Regional Cooperation through
LAS Mechanism
Jaser Rabadi, Ph.D.,
National Centre of Meteorology & Seismology
RA II RECO-7, Abu Dhabi, 10-11 Feb 2017
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About …
League of Arab States (The Arab League)
Regional Entity for Independent Arab States;
Established after WW II;
7 - 22 Members;
Cooperation, coordination & Safeguard interests of
Members
Domains: Political, Economic, Social, Security,...;
$50 million annual: assessment of charges;
HQ: Cairo
RA II RECO-7, Abu Dhabi, 10-11 Feb 2017
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Structure
The League Council Supreme Body
Councils of Ministers / Permanent Committees (Technical Domains) 13
(Health, Youth, Env., Ag., Higher education, Meteo, ….)
Specialized Agencies (Organizations & Unions) 30+
(Ag. Development, Labor, Postal, Aviation, ed. & Culture, …)
Secretariat: Secretary- General, ASGs, Staff, …..
RA II RECO-7, Abu Dhabi, 10-11 Feb 2017
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LAS Partnerships
• UN System (Specialized agencies, Programmes, etc..);
• Regional Entities (EU, Africa Unity, S. American Countries, Islamic
Organization…..);
• Bilateral Cooperation Forum (individual countries..)
RA II RECO-7, Abu Dhabi, 10-11 Feb 2017
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3 Different WMO RAs
• 14 Million KM2,
• Population 400 Million
• Different Climates
Permanent Committee of Meteorology (PCM)
President:
Vic-President:
Abdullah Al Mandoos, UAE
Ahmed Abdelal, Egypt
Membership PRs Arabic NMHSs; Annual meetings
Governance President, Vic President & Working subcommittees;
Meetings
Annually;
Authority
Appointed by League Council, 2-years term;
Budget
$ 0 (Voluntary Contributions from Members);
Objectives Cooperation, Coordination & Capacity Building of Members;
Working Sub-committees
Basic Systems, Telecommunication., Climate-related, Training, Media…)
Administrative Support
LAS Secretariat
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Strategic Plan for PCM, 2015
Vision
Advanced NMHSs that Meet the Societal Needs and Contribute to
National Development Plans;
Mission
Contribute to the Development of Arab NMHSs, Enhance
Cooperation, Transfer Knowledge, Exchange Experiences and
Keep Abreast of Global Standards;
RA II RECO-7, Abu Dhabi, 10-11 Feb 2017
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Strategic Objectives of PMC
• Improve Performance and Service Delivery of Arab NMHSs;
• Institutionalize Cooperation and Coordination between Arab NMHSs;
• Improve Visibility of PMC to International Organizations.
RA II RECO-7, Abu Dhabi, 10-11 Feb 2017
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….. Strategic Plan for PCM, 2015
Examples of Pan-Arab Cooperation activities
Share Experience: Tariff Basis & Cost Recovery;
Share Experience: Legislative Tools & Supporting NMHS;
MoUs
…………………
RA II RECO-7, Abu Dhabi, 10-11 Feb 2017
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Activities of PCM
Recent Meetings
Media and Meteorology (Abu Dhabi Feb 2016)
1st Arab Forum in Meteorology and Climatology (Abu Dhabi, May 2016)
32rd Session PMC (Abu Dhabi, May 2016)
1st Ministerial Meteorology Meeting ( Abu Dhabi, May 2016)
Previous Meetings
The Role of NMHSs in DRR (Bahrain 2010)
Sand & Dust storms (Bahrain 2011);
On Going Project
Arab Climate Atlas (UAE)
RA II RECO-7, Abu Dhabi, 10-11 Feb 2017
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Unrealized Projects
Arab Climate Outlook Forum, ARCOF (ESCWA);
Sand & Dust Storm (WMO/UNEP).
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1st Arab Forum for Meteorology & Climatology
Abu Dhabi, May 2016
Participants
Arabic NMHSs,
Stakeholders (Health, DRR Management, Aviation, Nuclear, Media…)
Regional Organizations (UNEP; ESCWA, UNISDR,…)
Topics
• Severe Weather and Adaptation to CC;
• Aeronautical Meteorological Services;
• Media and Meteorology;
• International Cooperation.
RA II RECO-7, Abu Dhabi, 10-11 Feb 2017
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1st Ministerial Meteorology Meeting
Abu Dhabi, May 2016
Political Support of PCM
Financial Allocations
Resolutions
Aviation Meteorology (ICAO/WMO Standards, Cost Recovery,…);
Media & Meteorology (outreach, meet user needs,….);
Climate Data & DRR (Extreme Weather; Early warning System,...);
Capacity Building (The Forum, Data Rescue,…);
Cooperation with WMO ( Joint Projects, Blue Peace Project,….)
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Regional Partnerships of PCM: Examples
WMO
UNEP/ Office for West Asia (Bahrain);
UN International Strategy on Disaster Risk Reduction, UNISDR (Cairo)
WHO Office for West Asia (Amman)
ESCWA, UN Economic & Social Commission for West Asia, (Beirut)
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Shukran
Thank You
RA II RECO-7, Abu Dhabi, 10-11 Feb 2017
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GCC Permanent Committee of Meteorology
Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar & UAE;
Similar to LAS/PCM entity but …
Exemplary in Regional Cooperation
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GCC/PCM
Pipeline Projects
• Weather Radars Network and Seismic Network
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