national institutions through partnerships;
− The table in Annex 4 shows the diversity of networks linked to IOC and the substantial corresponding national investments; IOC has committed to providing online services in compliance with its programmatic mandate;
− In several regions around the world, its impetus may be necessary if local stakeholders cannot commit to these activities without assistance.
161. This dispersal of systems has naturally drawn the attention of some of its Member States. Thus, a Russian initiative, led by the All-Russian Research Institute Hydrometeorological Information at Obninsk, aims to develop an ocean data portal. For its part, the European Union has launched a marine data research project. Finally, the United States of America has a longstanding commitment to collect historic ocean data.55 In all three cases, the involvement of IOC is unclear and these initiatives seem to be in competition with each other rather than coordinated.
162. This state of affairs goes beyond the scope of this audit, but we cannot help thinking that the Commission would perform its role well if its Assembly adopted a resolution promoting the construction of a universal information system and ocean data portal, taking into account current environmental, climate-related and sustainable development issues. Such an undertaking would increase the renown and visibility of IOC. 54 Founded in 1961, which was International Geophysical Year (IGY). 55 Russian Federation: “Ocean Data Portal”; European Union: “Sea Data Net”; USA: “World Ocean Database”.
200 EX/20.INF.2 – page 39
163. It could be useful to approach businesses that sell data to firms in need of information on the ocean (oil companies, ship owners, fisheries, etc.) to potentially receive sponsorship from such firms for the development of a common portal on all ocean-related matters.
Recommendation No. 15. The External Auditor recommends that a draft resolution be submitted to the IOC Assembly calling for Member States to work together, with the support of IOC, to construct a universal information system and ocean data portal, along with a cost-benefit analysis prepared in advance by the IODE project.
164. For the record, the auditors undertook the usual due diligence procedures to ascertain the effective and efficient management, in compliance with IOC regulations, of the different aspects of the Commission’s activities: expenditure by bankcard for the IODE project; monitoring of telecommunications at Headquarters; inventory of IOC fixed assets; and monitoring of programmes.56 The management of these different items does not call for any comments.
IV. CONCLUSIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
165. IOC is at a crossroads. It must recover from the shock of the 2011 financial crisis while facing major challenges from recent international developments concerning climate change, sustainable development and marine spaces. It must not lose contact with scientific communities, which are dynamic but dispersed, while learning to communicate better with national and international policymakers. It must respond to the twofold challenge of the expectations of Member States in the South and initiatives of the OECD countries, which will not necessarily wait for it to respond. It must rethink its role in crosscutting issues that arise from the magnitude of ocean-related issues, while maintaining the legitimacy of its mandate (research and observation of the oceans and dissemination and use of the results; standards and benchmarks; purposes of international agreements involving marine science; programmes in the field of sciences, observation of the oceans and transfer of technology).
166. The audit findings highlight the areas where improvement is desirable. These findings should not give rise to underrating the generally good, even very good, image of IOC in the eyes of the Member States, or the impact of the budgetary crisis on its operations.
167. The External Auditor welcomes the quality of the reception given to the auditors and with the efforts of the staff to provide them with the elements necessary for the audit. He reiterates, however, the need to ensure, as far as possible, that the management team is fully available throughout the audit.
End of audit findings
56 Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected
Seas (NEAMTWS) No. 549INT2003; Transboundary Waters Assessment Programme (TWAP) No. 213GLO2012; Enhancing oceanography capacities on Western African countries (No. 514REF2002), South-East Pacific Data and Information Network in support to Integrated Coastal Area Management (SPINCAM No. 513RLA2013), A guide to evaluating marine spatial plans, MSP case studies, and MSP technical assistance (No. 570GLO2009).
200 EX/20.INF.2 – page 41
ANNEXES
Annex 1: List of interviewees (excluding the IOC Secretariat)
Mr Philippe Courtier, Chief of Office of Research, Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy
Mr Maurice Imbard, Chargé de Mission for Climate Change, Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy
NORWAY
Ms Gry Hoeg Ulverud, Deputy Permanent Delegate
UNESCO
Ms Flavia Schlegel, Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences
Mr Jean-Yves Le Saux, Deputy Director, Bureau of Strategic Planning (BSP)
Mr Philippe Billault Leiva, Human Resources Management
Ms Bilyana Grujic and Ms Marlies Spronk, Project Management and Business Process Management Unit, Division of Knowledge Management and Information Systems (KMI)
Ms Yasmina Kassim, Financial Reporting and Accounts Units (BFM/FAS/FRA), and Mr Amol Khisty, Chief of Budget Monitoring and Reporting Section (BFM/BMR)
IOC GOVERNING BODIES (BY TELECONFERENCE)
Mr Peter Haugan, Chairperson (Norway)
Mr Ariel Troisi, Vice-Chairperson (Argentina)
Mr Ashley Johnson, Vice-Chairperson (South Africa)
200 EX/20.INF.2 – page 43
Annex 2: UNESCO Organizational Chart
200 EX/20.INF.2 – page 45
Annex 3: List of periodic and cycle-specific reports published in 2014/2015
On this matter, the IOC Executive Secretariat issued the following comment:
“As reported in the context of the overall UNESCO Governance Audit (197 EX/28.INF Rev.), there is a considerable reporting workload for the IOC due to the ‘double governance’ factor. It is one of the concerns/potential risks, in particular given the very limited staffing of the Commission and the very drastic reduction of executive coordination functions as a response to the reduced budget and need to sustain programmatic support. This reduction has included abolition of one P4 EO post and one D1 Deputy Executive Secretary and the subsequent creation of the mixed EO/AO function in the Operational Support Unit. This arrangement has put extreme pressure on the very limited HQ senior staff (Heads of Sections) and it presents a risk in terms of programme delivery. At the same time, it should be pointed out that IOC’s governance layers, although numerous, ensure the ownership of the Commission and its goals and programmes by its Member States and one could establish a strong correlation between the level of extrabudgetary funding to activities and the existence of an active governance mechanism for a given programme.”
A- IOC reporting to the United Nations: Report to UNFCC SBTSTTA on ocean observation adequacy through the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS): http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/gcos/Publications/GCOS-195_en.pdf Report of the UN Secretary General on oceans and law of the Sea (annual): http://www.un.org/depts/los/general_assembly/general_assembly_reports.htm Global Sustainable Development Report (annual): https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/globalsdreport/2015 Report to the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole on the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects (annual) Report of the Sixth Meeting (A/70/418) with links to all six languages.
United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea
http://www.un.org/depts/los/consultative_process/consultative_process.htm Status of List of experts for the purposes of article 2 of Annex VIII (Special Arbitration) to the Convention (biannual) http://www.un.org/depts/los/settlement_of_disputes/experts_special_arb.htm Report of the Secretary-General -Follow-up to and implementation of the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway and the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/70/269&Lang=E
Programme of Work of the Convention on Biological Diversity (Marine and coastal, ad hoc ) https://www.cbd.int/marine/resources.shtml B- IOC reporting to UNESCO General Conference
Report of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission on its activities (2014-2015): http://unesdoc.unesco.org/ulis/cgi-bin/ulis.pl?lin=1&catno=233915 C- IOC Secretariat reporting to IOC Governing Bodies: Annual or biennial reports: http://ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDoclistRecord&doclistID=48 and
Reports of the Executive Secretary on Programme and Budget implementation to the Assembly/Executive Council [IOC Rules of Procedure 8.1(b) and (c); 49.1]: Executive Secretary’s report on programme and Budget implementation (annual at each Assembly/Executive Council):
Report of the Executive Secretary on the work accomplished since the previous session: http://ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=15183 Report on Budget Execution (2014) :
http://ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=15107 and corrigendum
http://ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=15536 D- IOC Subsidiary Bodies reporting to IOC Governing Bodies (parent bodies)
[IOC Rule of Procedure 48.3]:
A Biennial update on the status of the IOC primary subsidiary bodies provides the structure and information of IOC Primary Subsidiary Bodies: http://www.ioc.unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=15514 (every two years) (IOC/INF-1322)
(1) Regional
IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC): See for example latest report: http://ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=15533
IOC Sub-Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (IOCARIBE): http://ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=15534
IOC Sub-Commission for Africa and the Adjacent Island States (IOCAFRICA): http://ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=15535
IOC Regional Committee for the Central Indian Ocean (IOCINDIO): http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0021/002183/218394e.pdf
In addition to the reports of each regional subsidiary body, a meeting of the regional subsidiary bodies is organized before each Assembly in Paris and reports to it [Res. XXV-2]
(2) Technical
International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) IODE Committee meetings (report to IOC Assembly) http://www.iode.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDoclistRecord&doclistID=6 IODE Committee meeting working documents http://www.iode.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDoclistRecord&doclistID=8 IODE Groups of Experts reports (report to IODE Committee)
http://www.iode.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDoclistRecord&doclistID=29 IOC/IODE Circular Letters (formal communication with IOC Member States) http://www.iode.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDoclistRecord&doclistID=7 IOC Oceanographic Data Exchange Policy http://www.iode.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=95 IOC Strategic Plan for Oceanographic Data and Information Management (2013-2016) http://www.iode.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=423&Itemid=107 IODE Reviews (2004/2005 and 2007) http://www.iode.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67&Itemid=110 FLANDERS UNESCO SCIENCE TRUST FUND (FUST) Project Reviews http://fust.iode.org/project-reviews Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) Layers of governance/oversight at the program level include: GOOS Steering Committee and its Executive group http://ioc-goos.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewEventDocs&eventID=1629 http://ioc-goos.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewEventDocs&eventID=1468 ) GOOS Regional Council http://www.ioc-goos.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewEventDocs&eventID=1686 ) JCOMM Sessions (intergovernmental, joint with WMO) http://www.jcomm.info/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewEventDocs&eventID=761 ) JCOMM Management Committee http://www.jcomm.info/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewEventDocs&eventID=1695 http://www.jcomm.info/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewEventDocs&eventID=1409 ) GCOS Steering Committee http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/gcos/Publications/GCOS-196_en.pdf ) Then advisory / working groups include: in GOOS: 3 disciplinary panels (physics, biogeochemistry, and biology/ecosystems) in JCOMM: 3 programme areas (observations, services and forecast systems, and data management), and expert teams under the programme areas (see full list at http://www.jcomm.info/index.php?option=com_oe&task=people&Itemid=18 ) The GOOS Steering Committee, JCOMM Management Committee, and the GCOS Steering Committee report to the IOC Assembly every 2 years to receive guidance. Each is co-sponsored (GOOS and GCOS by IOC/UNESCO, WMO, UNEP, and ICSU; and JCOMM by WMO and IOC). IOC and GOOS are also members of the Group on Earth Observation (GEO). Intergovernmental Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms (IPHAB) IPHAB reporting to Assemblies: http://hab.ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=11025
http://hab.ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=15249 All IPHAB session documents with full and detailed reporting on all HAB related activities by IOC and partners: http://hab.ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDoclistRecord&doclistID=137 http://hab.ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDoclistRecord&doclistID=159 IOC-SCOR GEOHAB Reporting to IPHAB and Assemblies: http://hab.ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDoclistRecord&doclistID=73 All HAB related documentation and reporting: http://hab.ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=documents&Itemid=10 Implementation of Integrated Coastal Area Management Programme (ICAM) Strategy (Has no intergovernmental structure but report to each IOC Assembly by decision of the Assembly) http://ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=15402
(3) Regional and technical (Intergovernmental Coordination Groups for regional tsunami warning systems and global coordination):
Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (PTWS). (Last report: http://ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=15449) Tsunami and other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE EWS). (Last report: http://ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=15565) Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS). (last report http://ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=15495) North-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (NEAMTWS) Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Systems (last report: http://ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=15324) and the Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards Related to Sea-Level Warning and Mitigation Systems (TOWS-WG) (last report: http://ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=15515) All five groups are primary subsidiary bodies established by the IOC Assembly/Executive Council. Groups that have met prior to a parent body meeting will report in accordance with the Rules of Procedure for primary subsidiary bodies. E- Reports of the IOC Assembly and Executive Council Reports of the Assembly and Executive Council sessions are published on UNESDOC: http://ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=100003 28th Assembly (2015): http://ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=100003 47th Executive Council (2014): http://ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=14087 To see webpage of IOC Governing Bodies sessions: http://ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=29&Itemid=124
Annex 4: Databases and information systems managed by or related to IOC
IOC PROGRAMME
Structural Element/Project
Number Database/ Infobase System
Type
Database/ Infobase
System Name
URL Online Access
Hosted by IOC (Project Office)
Date of Creation
Funding Source Comments
IODE NODC 65 online databases various various >1961 national
NODCs are members of IODE Committee -see below. They host their own databases of which they share the content with other members of the IODE network
ADU 20 online databases
various various >2013 national/organization ADUs are members of IODE Committee - see below
GDAC 0 online database
n/a n/a 2013 national GDACs (Global Data Assembly Centre) were formally established by IODE-XXII but none have been established so far. As JCOMM also has GDACs agreement needs to be reached to established joint GDACs to avoid duplication
SeaDataNet (IOC is sub-contractor - European NODCs are all partners in SeaDataNet)
1 online database
SeaDataNet http://www.seadatanet.org
>2007 European Commission (IFREMER is project coordinator)
SeaDataNet is a standardized system for managing the large and diverse data sets collected by the oceanographic fleets and the automatic observation systems. The SeaDataNet infrastructure network and enhance the currently existing infrastructures, which are the national oceanographic data centres of 35 countries, active in data collection. The networking of these professional data centres, in a unique virtual data management system provide integrated data sets of standardized quality on-line. As a research infrastructure, SeaDataNet contributes to build research excellence in Europe. SeaDataNet infrastructure was implemented during the first phase of SeaDataNet - SeaDataNet project, grant agreement 026212 was an Integrated Infrastructure Initiative of the EU Sixth Framework. The second phase of SeaDataNet (SeaDataNet 2 project, grant agreement 283607, started on October 1st, 2011 for a duration of 4 years) aims to upgrade the present SeaDataNet infrastructure into an operationally robust and state-of-the-art Pan-European infrastructure for providing up-to-date and high quality access to ocean and marine metadata, data and data products by :
'setting, adopting and promoting common data management standards 'realizing technical and semantic interoperability with other relevant data management systems and initiatives on behalf of science, environmental management, policy making, and economy
European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) (most EU NODCs are partners in EMODNET) - IOC not directly involved
1 online database
EMODNET portal
http://www.emodnet.eu
>2009 European Commission
The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) is a long term marine data initiative from the European Commission Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) underpinning its Marine Knowledge 2020 strategy. EMODnet is a consortium of organizations assembling European marine data, data products and metadata from diverse sources in a uniform way. The main purpose of EMODnet is to unlock fragmented and hidden marine data resources and to make these available to individuals and organizations (public and private), and to facilitate investment in sustainable coastal and offshore activities through improved access to quality-assured, standardized and harmonized marine data which are interoperable and free of restrictions on use.
1994 USA, IODE RP World Ocean Database is part of ICSU's World Data System but is also IODE project. WODB is hosted by the US-NODC. It is planned to establish a mirror site of the WODB at the Oostende office
GODAR project 1 n/a n/a n/a 1992 USA, IODE RP GODAR (Global Oceanographic Data Archaeology and Rescue project) digitizes historical data which are then included in the WODB
OBIS node (also NODC or ADU)
21 various various various 2000 national, organization
OBIS nodes contribute data to the global OBIS database
OBIS project 1 online database
OBIS database http://www.iobis.org
X 2011 IODE (RP, EXB) The OBIS project coordinates the development and maintenance of the OBIS database which is hosted by the IODE project office, Oostende
X 2015 IODE (RP, EXB) OBIS-ENV-DATA will be environmental parameters collected during sampling of biological samples. These data will be made available via the OBIS database
IODE OceanDataPortal project
1 online database
OceanDataPortal database
http://www.oceandataportal.org
X 2007 Russian Federation (in-kind), IODE (RP, Exb)
Database hosted by: Partnership Centre for the IODE OceanDataPortal has been established on 10 September 2013 in Obninsk, Russian Federation to technically underpin the development of the IODE Ocean Data Portal - LINKED WITH EU SEADATANET
GOSUD project 1 online database
GOSUD database
http://www.gosud.org
2000 France, IODE RP Global Ocean Surface Underway Data (GOSUD) Project
Global Temperature-Salinity Profile Program International Quality
controlled Ocean Database (IQuOD) project
1 online database (in development)
IQuOD database
http://www.iquod.org
2015 IODE and 25 other partners including organizations and national data centres
The IQuOD (International Quality-controlled Ocean Database) effort is being organized by the oceanographic community, and includes experts in data quality and management, climate modellers and the broader climate-related community. The primary focus of IQuOD is to produce and freely distribute the highest quality and complete single ocean profile repository along with (intelligent) metadata and assigned uncertainties for use in ocean climate research applications. This goal will be achieved by developing and implementing an internationally-agreed framework.
ASFA 1 online infobase
ASFA http://proquest.libguides.com/asfa
1971 national, FAO Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts: Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA) is an International Cooperative Information System which comprises an abstracting and indexing service covering the world's literature on the science, technology, management, and conservation of marine, brackish water, and freshwater resources and environments, including their socio-economic and legal aspects.
IODE OceanDataPractices project
1 online infobase
OceanDataPractices
http://www.oceandatapractices.net
X 2013 IODE RP OceanDataPractices (ODPr) is a document repository containing a wide variety of “best practice” manuals and guides related to oceanographic data and information management.
X 2013 IODE RP The objective of the Project is to achieve broad agreement and commitment to adopt a number of standards and best practices related to ocean data management and exchange.
OceanDocs project 1 online infobase
OceanDocs http://www.oceandocs.org
X 2007 IODE RP Infobase of Publications in Marine Science in digital form, including preprints, published articles, technical reports, working papers and more
Aquatic Commons 1 online infobase
Aquatic Commons
http://www.aquaticcommons.net
X >2007 IAMSLIC (International Aquatic and Marine Science Libraries and Information Centers)
The Aquatic Commons is a thematic digital repository covering the natural marine, estuarine /brackish and fresh water environments . It includes all aspects of the science, technology, management and conservation of these environments, their organisms and resources, and the economic, sociological and legal aspects. It is complementary to OceanDocs, which is supported by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)/ International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) specifically to collect, preserve and facilitate access to all research output from members of their Ocean Data and Information Networks (ODINS)
OceanExpert project 1 online infobase
OceanExpert http://www.oceanexpert.net
X 1997 and 2015
IODE RP The OceanExpert system, formerly known as Global Directory of Marine (and Freshwater) Professionals, is a database containing information on individuals active on issues related to the marine (and freshwater environment). Was set up in 1997 and formalized as project in 2015.
African Coastal and Marine Atlas
1 with 30 country atlases
online atlas with databases and infobases
ACMA http://www.africanmarineatlas.net
X >2009 EXB, in-kind contributions
The purpose of the African Marine Atlas (AMA) is to identify, collect and organize available geospatial datasets into an atlas of environmental themes for Africa, under the sponsorship of the ODINAFRICA Project of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission's (IOC) International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) Programme. The African Marine Atlas will include and involve a number of other geo-spatial data projects on and around the African continent.
The purpose of CMA-2 Project is sustainable operationalization of an online digital “Caribbean Marine Atlas” technology platform in support of Integrated Coastal Zone Management - ICZM (with special attention to: coastal hazards, climate change, biodiversity & habitats, fisheries, landbased sources of pollution) and Ecosystem-based Management for CLME. The platform will be piloted in selected countries for regional and national-level consultation and decision-making. Training, awareness building and dissemination activities will be conducted. The CMA2 project builds upon the experience and lessons learnt in the CMA1 and SPINCAM Projects.
Ocean Knowledge integrator portal
1 online portal Ocean Knowledge
under development
X >2016 IODE RP The OceanKnowledge Platform will offer the user a single access point to various linked IODE information and data products such as researcher profiles, publications, data, learning objects, etc. and will furthermore facilitate social networking between specialized research communities.
OceanTeacher learning platform
1 online repository of training materials
OTA http://www.oceanteacher.org
X >2009 EXB, in-kind contributions
The OceanTeacher learning platform allows lecturers of OceanTeacher courses to deposit their training materials in a central repository so students can consult the materials prior, during and after classroom courses. It also allows other lecturers to re-use the materials for their courses (and possibly translate into other languages). The OceanTeacher Global Academy Project aims to develop a global training centre network and utilize this network to increase national capacity in coastal and marine knowledge and management. It will do so by (i) promoting the establishment of Regional Training Centres as well as their close collaboration through advanced information technology; and (ii) further developing the OceanTeacher Learning System.
HAB/IODE Harmful Algae Information System (HAIS) (with IOC Harmful Algal Blooms programme)
1 online database
HAIS http://haedat.iode.org
X 1998 IODE project office & IOC Science and Communication Centre on HAB in-kind contribution, Flanders via OBIS,
The Harmful Algal Information System, HAIS, will when fully established consist of access to information on harmful algal events, harmful algae monitoring and management systems worldwide, current use of taxonomic names of harmful algae, and information on biogeography of harmful
algal species. Supplementary components are an expert directory and a bibliography. The HAIS System is being built within the “International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange" (IODE) of the "Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission" (IOC) of UNESCO, and in cooperation with WoRMS, ICES, PICES, IAEA and ISSHA
The International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) has set up this Ocean Summer Schools site as a service to the global ocean science community. The idea for the site emerged from a 2010 meeting that brought together the major ocean science organizations (see http://www.scor-int.org/CB_Summit.htm), where it became apparent that there was no existing portal to summer schools related to ocean science. This Website is co-sponsored by IODE/IOC, the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR), the Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO), and the North Pacific Marine Sciences Organization (PICES).
MPR/IODE SPINCAM / Southeast Pacific Data and Information Network in Support to Integrated Coastal Area Management
online databases and atlas
various www.atlasspincam.com
>2009 Government of Flanders (Belgium), IOC-MPR, IODE
SPINCAM was design to establish an indicator framework on Integrated Coastal Area Management as a support for CPPS and National Authorities of Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Panamá and Peru to strengthen their national policies on coastal management and planning, including transboundary and regional aspects. The Regional Atlas is hosted at the CPPS in GUayaquil (Ecuador) and national authorities from the 5 countries provide data and information on regular basis.
GOOS and JCOMM
WMO Information System (WIS)
1 data sharing framework for forecast systems of national meteorological offices
WIS www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/WIS/
- 1963 (creation of World Weather Watch)
national / WMO Used by GOOS and JCOMM in situ observing networks for the sharing of real-time oceanographic data needed for operational weather and ocean forecast systems; used for long-range weather forecasting, seasonal forecasting, and operational ocean forecast systems. Accessible through National Met Services, although an open-access node to give access to the oceanography community IOC
For monitoring of the status of the observing system, planning deployments, in situ network coordination and planning, and monitoring the flow of data.
ERDDAP data interoperability
1 interoperability framework
ERDDAP available through osmc.noaa.gov
2015 as pilot of JCOMM Observations Coordination Group
US (NOAA) for center, individual national funding to ensure interconnection
Pilot project for data interoperability between the observing network data systems (see below).
Individual network data systems
10 online databases
various see: http://www.jcomm.info/index.php?option=com_content&view =article&id=14&Itemid=30
- various, mostly since 1998
national Focus of platform/network-based quality controlled datasets, primarily for use in climate. Data are then passed on to archives in NODCs and to the WODB. Some are ADUs of IODE but not consistently, some are NODCs. Various teams are working on better connecting with IODE processes.
TWAP ocean portal 1 online database
onesharedocean.org
y 2015 GEF, EC Database of indicators used for the Transboundary Waters Assessment Project marine components (LME and Open Ocean). Discoverable in the GEO/GEOSS Common Infrastructure through the contribution of the EC FP7 GEOWOW project. Sustainability will depend on future extrabudgetary projects.
Tsunami Unit 1. The IOC/TSU does not operate online databases or information systems per se.
Tsunami Service Providers (TSPs)
9 online databases
various
various 1965 national 2. The Tsunami Service Providers (TSPs) report to the respective IOC Intergovernmental Coordination Groups for the four Tsunami Warning Systems. TSPs maintain their own online databases and information systems with alert/warning system information. IOC/TSU has no ownership over the TSPs. There are nine TSPs: (i) Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (USA); (ii) Northwest Pacific Tsunami Advisory Center (NWPTAC, Japan); (iii) Joint Australian Tsunami
Warning Centre (JATWC) operated by Geoscience Australia (GA) and the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM); (iv) Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) operated by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS); (v) Indonesian Tsunami Early Warning System (InaTEWS) operated by the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG); (vi) Centre d’Alerte aux Tsunamis (CENALT, France); (vii) Institute of Geodynamics – National Observatory of Athens (NOA, Greece); (viii) Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV, Italy); (ix) Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute (KOERI, Turkey).
Tsunami science institutions
3 online databases
(i) the US NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ( https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazard /tsu.shtml ) (ii) the Russian Tsunami Laboratory, Novosibirsk, Russia (http://tsun.sscc.ru/On_line_Cat.htm ); and (iii) Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (Italy) http://roma2.rm.ingv.it/en/ facilities/data_bases /52/euro-mediterranean_
national 3. IOC/TSU partners with science institutions that maintain online databases of tsunamis in the past. These databases contain seismic, sea level, eyewitness information that are used for science and research. The online databases are funded by the hosting institutions.
4. IOC/TSU maintains an automated tsunami list server that retransmits public tsunami bulletins issued by the TSPs. There are presently 17,829 subscribers on the list. IOC has consulted UNESCO Legal Affairs for appropriate disclaimer.
IOC Sea Level Station Monitoring Facility
1 information system
www.ioc-sealevelmonitoring.org
2006 Flanders Marine Institute and IOC/TSU
5. IOC/TSU works in partnership with Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) that hosts the IOC Sea Level Station Monitoring Facility. The objective of this service is (i) to provide information about the operational status of global and regional networks of real time sea level stations; (ii) to provide a display service for quick inspection of the raw data stream from individual stations. The facility also contributes to GLOSS and JCOMM programs. In 2015 this web-site had a total of more than 500 million web-hits for the year. The facility was established in 2006 with one contract funded by IOC/TSU. The site is maintained by VLIZ.
IOC ANNUAL REPORT SERIES Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission: biennial report, 2012-2013. 2014. 56 pp. illust. (IOC Annual Reports Series, 18; IOC/2014/AR/18) (English, French) IOC TECHNICAL SERIES Tsunami Glossary. Revised in 2013. 45 p., illus., maps (IOC Technical Series, 85; IOC/2008/TS/85 Rev.) (English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese) Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE EWS) – Implementation Plan 2013–2017 (Version 2.0). 2013. 55 pp. (IOC Technical Series, 78; IOC/2013/TS/78 Rev.) (English) Exercise PACIFIC WAVE 11: A Pacific-wide Tsunami Warning and Communication Exercise, 9–10 November 2011. Vol. 2: Report. 2013. 190 pp. (IOC Technical Series, 97; IOC/2011/TS/97Vol.2) (English) Exercise INDIAN OCEAN WAVE 2011 – An Indian Ocean-wide Tsunami Warning and Communication Exercise, 12 October 2011. Vol. 2: Exercise Report. 2013. 45 pp. (IOC Technical Series, 99; IOC/2013/TS/99 Vol.2) (English) Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas — Second Enlarged Communication Test Exercise (CTE2), 22 May 2012. Vol. 2: Evaluation Report. 2014. 38 pp. (IOC Technical Series, 102; IOC/2012/TS/102Vol.2) (English) Exercise NEAMWAVE 12. A Tsunami Warning and Communication Exercise for the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and Connected Seas Region, 27–28 November 2012. Vol. 2: Evaluation Report. 2013. 285 p., illus., maps. (IOC Technical Series, 103; IOC/2012/TS/103Vol.2) (English) Users Guide for the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center Enhanced Products for the Pacific Tsunami Warning System, August 2014. Revised Edition. 2014. 90 p., maps. (IOC Technical Series, 105; IOC/2013/TS/105 Rev.3) (English, Spanish) Exercise Pacific Wave 13. A Pacific-wide Tsunami Warning and Enhanced Products Exercise, 1–14 May 2013. Vol. 1: Exercise Manual. 2013; Vol. 2: Summary Report. 2013. 137 pp. (IOC Technical Series, 106; IOC/2013/TS/106 Vol.1 + Vol.2.) (English) Tsunami Public Awareness and Educations Strategy for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions. 2013. 40 pp., maps.(IOC Technical Series, 107, IOC/2013/TS/107 Rev.) (English) Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (PTWS) Medium-Term Strategy, 2014−2021. 2013. 24 pp. (IOC Technical Series, 108; IOC/2013/TS/107 Rev) (English) Exercise Caribe Wave/Lantex 14. A Caribbean and Northwestern Atlantic Tsunami Warning Exercise, 26 March 2014. Vol. 1: Participant Handbook. 2014. 221 p., illus., maps. (IOC Technical Series, 109; IOC/2013/TS/109Vol.1) (English/Spanish) Directory of atmospheric, hydrographic and biological datasets for the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem. 2014. 218 p., maps. (IOC Technical Series, 110; IOC/2014/TS/110 Rev.) (English) Integrated Regional Assessments in support of ICZM in the Mediterranean and Black Sea Basins. 2014. 79 p., illus., maps. (IOC Technical Series, 111; IOC/2014/TS/111) (English)
11 April 2012 West of North Sumatra Earthquake and Tsunami Event - Post-event Assessment of IOTWS Performance. 2014. 50 p., illus., maps. (IOC Technical Series, 112; IOC/2014/TS/112) (English) Exercise Indian Ocean Wave 2014: An Indian Ocean-wide Tsunami Warning and Communication Exercise. Vol. 1: Manual; Vol. 2: Report. 2014. 69 p., illus., maps. (IOC Technical Series, 111; IOC/2014/TS/113) (English) Exercise NEAMWAVE 14. A Tsunami Warning and Communication Exercise for the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and Connected Seas Region, 28–30 October 2014. Vol. 1: Manual; Vol. 2: Evaluation Report; Supplement: Evaluation by Message Providers and Civil Protection Authorities. 2014. 532 pp. (IOC Technical Series, 114; IOC/2014/TS/114Vol.1+Vol.2) (English) Oceanographic and Biological Features in the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem. 2015. 383 p., illus., maps. (IOC Technical Series, 115; IOC/2015/TS/115) (English). Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas: Third enlarged communication test exercise (CTE3), 1 October 2013, volume 1: exercise manual, volume 2: evaluation report. 2016. 80 pp. (IOC Technical Series, 116; IOC/2014/TS/116) (English) Exercise Pacific Wave 15. A Pacific-wide Tsunami Warning and Enhanced Products Exercise, 2–6 February 2015, Vol. 1: Exercise Manual; Vol. 2: Summary Report. 2015. 128 pp. (IOC Technical Series, 117; IOC/2015/TS/117Vol.1+Vol.2) (English) Exercise Caribe Wave/Lantex 15. A Caribbean and Northwestern Atlantic Tsunami Warning Exercise, 25 March 2015 (SW Caribbean Scenario) Vol. 1: Participant Handbook. 2014. 109 pp., illus, maps. (IOC Technical Series, 118; IOC/2014/TS/118Vol.1) (English) Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas. Sixth Communication Test Exercise (CTE6), 29 July 2015. Vol. 1: Exercise Manual. 2015. 36 pp. (IOC Technical Series, 122; IOC/2015/TS/122Vol.1) (English) Indicadores Marino Costeros del Pacífico Sudeste / Coastal and Marine Indicators of the Southeast Pacific (SPINCAM). 2015. 40 pp., illus., maps. (IOC Technical Series, 124; IOC/2015/TS/124) (English/Spanish) Exercise CARIBE WAVE 2016: A Caribbean and Adjacent Regions Tsunami Warning Exercise, 17 March 2016 (Venezuela and Northern Hispaniola Scenarios), Volume 1: Participant Handbook. 2015. 99 pp, illus., maps. (IOC Technical Series, 125; IOC/2015/TS/125Vol.1Rev.2) (English) Exercise Pacific Wave 16. A Pacific-wide Tsunami Warning and Enhanced Products Exercise, 1-5 February 2016. Volume 1: Exercise Manual. 2015. 32 pp. (IOC Technical Series, 126; IOC/2015/TS/126Vol.1) (English) Experiencias locales de manejo costero integrado: Casos piloto SPINCAM en el Pacífico Sudeste. 2015. 116 pp., illus., maps. (IOC Technical Series, 127; IOC/2016/TS/127) (Spanish) IOC MANUALS AND GUIDES Ocean Data Publication Cookbook. 2013. 41 pp. (IOC Manuals and Guides, 64; IOC/2013/MG/64) (English) Tsunami Preparedness Civil Protection: Good Practices Guide. 2013. 57 p., illus., maps. (IOC Manuals and Guides, 65; SC-2013/WS/7) (English, French, Spanish) IOC Strategic Plan for Oceanographic data and Information Management (2013-2016). 2013. 56 pp. (IOC Manuals and Guides, 66; IOC/2013/MG/66) (English/French/Spanish/Russian)
IODE Quality Management Framework for National Oceanographic Data Centres. 2013. 34 pp. (IOC Manuals and Guides, 67; IOC/2013/MG/67) (English) A guide to evaluating marine spatial plans. 2014. 97 pp. (IOC Manuals and Guides, 70; IOC/2014/MG/70) (English) IOC Communication Strategy for Marine Information Management (2015-2017). 2015. 21 pp. (IOC Manuals and Guides, 71; IOC/2015/MG/71) (English) Guidelines for a Research Data Management Plan. 2016. 16 pp. (IOC Manuals and Guides, 73; IOC/2016/MG/73) (English.) IOC WORKSHOP REPORTS Consultation on scientific and technical aspects of sustained ocean observations and services, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 5 March 2013. 2013. 14 pp. (IOC Workshop Report, 254; IOC/2013/WR/254) (English)
Earthquake and tsunami hazard in Northern Haiti: historical events and potential sources; Meeting of experts, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 10-11 July 2013. 2013. 32 pp., maps. (IOC Workshop Report, 255; IOC/2013/WR/255) (English)
Caribbean Marine Atlas Review and Planning Meeting, Miami, USA, 10-13 December 2013. 2014. 42 pp. (IOC Workshop Report, 260; IOC/2014/WR/260) (English)
Indo-Pacific Ocean Forum on “Charting the Future of Sustained Ocean Observations and Services”, Bangkok, Thailand, 25-28 Nov. 2013. 21 pp. (IOC Workshop Report, 261; IOC/2014/WR/261) (English)
First Planning Workshop For The Ocean Data And Information Network For The Westpac Region (ODINWESTPAC), Tianjin, China, 4-7 March 2014. 2015. 28 pp. (IOC Workshop Report, 262; IOC/2015/WR/262) (English)
International Coastal Atlas Network Workshop 6: Expanding Participation in Coastal Web Atlas Development and Use, 16–17 June 2013, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. 2013. 25 pp. (IOC Workshop Report, 263; IOC/2013/WR/263) (English)
9th WESTPAC International Scientific Symposium, Research Directors’ Forum: A Healthy and Safe Ocean for Prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, Nha Trang, Viet Nam, 22 April 2014. 2014. 31 pp. (IOC Workshop Report, 264; IOC/2014/WR/264) (English)
Caribbean Marine Atlas (CMA2) Review and Planning Workshop, Courtyard Marriott Coconut Grove, Miami, USA, 25-29 August 2014 Paris, UNESCO. 2014. 95 pp. (IOC Workshop Report, 265; IOC/2014/WR/265) (English)
IOC-UNESCO-ISESCO workshop on Improving Tsunami Warning and Emergency Response in the North-Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean and connected seas Rabat, 23-24 September 2014. 2014. 28 pp. (IOC Workshop Report, 266; IOC/2014/WR/266) (English)
Proceedings of the First IOCAFRICA Ocean Forecasting workshop for the Western Indian Ocean region, Nairobi, Kenya, 11–15 August 2014. 2015. 111 pp. (IOC Workshop Report, 267; IOC/2015/WR/267) (English)
Proceedings of the African Summer School on Application of Ocean Data and Modelling Products, Ghana, Kenya, April–September 2014. 2015. 262 pp. Illus., maps (IOC Workshop Report, 268; IOC/2015/WR/268) (English)
Forum on Sustained Ocean Observations and Services in IOC Group V (Africa and Arab countries), Nairobi, Kenya, 11-13 April, 2015. 2015 (IOC Workshop Report, 269; IOC/2015/WR/269) (English)
200 EX/20.INF.2 – page 62
WESTPAC Workshop on Research and Monitoring of the Ecological Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems. Phuket, Thailand, 19–21 January 2015. 2015. 39 pp. (IOC Workshop Report, 271; IOC/2015/WR/271) (English)
INFORMATION DOCUMENTS IOC/INF-1298. WMO-IOC-ICSU World Climate Research Programme (WCRP): Year 2013 Report. 2013. 4 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1299. Update on the Status of IOC Subsidiary Bodies, 2013. 2013. 51 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1300. Main Developments and Achievements of the IOC Sub-commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) over the present Medium Term Strategy (2008–2013). 2013. 11 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1301. Update on the Implementation of the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socio-economic Aspects – World Ocean Assessment, 2013. 2013. 18 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1302. IOC Commitments and Responsibilities in UN Inter-agency Activities. 2013. 10 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1304. Overview of IOC’s Partnerships. 2013. 8 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1305. Report of the GEBCO Guiding Committee (2008-2013). 2013. 10 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1306. Perspectives for the Regional Tsunami Warning System (PTWS, IOTWS, CARIBE-EWS, NEAMTWS), 2013. 2013. 8 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1307. JCOMM and the IOC Medium-Term Strategy 2014–2021: a synthesis of common objectives. 2013. 8 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1308. Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) Regional Policy 2013. 2013. 8 pp. (English, French, Spanish, Russian)
IOC/INF-1309. Global Climate Observing System Planning and Implementation, 2013. 2013. 6 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1310. International Indian Ocean Expedition 50TH Anniversary Initiative (IIOE-2). 2013. 4 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1311. Progress in the implementation of the Integrated Coastal Area Management (ICAM) Strategy. 2013. 8 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1312. Progress and status of the Ocean Biogeographic Information System, 2013. 2013. 6 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1313. Baseline Study for an Assessment of National Capacities and Needs in Marine Research, Observation and Data/Information Management. 2013. 45 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1314. IOC Medium-Term Strategy, 2014–2021. 2014. 71 pp. (English/French/Russian/Spanish)
IOC/INF-1315. Revised Guidelines for the Preparation and Consideration of Draft Resolutions. 2014. 6 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1316.Consultation for the appointment of the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO: process for the establishment of a short list of applicants for submission to the Director-General of UNESCO. 2014. 5 pp. (English, French, Russian, Spanish)
200 EX/20.INF.2 – page 63
IOC/INF-1317. Update on IOC contribution to United Nations initiatives (2014). 2014. 11 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1319. Stories of Africa’s Oceans and Coasts – as told by Africa’s children and youth. 2015. 92 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1320. Harmful Algal Blooms. Scientific Summary for Policy Makers. 2015. 20 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1321. Global Ocean Science Report: Progress, challenges, prospects. 2015. 8 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1322. Update on the Status of IOC Subsidiary Bodies, 2015. 2015. 58 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1323. World Climate Research Programme (WCRP): Year 2015 Report. 2015. 5 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1324. Strategic Framework for Implementation of the Second International Indian Ocean Expedition Interim Planning Committee. 2015. 45 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1325. Report of the GEBCO Guiding Committee IHO-IOC General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO), 2013–2015. 2015. 12 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1326. Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Planning and Implementation, 2015. 2015. 8 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1327. Report by the co-presidents of Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM), 2015. 6 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1328. Update on IOC Contribution to United Nations initiatives (2015). 2015. 7 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1329. Progress in the implementation of the Integrated Coastal Area Management (ICAM) Strategy, including marine spatial planning and Large Marine Ecosystems. 2015. 11 pp.
IOC/INF-1330. UN Coordination: a potential role for IOC under a new UNCLOS implementing agreement on biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. 2015. 11 pp. (English)
IOC/INF/1331 IOC Contribution to World Ocean Assessment and other ocean assessment processes (IPBES, TWAP), 2015. 2015. 5 pp. (English)
IOC/INF-1332. IOC Capacity Development Strategy, 2015–2021. 2016. 135 pp. (English/French; Spanish/Russian)
REPORTS OF GOVERNING AND MAJOR SUBSIDIARY BODIES Eight Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE-EWS-VIII), Trinidad & Tobago, 29 April–1 May 2013. 2013 (*Executive Summary available in English, French, Spanish, Russian) (Reports of Governing and Major Subsidiary Bodies, 158)
Twenty-seventh Session of the Assembly, Paris, 26 June–5 July 2013 and Forty-sixth Session of the Executive Council, Paris, 25 June 2013. 2013 (Reports of Governing and Major Subsidiary Bodies, 159) (English, French, Spanish, Russian)
Twenty-fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/PTWS), Vladivostok, Russian Federation, 9–11 September 2013. 2013 (*Executive Summary in English, French, Spanish, Russian) (Reports of Governing and Major Subsidiary Bodies, 160)
Ninth Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions, US Virgin Islands, 13-15 May 2014. 2014 (*Executive Summary available in English, French, Spanish, Russian) (Reports of Governing and Major Subsidiary Bodies, 161)
200 EX/20.INF.2 – page 64
Forty-seventh Session of the Executive Council, Paris, 1–4 July 2014. 2014 (*Decisions available in English, French, Spanish, Russian) (Reports of Governing and Major Subsidiary Bodies, 162)
Eleventh Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas, 12–14 November 2014, Nicosia, Cyprus. 2014 (*Executive Summary available in English, French, Spanish, Russian) (Reports of Governing and Major Subsidiary Bodies, 164)
Twenty-sixth Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/PTWS-XXVI), Hawaii, USA, 22–24 April 2015. 2015 (*Executive Summary available in English, French, Spanish, Russian) (Reports of Governing and Major Subsidiary Bodies, 165)
Tenth Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE-EWS), Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Kingdom of the Netherlands, 19–21 May 2015. 2015 (*Executive Summary available in English, French, Spanish, Russian) (Reports of Governing and Major Subsidiary Bodies, 166)
Tenth Session of the IOC Sub-Commission of the Western Pacific (WESTPAC-X), Phuket, Thailand, 12–15 May 2015. 2015 (English) (Reports of Governing and Major Subsidiary Bodies, 167)
Twenty-eighth Session of the Assembly, Paris, 18–25 June 2015. 2015 (English, French, Spanish, Russian) (Reports of Governing and Major Subsidiary Bodies, 168)
REPORTS OF MEETINGS OF EXPERTS AND EQUIVALENT BODIES (electronic copy only) Twelfth Session of the IODE Group of Experts on Marine Information Management (GE-MIM), Miami, USA, 22–25 January 2013. 2013 (English) (Reports of Meetings of Experts and Equivalent Bodies, 241)
Sixth Session of the Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards Related to Sea-Level Warning and Mitigation Systems (TOWS-WG), Paris, 20–21 February 2013. 2013 (Executive Summary in English, French, Russian and Spanish included) (Reports of Meetings of Experts and Equivalent Bodies, 244)
Second Meeting of the Regional Working Group on Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System for the South China Sea Region (SCS-WG), Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, 16–18 October 2012. 2013 (English) (Reports of Meetings of Experts and Equivalent Bodies, 245)
Seventh Meeting of the Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards Related to Sea-Level Warning and Mitigation Systems, UNESCO, Paris, 12–13 February 2014. 2014 (Executive Summary in English, French, Russian and Spanish included) (Reports of Meetings of Experts and Equivalent Bodies, 246)
Third Meeting of the Regional Working Group on Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System for the South China Sea Region (SCS-WG), Hong-Kong, China, 6–7 April 2014 (English) (Reports of Meetings of Experts and Equivalent Bodies, 247)
Tercera Reunión del Grupo de Trabajo Regional para América Central del Grupo Intergubernamental de Coordinación del Sistema de Alerta contra los Tsunamis y Atenuación de sus Efectos en el Pacífico (ICG/PTWS), Managua, Nicaragua, del 29 al 30 de septiembre de 2014. 2014 (Resumen dispositivo en español e inglés) (Reports of Meetings of Experts and Equivalent Bodies, 248)
Workshop on Tsunami Modelling and Mitigation of the ICG/CARIBE-EWS Working Group 2: Tsunami Hazard Assessment, 1–3 December 2014, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia (English) (Reports of Meetings of Experts and Equivalent Bodies, 249)
200 EX/20.INF.2 – page 65
Fourth meeting of the Regional Working Group on Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System for the South China Sea Region (SCS-WG), Jakarta, Indonesia, 11–12 February 2015 (English) (Reports of Meetings of Experts and Equivalent Bodies, 250)
251. Eighth Session of the Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards Related to Sea-Level Warning and Mitigation Systems (TOWS-WG), Paris, 12–13 March 2015. 2015 (Executive Summary in English, French, Russian and Spanish included) (Reports of Meetings of Experts and Equivalent Bodies, 252)
GOOS Reports (Global Ocean Observing System) GOOS-213 Seventh Session of the GOOS Regional Alliances Forum. 2015. 31 pp. (GOOS-213) Report of the 18th Session of the GCOS-GOOS-WCRP Ocean Observations Panel for Physics and Climate (OOPC). 2015. 84 pp. (GOOS-210) Report of the 17th Session of the GCOS-GOOS-WCRP Ocean Observations Panel for Climate (OOPC). 2014. 21 pp. (GOOS-208) Identifying Ecosystem Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs): Report of the first workshop of technical experts for the GOOS Biology and Ecosystems Panel. 2014. 87 pp. (GOOS-207) First Technical Experts Workshop of the GOOS Biogeochemistry Panel: Defining Essential Ocean Variables for Biogeochemistry: First technical experts workshop of the GOOS Biogeochemistry Panel. 2013. 22 pp. (GOOS-206) Report of the Tropical Pacific Observing System 2020 Workshop - Volume I (White Papers). 2014. 66 pp. (GOOS-205) Report of the Tropical Pacific Observing System 2020 Workshop - Volume II (White Papers). 2014. 340 pp. (GOOS-205) Fourth WESTPAC Technical Workshop on SEAGOOS Ocean Forecasting System (WESTPAC/SEAGOOS-OFS-IV) Jakarta, Indonesia 5-6 March 2013. 2014. 26 pp. (GOOS-204) Sixteenth Session of the GCOS-GOOS-WCRP Ocean Observations Panel for Climate. 2013. 56 pp. (GOOS-202) Sixth Session of the GOOS Regional Alliance Forum, Hawaii, USA 14-16 May 2013. 2013. 29 pp. (GOOS-201) Report of the Second Meeting of the GOOS Steering Committee (GOOS SC-2). 2013. 36 pp. (GOOS-199) Summary Report of the 12th Session of the IOC Group of Experts on GLOSS. 2013. 62 pp. (GOOS-198) Summary Report of the Third Workshop of IOC/WESTPAC on SEAGOOS Pilot Project on Ocean Forecasting Demonstration System. 2013. 15 pp. (GOOS-197) NEWSLETTERS Harmful Algae News, An IOC Newsletter on Toxic Algal Blooms, No. 47, May 2013; No. 48, April 2014; No. 49, September 2014; No. 50, January 2015; No. 51, August 2015; No. 52, January 2016 (English.) ISSN 0020-7918. http://www.issha.org/Welcome-to-ISSHA/Harmful-Algae-News JCOMM Newsletter. WMO-IOC Joint Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology. No. 12, September 2014; No. 11, September 2013; No. 10, February 2013. Electronic only (English.)
http://www.jcomm.info/index.php?option=com_oe&task=documentSearch&field=general&searchText=jcomm+newsletter GOOS Update. Global Ocean Observing System: Yearly 2013, 2014, 2015 http://ioc-goos.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=categories&id=93&Itemid=100204&lang=fr The GOOS Webinar Series is a monthly opportunity to hear about activities and topics of interest to the GOOS community and to interact with the speaker. The Webinars are presented using a visual conferencing tool which allows viewers to interact with the speaker through a chat window. Approx. 8 per year since 2014. http://ioc-goos.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=96&Itemid=100198&lang=fr Tsunami Newsletter. International Tsunami Information Centre, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; Jan – Jun 2013 (Vol. XLV No. 1); Jul – Dec. 2013 (Vol. XLV No. 2); Jan - Apr 2014 (Vol. XLVI No. 1); May - Oct 2014 (Vol. XLVI No. 2); Oct - Dec 2014 (Vol. XLVI No. 3) http://itic.ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=1081&Itemid=1081 GCOS Newsletter. Global Climate Observing System. No. 11, February 2013; No. 12, July 2013; No. 13, March 2014. No. 14, November 2014; No. 15, November 2015. Electronic only. [English.] With IOC sponsorship. http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/gcos/index.php?name=Newsletter BROCHURES Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, Sub-Commission for Africa and the Adjacent Island States: IOCAFRICA/Commission océanographique intergouvernementale, Sous-Commission pour l'Afrique et les États insulaires adjacent: IOCAFRICA. 2013. (IOC/BRO/2013/1) (English/French) Tsunami Information Centre for the North-Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (NEAMTIC)-Summary of achievements, 2010–2013. 2013 (IOC/BRO/2013/2) (English) Large Marine Ecosystems – Transboundary Waters Assessment Programme (TWAP), 2013. 2013; 2 pp., illus. (IOC/BRO/2013/3 rev.) (English) GEO tools for improving marine management. 2013. Poster; (IOC/BRO/2013/4) (English) IGBP, IOC, SCOR (2013). Ocean Acidification Summary for Policymakers – Third Symposium on the Ocean in a High-CO2 World. International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, Stockholm, Sweden. 2013. 26 pp., illus. (IOC/BRO/2013/5) (English) North-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Tsunami Warning System (NEAMTWS), flyers. 2013. 6 pp., illus. (IOC/BRO/2013/6) (English, French) IOC Brochure 2014-1 (IOC/BRO/2014/1): UNDP, CTIC/IOC (2014). Getting ready for tsunamis – A Guide for the Caribbean and adjacent regions. Publ. 2013; 2 pp., illus.; English, French, Spanish IOC Brochure 2014-2 (IOC/BRO/2014/2): Surviving a tsunami: lessons from Chile, Hawaii, and Japan, eyewitness accounts of the Pacific Ocean tsunami associated with the giant Chilean earthquake in 1960 and 2010. 2014. 24 pp., illus., maps (English, French, Spanish) IOC Brochure 2014-3 (IOC/BRO/2014/3): Transfer of Marine Technology – Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Development for Sustainable Ocean and Coastal Management. 2015. 10 pp., illus. (English) IOC Brochure 2014-4 (IOC/BRO/2014/4): Ocean science for development in SIDS: Facts and figures. Publ. 2014; 2 pp. illus.; English. Presentation flyer for an article of Sarah Grimes published on www.scidev.net (August 2014) IOC Brochure 2014-5 (SPO/IOC/BRO/2014/5): Coastal Blue Carbon. Methods for assessing carbon stocks and emissions factors in mangroves, tidal salt marshes, and seagrass meadows. (Published by Conservation International as part of the Blue Carbon Initiative. Sponsored by IOC). 2014; 184 pp. illus; English.
IOC Brochure 2014-6 (IOC/BRO/2014/6): Exercise NEAMTWS 14: A Tsunami Warning and Communication Exercise for the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and Connected Seas Region, 28–30 October 2014 / Exercice NEAMTWS 14: Exercice d’alerte et de communication sur les tsunamis pour l’Atlantique du nord-est, la Méditerranée et les mers adjacentes, 28–30 octobre 2014 / Ejercicio NEAMWAVE 14: Un ejercicio de comunicación y alerta de tsunami para el Atlántico nororiental a el Mediterráneo y mares adyacentes, 28–30 de octubre de 2014. Publ. 2014; 6 pp., illus. , English, French, Spanish IOC Brochure 2015-1 (IOC/BRO/2015/1): Remembering the 1945 Makran Tsunami: Interviews with survivors beside the Arabian Sea. 2015. 79 p., illus., maps. (English) IOC Brochure 2015-2 (IOC/BRO/2015/2): The Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System 10 years after the Indian Ocean Tsunami: Achievements, Challenges, Remaining Gaps and Policy Perspectives. Summary statement from the International Conference to Commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, 24-25 November 2014, Jakarta, Indonesia. 2015. 8 pp. (English) IOC Brochure 2015-3 (IOC/BRO/2015/3 Rev.2): World Oceans Day, 8 June 2015 / Journée mondiale de l’océan, 8 juin 2015 – Programme – Programme. 2015. 32 pp., illus. (English, French) IOC Brochure 2015-4 (IOC/BRO/2015/4): North-Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Tsunami Warning System (NEAMTWS). 2015. 3 pp. (English) IOC Brochure 2015-6 (IOC/BRO/2015/6): Poster de présentation du Système d’alerte aux tsunamis pour l’Atlantique Nord-Est et la Méditerranée (NEAMTWS) en 2015 (English and French). IOC Brochure 2015-7 (IOC/BRO/2015/7): From Early Warning to Early Response: Tsunami Exercise NEAMWave 14. 2015. 13 pp., illus., maps. (English) IOC Brochure 2015-8 (IOC/BRO/2015/8) : Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Systems to protect Coastal Communities: Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas (NEAMTWS) – Factsheet 2015. 2015. 11 pp, maps (English) IOC Brochure 2015-9 (IOC/BRO/2015/9): Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Systems to protect Coastal Communities: Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWS) – Factsheet 2015. 2015. 11 pp, maps (English) IOC Brochure 2015-10 (IOC/BRO/2015/10): Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Systems to protect Coastal Communities: Tsunami and other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE-EWS) – Factsheet 2015. 2015. 11 pp, maps (English) IOC Brochure 2015-11 (IOC/BRO/2015/11): Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Systems to protect Coastal Communities: Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (PTWS) – Factsheet 2015. 2015. 11 pp, maps (English) IOC Brochure 2015-12 (IOC/BRO/2015/12): Highlights of the World Oceans Day, 8 June 2015, UNESCO – On the road to COP-21 / Points saillants de la Journée mondiale de l’Océan, 8 juin 2015, UNESCO – preparation à la COP-21. 2015. 2 pp. (English and French) IOC Brochure 2015-13 (IOC/BRO/2015/13): Discover Ocean Time Series, 2015. 2 pp., illus. (English) IOC Brochure 2015-14 (IOC/BRO/2015/14 Rev.): The Biology and Ecosystems Panel of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), 2015 (English only; flyer) – Revised version published in March 2016. 2016. 2 pp., illus. (English) IOC Brochure 2015-15 (IOC/BRO/2015/15): Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS): The World’s largest open access, online data system on the diversity, distribution and abundance of marine species, 2015. 2 pp., illus. (English)
IOC Brochure 2015-16 (IOC/BRO/2015/16): Ocean Teacher Global Academy – a Global Network of Regional Training Centres delivering customized ocean training for ocean experts and practitioners, contributing to the mandate of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, 2015. 2 pp. (English) IOC Brochure 2015-17 (IOC/BRO/2015/17): The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and COP 21 – Strengthening Science for Ocean and Climate / La Commission océanographique intergouvernementale de l’UNESCO et la COP 21 – La science au service de l’océan et du climat. (flyer). 2015. 6 pp., illus. (English, French) OTHERS WITH IOC PARTICIPATION Report of the forty-second session of GESAMP, Paris, France, 31 August to 3 September 2015. GESAMP reports and studies; 92. 2016; 60 p. (English) Pollution in the Open Oceans, 2009-2013, a report by a GESAMP Task Team. GESAMP reports and studies; 91. 2015; 87 p., illus., maps (English) Note: GESAMP: Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (IMO-FAO-UNESCO-WMO-WHO-IAEA-UN-UNEP-UNIDO) Speeches and messages by DG related to IOC (2013-2015)
• Speeches by DG
- Address by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the IOC Assembly; UNESCO, 18 June 2015
- Address by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of the IOC Executive council; UNESCO, 3 July 2014
- Address by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the Opening Ceremony of the 27th Session of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Assembly; UNESCO, 26 June 2013
• Messages on World Oceans Day
- Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Oceans Day: Ocean and Climate, 8 June 2015
- Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of World Oceans Day: One Planet, One Ocean, Together we have the power to protect the ocean, 8 June 2014
- Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Oceans Day, 8 June 2013
Press releases by IOC (2013-2015) - 08.06.15 World Oceans Day 2015: Call to take the ocean’s vital role into consideration in future
climate negotiations - 26.05.15 Top challenges for the future of humanity and the planet include sustaining ocean health,
reversing biodiversity loss and addressing infectious agents - 20.03.15 Тsunami warning exercise in the Caribbean - 22.12.14 Ten years after the 2004 tsunami, the Indian Ocean is better prepared to avert disaster - 30.10.14 Global stock taking of marine research at 2nd International Ocean Research Conference,
(Barcelona, 17-21 November) - 23.10.14 Tsunami Warning Exercise in North-Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean - 12.09.14 Ten years after 2004 Tsunami, successful exercise demonstrates the efficiency of Indian
Ocean Warning System - 28.03.14 Record participation in Caribbean tsunami warning exercise - 18.11.13 Ocean acidity is increasing at an unprecedented rate - 06.05.13 Pacific tsunami warning system put to the test
- 18.12.15 Forum for Future Ocean Floor Mapping to be held in Monaco on 15-17 June 2016 - 09.12.15 Global mobilization is key to maintain political momentum around ocean, says scientific
community at COP21 - 08.12.15 Scientific community proposes recommendations for integration of ocean and coasts in
COP21 agreement - 08.12.15 Australia acts to create the International Partnership for Blue Carbon to fight climate
change - 17.06.15 New publication on Harmful Algal Blooms for policy makers - 18.03.15 UNESCO joins forces for integrated management of the Ecuadorian coast - 09.03.15 Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems project to receive GEF
support - 06.01.15 Racing around the world for the ocean - 28.10.14 New Guide to Evaluating Marine Plans - 20.10.14 Coastal Blue Carbon step by step - A new manual for measuring, assessing and
analyzing carbon in the field and lab - 08.09.14 UNESCO commits to develop an action plan based on the SAMOA Pathway for Small
Island States - 06.09.14 Consultative Workshop of high level ministerial representatives and experts: Enhancing
capacity of African Small Island Developing States in the post-2015 Agenda. - 03.09.14 SIDS Multi-stakeholder Partnership Dialogue on Social Development - 02.09.14 Young People Key to Future of Small Island Developing States - 01.09.14 SIDS Conference Starts with Warm Traditional Samoan “Talofa” - 30.04.14 The Future We Want: A Healthy Ocean for Prosperity in the Western Pacific - 25.04.14 African Maritime Action Plan Adopted - 09.04.14 Addressing the impacts of Harmful Algal Blooms on water security - 07.03.14 HOPE calls for a Sustainable Development Goal on the Ocean - 28.02.14 Gold Rush mentality is not the way to manage the ocean - 24.02.14 San Francisco‘s World Ocean Summit 2014 - 07.02.14 Pakistan: Director-General Highlights Science-Policy-Sustainable Development Nexus - 07.02.14 A Shared Goal for a Healthy Ocean - 22.01.14 Supporting the Coastal Zone Management and Marine Spatial Planning in the
Mediterranean and Black Sea - 16.11.13 Ocean Acidification: Reducing CO2 levels is the only way to minimise risks - 16.10.13 Water without borders: utopia or reality? - 14.04.13 High Stakes for the High Seas - 02.04.13 Mitigating climate change through coastal ecosystem management
• Ocean science - 15.12.15 Building Pacific capacities to promote and facilitate marine scientific research - 02.12.15 Launch and premiere of the “+ ou - 5 mètres” documentary series at UNESCO Headquarters - 13.11.15 Director-General inaugurates Tara’s “Ocean and Climate” Pavilion - 20.07.15 Oceanographic and Biological features in the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem - 10.07.15 Scientists plot path to climate stabilization at pre-COP Paris science conference - 07.07.15 Scientific community to assess solutions for a common future under climate change - 19.06.15 Current challenges and emerging issues of ocean science - 22.05.15 Leading scientists to identify top challenges to future of humanity - 20.05.15 Ocean literacy: understanding the ocean’s influence on you and your influence on the ocean - 20.05.15 Mind the science: The Business of Climate Change - 22.04.15 Ocean science and capacity development: key elements of a post-2015 development agenda - 13.02.15 Paul Shrivastava named Executive Director of Future Earth - 20.11.14 Sports and science join forces for the ocean - 17.11.14 The future of the ocean to be decided through ocean research - 16.11.14 Breaking the ice: ocean research community welcomed in Barcelona
- 30.10.14 Global stock taking of marine research at 2nd International Ocean Research Conference, (Barcelona, 17-21 November) - 13.10.14 New partnership targets improved information on marine biodiversity - 09.09.14 Record Greenhouse Gas Levels Impact Atmosphere and Oceans - 01.09.14 Irina Bokova highlights the critical role of ocean science for sustainable development - 24.07.14 Call for Bids to Organize & Host the 4th Symposium on the Ocean in a High-CO2 World in 2016 - 18.06.14 Hutchison medal awarded for Ocean fertilization for geoengineering publication - 19.02.14 Towards a 2nd International Ocean Research Conference - 24.01.14 Call for abstracts: Harmful Algal Blooms and Desalination Conference - 18.11.13 Ocean acidity is increasing at an unprecedented rate - 06.11.13 Regional center on ocean dynamics and climate to share its experience among IOC regions - 30.09.13 What the ocean can reveal about human influence on the climate - 11.09.13 What we don’t know about the ocean could take our breath away - 07.07.13 Towards an International Training Centre for Operational Oceanography in India - 26.04.13 International coordinated research on harmful algae and their impacts on society - 26.04.13 Addressing the most pressing problems caused by harmful algae - 25.02.13 Far away, so close: cause of massive marine heatwave found in distant ocean - 05.02.13 Conserving the Crown Jewels of the Ocean - 14.01.13 Ocean pollution: Addressing root causes of nutrient over-enrichment - 10.01.13 A wake-up call to protect marine life, coastal vegÉtation - 03.01.13 Ocean pollution: Addressing root causes of nutrient over-enrichment
• Ocean observation - 02.12.15 Ocean observation and research: The way forward to ensure a climate-resilient future - 26.05.15 Tara Oceans expedition: researchers map the world of plankton - 08.04.15 Around the world in 98 days - 27.03.15 Inauguration of the operational centre for ocean observation in Brest - 10.02.15 New Directory of Atmospheric, Hydrographic and Biological datasets for the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem - 16.07.14 Tracking the pulse of the Ocean - 02.06.14 New York-Barcelona transatlantic race sets sail - 08.04.14 Cornell Sailing strengthens cooperation for ocean monitoring - 01.04.14 Visualizing Ocean Acidification: new online resource - 27.01.14 Helping science respond to society, through open data - 22.01.14 Strengthened observation network to protect people from coastal hazards in the Caribbean - 17.12.13 Tara returns from Arctic expedition - 28.11.13 Sailing community steps up for ocean observation - 22.05.13 Tara Oceans Polar Circle: a unique expedition - 03.05.13 Scientific expedition to sail in the Pacific in celebration of WESTPAC's 25th anniversary - 21.01.13 Argo collects its one millionth observation
• Services - 10.12.15 IOC-UNESCO and the Environmental Information Network of Andalusia: sharing information and good practices - 13.11.15 Learning to assess the safety of school facilities in Bandung, Indonesia - 16.11.13 Great Explorers support the Ocean Biogeographic Information System
• Tsunami - 17.09.15 Earthquake and Tsunami in Chile: massive evacuation and building codes help to reduce loss of life - 20.04.15 50 years of tsunami warning in the Pacific - 24.03.15 Oman launches an early warning system to address natural disasters - 20.03.15 Тsunami warning exercise in the Caribbean - 17.03.15 Oman adopts an early warning system to address natural disasters - 30.01.15 Test of Pacific Ocean tsunami warning system - 22.12.14 Ten years after the 2004 tsunami, the Indian Ocean is better prepared to avert disaster - 03.12.14 10 years after the Indian Ocean Tsunami: achievements and remaining challenges - 21.11.14 Scientists have key role to play in alerting society to ocean threats
- 19.11.14 Progress in tsunami warning and mitigation in the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas - 12.11.14 Indian Ocean Tsunami: Achievements and challenges ten years on - 04.11.14 Civil protection authorities rallied for Tsunami Warning Exercise in North-Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean - 23.10.14 Tsunami Warning Exercise in North-Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean - 29.09.14 Improving Tsunami Warning and Emergency Response in the North-Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean and connected seas - 29.09.14 New information products to improve response to tsunamis in the Pacific - 12.09.14 Ten years after 2004 Tsunami, successful exercise demonstrates the efficiency of Indian Ocean Warning System - 05.09.14 Indian Ocean-wide tsunami exercise to test readiness ten years after the 2004 disaster - 03.09.14 Addressing ocean threats for resilient island communities - 25.06.14 US Virgin Islands are Tsunami Ready - 02.04.14 Earthquake and tsunami in Chile: Effective regional cooperation and preparedness save lives - 28.03.14 Record participation in Caribbean tsunami warning exercise - 25.03.14 Large Scale Test of Caribbean Tsunami Warning System - 24.03.14 Tsunami Warning Exercise in the Caribbean and Northwestern Atlantic - 27.11.13 Search for Eyewitness Accounts and Historical Documents on 1945 Makran Tsunami - 19.11.13 Tsunami Warning and Emergency Response in the Caribbean: making sure everyone is prepared - 01.10.13 New tsunami forecasting products will be available for the Pacific Ocean in 2014 - 27.05.13 Disaster Risk Reduction: Invest Today for a Safer Tomorrow - 17.05.13 Vacancy: consultant expert for the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System - 06.05.13 Pacific tsunami warning system put to the test - 02.05.13 New Omani sea level stations strengthen tsunami warning systems in the Western Indian Ocean - 26.04.13 Raising tsunami-awareness in the Mediterranean - 01.04.13 Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System Functioning Autonomously - 22.03.13 Successful Caribbean test demonstrates progress in regional tsunami readiness - 20.03.13 Full-scale test today of Caribbean tsunami warning system
• IOC and UNESCO - 10.12.15 IOC-UNESCO dedicates “Ocean and Climate Moment” to key scientific messages from COP21 - 06.12.15 UNESCO Director-General chairs the closing panel of the Ocean Day at COP21 - 04.12.15 Oceans Day at COP21: Galvanizing public support and moving the ocean and climate agenda forward - 03.12.15 IOC-UNESCO at COP21: Creating momentum for new climate commitments with Ocean and Climate Forum - 26.11.15 The ocean’s vital role at the heart of UNESCO’s participation in COP21 - 13.11.15 Taking action for the ocean and climate: IOC-UNESCO and the Ocean & Climate Platform unveil new recommendations in the wake of COP21 - 25.06.15 Director-General meets with the outgoing and newly elected IOC officers - 24.06.15 40 members of the Executive Council of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO elected - 09.06.15 Director-General meets European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime and Fisheries - 09.06.15 UNESCO Director-General meets the President of the Republic of Palau - 08.06.15 UNESCO Director-General meets the Vice-President of Seychelles - 08.06.15 World Oceans Day 2015: Call to take the ocean’s vital role into consideration in future climate negotiations - 05.06.15 Ocean and Climate - UNESCO message for the World Oceans Day - 26.05.15 World Oceans Day—8 June 2015 The ocean’s vital role in the climate system - 02.04.15 UNESCO Director-General meets Janos Pasztor, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General on Climate Change - 20.03.15 UNESCO High Level Policy Roundtable: Addressing the need for sustainable water management - 19.03.15 World Water Day Celebrations: Water for Sustainable World - 22.01.15 2015: A Year of Challenge and Opportunity for UNESCO
- 20.09.14 UNESCO Focus on Climate Science at the Climate Change Summit in New York - 03.09.14 Director-General meets Executive Secretary of UNFCCC - 03.09.14 Director-General meets the Head of State of Samoa - 07.08.14 Winners of “Living together with the Ocean” competition announced - 10.06.14 UNESCO and Nausicaá deepen Partnership for the Ocean - 03.06.14 Launch of Ocean and Climate Platform 2015 at UNESCO to mark World Ocean Day - 01.06.14 “Synergies for sustainability”, Director-General in Singapore - 22.05.14 UNESCO and the Barcelona Foundation for Ocean Sailing join forces to conserve the ocean - 13.05.14 IOC-UNESCO and KIOST strengthen their collaboration for ocean carbon research - 07.05.14 Ocean Day 2014 - 01.04.14 Irina Bokova: Sustainable development calls for partnerships and policies with the people, for the people - 27.11.13 UNESCO and WMO renew cooperation in hydrology and water resources - 18.09.13 UN sets sail towards better protection of biodiversity in world's largest ecosystem - 23.07.13 UNESCO and Japan Renew Partnership for the International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management - 03.07.13 IOC/UNESCO and Océanopolis Brest Strengthen their Collaboration for the Ocean - 27.06.13 UNESCO and Tara Expeditions Join Forces to Improve Knowledge of the Ocean - 26.06.13 Director-General opens the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Assembly - 04.06.13 UNESCO message for the World Oceans Day - 02.04.13 Call for nominations: Oceans Compact Advisory Group - 07.03.13 New York: Irina Bokova participates in the Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters - 28.02.13 “Culture lies at the core of Iceland’s financial recovery,” says the President of Iceland during his visit to UNESCO - 31.01.13 Director-General “boards” the Tara schooner for greater ocean sustainability IOC Circular letter (2013-2015) (161; approx. 50/year) http://www.ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDoclistRecord&doclistID=39 CL-2626: Nominations for Science Theme and Working Group Chairs of the 2nd International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE-2) Steering Committee
CL-2624: Call for comments to the document "Tsunami Advisory Products for the South China Sea Regional Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System"
CL-2623: 2nd March 2016 Southwest of Sumatra Earthquake and Tsunami Event Post-Event Assessment of the Performance of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System
CL-2622: Regional pre-IOWave16 Exercise Workshop on Standard Operating Procedures for Tsunami Warning and Emergency Response for Indian Ocean Countries, 9-13 May 2016, Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Australia
CL-2621: Invitation to the 49th Session of the IOC Executive Council, Paris, France, 7–10 June 2016, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France
CL-2620: Fifth Session of IOC Regional Committee for Central Indian Ocean (IOCINDIO-V), Chennai, India, 25–27 April 2016
CL-2619: Nippon Foundation / GEBCO (General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans) Training Project Year 13 (2016–2017)
CL-2618: The Republic of Nauru: New Member State of the IOC
CL-2617: Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas (ICG/NEAMTWS) – Reorganization and Governance Survey
CL-2616: Invitation to the Eleventh Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE EWS-XI), Cartagena, Colombia, 5–7 April 2016
CL-2615: Nomination of experts for the NEAMTWS Candidate Tsunami Service Providers (CTSPs) Accreditation
CL-2614: Invitation to Nominate Participants to Attend a Training Workshop on Coastal Hazard Assessment: Applications in Risk Assessment, Management and Mitigation for Western Indian Ocean Countries, Seychelles, 7-11 March 2016
CL-2613; Fifth Meeting of the ICG/PTWS Regional Working Group on Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System in the South China Sea Region (ICG/PTWS-WG/SCS-V), 2–4 March 2016, Manila, Philippines
CL-2612: Announcement of IOTWMS Indian Ocean Tsunami Exercise (IOWave16)
CL-2611: CARIBE WAVE 2016 Exercise in the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions
CL-2610 : OTGA-CRODT/ISRA Cours de Formation sur les ‘Principes fondamentaux de la Gestion des Données Océanographiques’ – CRODT-ISRA, Dakar, Sénégal, 25–29 janvier 2016
CL-2609 : Organisation d’un colloque sur le niveau de la mer, du 2 au 4 février 2016, au Siège de l’UNESCO, Salle IX
CL-2608: Ninth Meeting of the Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards related to Sea Level Warning and Mitigation Systems (TOWS-WG-IX), 25–26 February 2016, Paris, France
CL-2607: OTGA-INCOIS Training Course on Marine Geographic Information System (GIS) for Operational Oceanography – INCOIS, Hyderabad, India, 14–18 December 2015
CL-2606: Last call to contribute national information to the IOC Global Ocean Science Report (GOSR)
CL-2605: Regional Training Workshop on Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) Enhanced Tsunami Products for ICG/CARIBE EWS, Bridgetown, Barbados, 7–10 December 2015
CL-2604: IODE Training Course on Global Temperature and Salinity Profile Programme (GTSPP) – NMDIS, Tianjin, China, 8–10 December 2015
CL-2603: Post-Event Assessment of the Performance of the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (PTWS) during the 16 September 2015 Chile central Earthquake and Tsunami Event
CL-2602: Nomination of Technical Experts to the PTWS Working Group 2 Task Team on Seismic Data Sharing in the South West Pacific and invitation to the 4th Meeting of the Task Team (Suva, Fiji, 3–4 November 2015)
CL-2600: PTWC Start of Issuance of Enhanced Products for Caribbean and Adjacent Regions, on 26 October 2015; User's Guide for the PTWC Enhanced Products for CARIBE-EWS; Caribbean Tsunami Information Center (CTIC) relocation and funding
CL-2599: Update on the IOC contribution to the 21st UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP 21), Paris, 30 November–11 December 2015
CL-2598: Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS) Working Group 2 on Tsunami Detection, Warning and Dissemination: call for nomination of experts
CL-2597: Revised Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure for the IHO-IOC GEBCO Guiding Committee
CL-2596: Regional Workshops on Post-IOWave14 Exercise Assessment and Standard Operating Procedures for Tsunami Warning and Emergency Response for Indian Ocean Countries, 6–10 November 2015, INCOIS, Hyderabad, India
CL-2595: IODE-OTGA Training Course on Marine GIS – OTGA Regional Training Centre INOS-UMT, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, 25-29 October 2015
CL-2594: Inaugural Meeting of the ICG/IOTWMS Sub-Regional Working Group for the North West Indian Ocean (ICG/IOTWMS-WG-NWIO/I) 14–15 October 2015, Muscat, Oman
CL-2593: Notification of e-mail address change of the Northwest Pacific Tsunami Advisory Center (NWPTAC) and announcement of a Communications Test for the registered NWPTAC focal points, 01 October 2015 at 0500 UTC
CL-2592: Update of the UNESCO/IOC List of Experts on Marine Scientific Research for use in Special Arbitration under Annex VIII of UNCLOS
CL-2591: Invitation to the 12th Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas (ICG/NEAMTWS-XII), Dublin, Ireland, 16–18 November 2015
CL-2590: Re-constitution of the Open-ended Intersessional Financial Advisory Group, 2015-2016
CL-2589: Nomination of experts to serve on the Review Group with regard to IOC’s Role and Involvement in the GEBCO Project
CL-2588: Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (PTWS) Tsunami Exercise “PacWave16”, 1–5 February 2016
CL-2587: Invitation to participate to the sixth Communication Test Exercise in the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas (NEAMTWS-CTE6) – 29 July 2015
CL-2586: Joint IOC-CBD letter on the 204 marine areas meeting the criteria for ecologically or biologically significant marine areas
CL-2585: WESTPAC Training Course on Climate Change – IOC Regional Training and Research Center on Ocean Dynamics and Climate, Qingdao, China, 7–18 September 2015
CL-2584: Notification and Instructions Regarding the Northwest Pacific Tsunami Advisory Center (NWPTAC) Communications Test for the Registered NWPTA focal points, 22 July 2015 at 0500 UTC
CL-2583: Invitation to participate in the workshop “From Early Warning to Early Response: Tsunami Exercise NEAMWave14”
CL-2582: Nomination of expert to serve on GOOS Steering Committee for appointment by Member State Electoral Group V
CL-2581: Invitation to the Meeting of IOC Regional Subsidiary Bodies (RSB), Monday 15 June 2015, 15:00-18:00 UNESCO Headquarters, Paris-France
CL-2580: Invitation to the World Oceans Day Celebration, 8th June 2015, UNESCO HQ, France
CL-2579: Invitation to nominate participants to attend a Regional Workshop on Training Modules for Tsunami Exercises Policy Support, Jakarta, Indonesia, 15–17 June 2015
CL-2578: Curso piloto de preparación básica frente a los tsunamis: planes, mapas y procedimientos de evacuación en caso de tsunami – Llamado a propuestas de acogida del curso
CL-2577: Invitation to Nominate Participants to Attend a Training Workshop on Coastal Hazard Assessment: Applications in Risk Assessment, Management and Mitigation, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 12–15 May 2015
CL-2575: Invitation to the Tenth Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE EWS-X), Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, 19–21 May 2015
CL-2574: Invitation to the Regional Technical Training Workshop on the Emergency Managers Weather Information Network (EMWIN) System, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25–30 May 2015
CL-2573: Invitation to participate to the fifth NEAMTWS Communication Test Exercise (NEAMTWS-CTE5) on 26 March 2015
CL-2572: Testing offer of Inexpensive Device for Sea-Level Measurement (IDSL) developed by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission (EC)
CL-2571: Invitation to a “Forum on Sustained Ocean Observations and Services in IOC Group V (Africa and Arab countries)’’, 11–13 April 2015, Nairobi, Kenya
CL-2570: Invitation to the Twenty-eighth Session of the IOC Assembly, 18–25 June 2015, Forty-eighth Session of the IOC Executive Council, 16 June 2015, and the IOC Science Day, 17 June 2015, UNESCO HQ, Paris
CL-2569: Nippon Foundation / GEBCO (General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans) Training Project Year 12 (2015–2016)
CL-2568: Questionnaire about future Northwest Pacific Tsunami Advisory Center (NWPTAC) Enhanced Products
CL-2567: Tenth Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWS-X), Muscat, Oman, 24-26 March 2015
CL-2566: Invitation to the 26th Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/PTWS-XXVI), Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America, 22–24 April 2015
CL-2565: Eighth Meeting of the Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards related to Sea Level Warning and Mitigation Systems (TOWS-WG-VIII), 12–13 March 2015, Morioka, Japan
CL-2564: Review of the World Ocean Assessment (WOA) under the UN Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socio-economic Aspects
CL-2563: Updating information on National Tsunami Warning Centres (NTWC) and Tsunami Warning Focal Points (TWFP) for the PTWS region according to new definitions
CL-2562: Updating information on National Tsunami Warning Centres (NTWC) and Tsunami Warning Focal Points (TWFP) in the IOTWS region according to new definitions
CL-2561: Updating information on National Tsunami Warning Centres (NTWC) and Tsunami Warning Focal Points (TWFP) for the NEAMTWS region according to new definitions
CL-2560: Invitation to provide national information important for the production of the IOC Global Ocean Science Report (GOSR)
CL-2559: Retirement of the Executive Secretary of IOC – New Executive Secretary and Assistant Director-General of the IOC, Dr Vladimir Ryabinin
CL-2558: Updating information on National Tsunami Warning Centres (NTWC) and Tsunami Warning Focal Points (TWFP) For the CARIBE-EWS region according to new definitions
CL-2557: Joint CARIBE WAVE and LANTEX 2015 Exercise in the Western Atlantic, Caribbean and Adjacent Regions on 25 March 2015
CL-2556: Tenth Intergovernmental Session of the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC-X), Phuket, Thailand, 12–15 May 2015
CL-2555: Notification and Instructions Regarding the Northwest Pacific Tsunami Advisory Centre (NWPTAC) Communications Test for the Registered NWPTA focal points, 21 January 2015 at 0500 UTC
CL-2554: Publication of a new IOC guide: “A guide to Evaluating Marine Spatial Plans”
CL-2553: Invitation to financially support the production of the IOC Global Ocean Science Report (GOSR)
CL-2552: International Tsunami Symposium Commemorating 50th Anniversary of the PTWS, “Making the Pacific Ready for the Tsunami Threat”, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, 20–21 April 2015
CL-2551: Informe de la Tercera Reunión del Grupo de Trabajo Regional para América Central del Grupo Intergubernamental de Coordinación del Sistema de Alerta contra los Tsunamis y Atenuación de sus Efectos en el Pacífico (ICG/PTWS), Managua, Nicaragua, 29-30 Septiembre 2014
CL-2550: WESTPAC Training Workshop on Research and Monitoring of the Ecological Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems, 19–21 January 2015, Phuket, Thailand
CL-2549: Nomination and/or updating of details on IODE National Coordinators for Oceanographic Data Management and IODE National Coordinators for Marine Information Management
CL-2548: Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (PTWS) Pacific-wide Tsunami Exercise “PacWave15”, 2-6 February 2015
CL-2547: Twelfth Session of the IOC Intergovernmental Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms (IPHAB-XII), UNESCO, Paris, 28-30 April 2015
CL-2546: Support for the organization of the Fifth Intergovernmental Session of the IOC Regional Committee for the Central Indian Ocean (IOCINDIO) towards the revitalization of the Committee
CL-2546: IOC Circular Letter No. 2546: Support for the organization of the Fifth Intergovernmental Session of the IOC Regional Committee for the Central Indian Ocean (IOCINDIO) towards the revitalization of the Committee
CL-2545: Revision of the Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure for the GEBCO Guiding Committee
CL-2544: Fourth Meeting of the ICG/PTWS Regional Working Group on Tsunami Warning and Mitigation in the South China Sea Region (ICG/PTWS-WG SCS/IV)
CL-2543: International Conference to Commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, Jakarta, Indonesia, 24-25 November 2014
CL-2542: 23rd Session of the IOC Committee on International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE-XXIII), Bruges, Belgium, 17–20 March 2015 and Scientific Conference, 16 March 2015
CL-2541: Planning of the International Indian Ocean Expedition - 2
CL-2540: Fourth Training Course for Operators of Sea Level Stations in the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico 3–7 November 2014
CL-2539: Intersessional working group on the Future of IOC
CL-2538: Work of the Open-ended Intersessional Financial Advisory Group
CL-2537: Invitation to the 11th Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas (ICG/NEAMTWS-XI), 11, 12–14 November 2014, Nicosia, Cyprus
CL-2536: Provision of new tsunami watch services for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas (NEAMTWS)
CL-2535: Start of Issuance of PTWC Enhanced Products for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (PTWS) by 0000Z on 1 October 2014
CL-2534: WESTPAC Training Course on Climate Models – IOC Regional Training and Research Center on Ocean Dynamics and Climate, Qingdao, China, 3–14 November 2014
CL-2533: North-Eastern Atlantic Tsunami Monitoring by CENALT (France)
CL-2532: Tercera Reunión del Grupo de Trabajo Regional para América Central del Grupo Intergubernamental de Coordinación del Sistema de Alerta contra los Tsunamis y Atenuación de sus Efectos en el Pacífico (ICG/PTWS), Managua, Nicaragua, 29-30 Septiembre 2014
CL-2531: Designation of members of the Intersessional Working Group for the Development of the IOC Capacity Development Strategy
CL-2530: Announcement of IOTWS Indian Ocean Tsunami Exercise (IOWave14) on 9 and 10 September 2014
CL-2529: Regional Workshop on Tsunami Warning and Emergency Response for the North-Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean and connected seas (NEAMTWS), 23-24 September 2014, Rabat, Morocco
CL-2528: Second announcement for Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas – NEAMTWS Tsunami Exercise – ‘NEAMWave14’, 28–30 October 2014
CL-2527: Call for candidatures for IODE Co-Chairs
CL-2526: Notification and Instructions Regarding the Northwest Pacific Tsunami Advisory Centre (NWPTAC) Communication Tests for the Registered NWPTA focal points, 14 July 2014 at 0500 UTC
CL-2525: International Tsunami Information Center (ITIC) Training Programme – Hawaii (ITP-HAWAII) Hawaii, United States of America, 18-29 August 2014
CL-2524: Change of dates for the Third Session of the IOC Sub-Commission for Africa and Adjacent Island States (IOCAFRICA-III), Nairobi, Kenya, 13-15 April 2015
CL-2523: Invitation to participate to the fourth Communication Test Exercise in the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas (NEAMTWS-CTE4) – 30 June 2014
CL-2522: Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas – NEAMTWS Tsunami Exercise – ‘NEAMWave14’, 28-30 October 2014
CL-2521: Invitation to Regional Training: “ICG/PTWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) New Enhanced Tsunami Products”, 2-4 June 2014, Guayaquil, Ecuador
CL-2520: Regional Workshop on Standard Operating Procedures for Tsunami Warning and Emergency Response for Northern and Western Indian Ocean Countries, 23-27 June 2014, INCOIS, Hyderabad, India
CL-2519: Invitation to a workshop convened for Group I Member States on The Role and Scope of the IOC in Marine Science and in the Global Ocean Observing System, 26-27 May 2014 in Utrecht, The Netherlands
CL-2518: Invitation to Regional Training Workshop on the PTWC Enhanced Products for the Pacific Tsunami Warning System, Nadi, Fiji, 22-24 May 2014
CL-2517: Invitation to the 47th Session of the IOC Executive Council, Paris, France, 1-4 July 2014, UNESCO Headquarters, meeting room IV
CL-2516: The Republic of Palau: New Member State of the IOC
CL-2515: Pilot project for the intercomparison of seawater salinity measurements
CL-2514: IOC/WMO Fifth DBCP In-Region Capacity Building Workshop for countries of the Western Indian Ocean, (12-15 May 2014)
CL-2513: Consultation process for the designation of applicants in the context of the appointment of the Executive Secretary of the IOC of UNESCO
CL-2512: Liaison Group for Marine Instrumentation in the Asia Pacific region
CL-2511: Third Meeting of the ICG/PTWS Regional Working Group on Tsunami Warning and Mitigation in the South China Sea Region (ICG/PTWS-WG SCS/III), 8-9 April 2014, Hong Kong, China
CL-2510: Call for nominations to the ICG/PTWS Task Team on Establishment of the South China Sea Tsunami Advisory Center (SCSTAC)
CL-2509: Nippon Foundation / GEBCO (General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans) Training Programme Year 11 (2014-2015)
CL-2508: Training Course for Operators of Sea Level Stations, 17-21 March 2014, Royal Thai Navy Hydrographic Department, Bangna, Bangkok, Thailand
CL-2507: Invitation to a Western Indian Ocean Regional Focus Group Meeting to help plan the International Indian Ocean Expedition 50th Anniversary Initiative (IIOE-2), Quatre Bornes, Mauritius, 6 and 7 March 2014
CL-2506: Open-ended Intersessional Working Group to further review and improve the Global Ocean Science Report (GOSR) proposal .
CL-2505: Invitation to the Ninth Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE EWS-IX), St Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, 13-15 May 2014
CL-2504: Joint CARIBE-Wave 2014 and LANTEX 2014 Exercise in the Western Atlantic, Caribbean and Adjacent Regions on 26 March 2014
CL-2503: Ocean Data and Information Network for the Western Pacific Region (ODINWESTPAC) Planning Workshop, 4-7 March 2014, Tianjin, China
CL-2502: Notification and Instructions Regarding NWPTAC Communication Tests for the Registered NWPTA focal points
CL-2501: Seventh Meeting of the Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards related to Sea Level Warning and Mitigation Systems (TOWS-WG-VII), 12-13 February 2014, Paris, France
CL-2500: Caribbean Tsunami Information Center (CTIC) Director (a.i.) appointed; informational items about publications and key dates in 2014
CL-2499: Invitation to the Second planning meeting of the Reference Group for the International Indian Ocean Expedition 50th Anniversary Initiative (IIOE-2), Qingdao, China, 20–21 November 2013
CL-2498: Invitation to the 10h Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas (ICG/NEAMTWS-X), 19–21 November 2013, Rome, Italy
CL-2497: Republic of Vanuatu: New Member State of the IOC
CL-2496: Intersessional Working Group for the Development of IOC Capacity Development Strategic Plan
CL-2495: Invitation to participate to the third NEAMTWS Communication Test Exercise (NEAMTWS-CTE3) on 1 October 2013
CL-2494: Invitation to the Indo-Pacific Ocean Forum on “Charting the Future of Sustained Ocean Observations and Services”, 26–28 November 2013, Bangkok Thailand
CL-2493: Nomination of Members of IOCAFRICA Regional Working Groups
CL-2492: Update of the UNESCO/IOC List of Experts on Marine Scientific Research for use in Special Arbitration under Annex VIII of UNCLOS
CL-2491: Intersessional working group on the Future of IOC
CL-2490: Re-constitution of the IOC Open-ended Intersessional Financial Advisory Group, 2013–2014
CL-2489: Invitation to Regional Training on “Strengthening Standard Operating Procedures for Tsunami Warning and the use of the ICG/PTWS PTWC New Enhanced Tsunami Products”, Beijing, China, 21–25 October 2013
CL-2488: Notification and instructions regarding NWPTAC communication tests for the registered NWPTAC focal points
CL-2487: Invitation to Regional Training and Consultation Workshops on “Strengthening Standard Operating Procedures for Tsunami Warning and the use of the ICG/PTWS PTWC New Enhanced Tsunami Products”, Wellington, New Zealand, 12–16 August 2013
CL-2486: Nomination of Members of the Ad Hoc Team to Review the JCOMM Marine Climate Data System (MCDS) Implementation Plan
CL-2485: IODE National Coordinators for Data Management/ IODE National Coordinators for Marine Information Management (WESPTAC Region)
CL-2484: WESTPAC Training Course on Air-Sea Interaction and Modelling – IOC Regional Training and Research Centre on Ocean Dynamics and Climate, Qingdao, China, 12–23 August 2013
CL-2482: IOC-WMO Second Capacity Building Workshop of the Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (DBCP) for the North Pacific Ocean and Its Marginal Seas (NPOMS-2) (Hangzhou, China, 15–18 July 2013)
CL-2481: PTWC Start of Issuance of Pacific Experimental Products, 15 April 2013; User's Guide for the PTWC Enhanced Products for PTWS (IOC TS-105) ; PTWS Pacific-wide Tsunami Exercise “PacWave13”, 1–14 May 2013
CL-2480: Call for Nomination -- UN Secretary-General Oceans Compact Advisory Group
CL-2479: Nippon Foundation – GEBCO (General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans) Training Project Year 10 (2013–2014)
CL-2478: Invitation to the Eight Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE EWS-VIII), Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, from 29 April to 1 May 2013
CL-2477: Twelfth Intergovernmental Session of the IOC Sub-Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (SC-IOCARIBE-XII), 9–12 April, 2013, Panama City, Panama
CL-2476: Nomination of expert to serve on GOOS Steering Committee required by 31 March 2013 for appointment by Member State Electoral Group
CL-2475: Second Session of the IOC Sub-Commission for Africa and Adjacent Island States, Cape Town, South Africa (IOCAFRICA-II), 3–4 April 2013
CL-2474: Invitation to the Twenty-seventh Session of the IOC Assembly, 26 June–5 July 2013, and Forty-sixth Session of the IOC Executive Council, 25 June 2013, UNESCO HQ, Paris
CL-2473: Regional Workshop on Coastal Hazard Assessment: Applications in Risk Assessment, Management and Mitigation, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 19–22 March 2013
CL-2472: Invitación a nominar participantes a un Taller Regional de Formación sobre Tsunamis, Reforzamiento de Procedimientos Operacionales Estándar para la Alerta de Tsunami y la Respuesta de Emergencia, Nuevos productos de información internacional para tsunami de PTWC
CL-2471: IOC-WMO Fourth DBCP In-Region Capacity Building Workshop for countries of the Western Indian Ocean (Zanzibar, Tanzania, 29 April–3 May 2013)
CL-2470: Questionnaire on “The Future Needs for Intergovernmental Coordination and Governance for Sustained Ocean Observations and Services”
CL-2469: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: New Member State of the IOC
CL-2468: Invitation to a Workshop on “The Present Status of Sustained Ocean Observations and Services in Caribbean and Latin America Countries (Group III)”, 6–8 March 2013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
CL-2467: Data and Information Survey in the Area of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea
CL-2466: Notification and Instructions Regarding NWPTAC Communication Tests for the Registered NWPTA Focal Points
CL-2465: Invitation to the Twenty-fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Pacific Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/PTWS-XXV, Vladivostok, Russian Federation, 9–11 September 2013)
Annex 6: Breakdown of goals in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Targets for Goal 13: “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts”:
- 13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries;
- 13.2 Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning;
- 13.3 Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning;
- 13.a Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible;
- 13.b Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities;
Targets for Goal 14: “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”: - 14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from
land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution;
- 14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans;
- 14.3 Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels;
- 14.4 By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics;
- 14.5 By 2020, conserve at least 10 percent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information;
- 14.6 By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation;
- 14.7 By 2030, increase the economic benefits to small island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries aquaculture and tourism;
- 14.a Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries;
200 EX/20.INF.2 – page 82
- 14.b Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets;
- 14.c Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources.
200 EX/20.INF.2 – page 83
Annex 7: Breakdown of Strategic Objective 5
Strategic Objective 5: Strengthening science, technology and innovation systems and policies – nationally, regionally and globally
- Expected result 4: Scientific understanding of ocean and coastal processes bolstered and used by Member States to improve the management of the human relationship with the ocean. Six performance indicators: (1) Number of international initiatives reinforcing the links between WCRP and IOC scientific priorities and programmes in activities of the WCRP projects and programmes; (2) (i) Number of international agreements on standards and methodologies established and implemented (ii) Increase in data sharing among the international carbon programmes and institutions; (3) Continued and diversified Member State investment, sustaining implementation levels for in situ and space observations of the ocean for climate and weather; (4) Increased number of sustained observing requirements for Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) defined and readiness assessments performed, including for geochemical, biological and ecosystem variables; and new observing networks for sustained observations of these variables integrated into GOOS and/or JCOMM; (5) (i) Number of MS institutions sharing data and information through the IODE network of data centres and marine libraries; (ii) Number of data records available through OBIS and ODP portals, e-repository OceanDocs; (iii) Number of publications mentioning OBIS; (6) Number of international scientific initiatives focusing on marine ecosystem functioning, and impacts of change and variability on ecosystem services, where national research institutions are participating.
- Expected Result 5: Risks and impacts of tsunamis and other ocean-related hazards reduced, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures taken, and policies for healthy ocean ecosystems developed and implemented by Member States. Five performance indicators: (1) (i) Member States engaged in standardizing monitoring and warning systems for coastal hazards in four regions; (ii) Member States, and in particular those most vulnerable to coastal hazards, having adopted harmonized mitigation and adaptation plans; (2) Member States have acquired and are applying enhanced capacity to monitor and manage (i) harmful algal bloom (HAB) events and their impacts and, (ii) nutrient loading to coastal environments; (3) Member States provide improved near real-time services supporting marine operations and coastal inundation hazard risk reduction, benefiting from improved capacity in operational ocean forecast systems; (4) Number of students having acquired capacity related to EWS, mitigation and adaptation through the OceanTeacher training platform; (5) Number of Member States having acquired the capacity to conduct marine assessments and contributing to regional and global ocean related assessments such as the World Ocean Assessment, IPBES and IPCC.
- Expected Result 6: Member States’ institutional capacities reinforced to protect and sustainably manage ocean and coastal resources; Four performance indicators: (1) Number of Member States that implement work plans (priorities set based on needs and available resources) of governing and subsidiary bodies; (2) Number of countries using IOC’s ecosystem-based management guidelines and coastal hazards/climate change adaptation tools in the development, management and evaluation of their national programmes; (3) Number of trained scientists using their skills to support national authorities; (4) Number of countries participating and contributing information to the Global Ocean Science Report (GOSR).
