JIU Review Presented to the WMO Executive Council - JIU/REP/2026/2

On 23 June 2026, JIU attended the 80^th session of the WMO Executive Council, where the latest JIU review on WMO’s governance framework was presented.

Inspector Al-Musawi, JIU Vice-Chair, underlined the long-standing engagement between JIU and WMO, noting multiple past reviews and the strong performance in implementing JIU recommendations by WMO. He also brought to the attention of the Members the new public recommendations tracking system available on JIU’s website which is expected to further improve transparency and monitoring of progress.

Inspector Cronin, author of the JIU report on WMO governance framework, presented its main findings which include an outdated founding document (i.e. the WMO Convention), unclear accountability of leadership roles, limited representation of Member States across governing bodies, and a complex governance framework which is not proportionate to the size of WMO’s secretariat. These issues reduce efficiency, transparency and effectiveness, and create risks for the organization’s accountability and credibility.

Further on, Inspector Cronin, referenced the JIU recommendations that were included in the report which seek to modernize governance, including aligning accountability to Member States, strengthening oversight, improving representation, simplifying structures, and increasing transparency of costs. These reforms aim to build a more inclusive, accountable and agile organization, better equipped to respond to global challenges and support Member needs effectively.

The WMO Members present in the session welcomed the JIU report and acknowledged the proposed fundamental changes and inter-conditionalities of the JIU recommendations. The next steps involve the creation of a task force of the Executive Council that will analyze both the formal and informal recommendations included in the JIU report, and propose a way forward to by potentially considered at the 20^th WMO Congress, to be held in May 2027.

Read the Report: Review of governing body structures in the WMO
Read the Review Highlights: Review highlights of governing body structures in the WMO

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