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Evaluation of the ESCAP-WMO

Partnership for Strengthening

Regional Platforms on Tropical

Cyclones

April 2019

Evaluation of the ESCAP-WMO

Partnership for Strengthening

Regional Platforms on Tropical

Cyclones

April 2019

Prepared by

Filemon A. Uriarte, Jr., PhD

Commissioned by

Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific/ World Meteorological Organization

EVALUATION REPORT Evaluation of ESCAP-WMO Partnership for Strengthening Regional Platform on Tropical Cyclones

Acknowledgments

2

Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge and thank the following people for their strong support and

generous assistance during the entire duration of the evaluation study:

Kaveh Zahedi, Deputy Executive Secretary for Sustainable Development, UNESCAP

for providing overall direction and sharing his views on TC/PTC issues.

Chung Kyu Park, Regional Director for Asia and South-West Pacific, World

Meteorological Organization for sharing his views on TC/PTC issues.

Xu Tang, Director, Weather and Disaster Risk Reduction Services Department, World

Meteorological Organization for providing useful inputs.

Tiziana Bonapace, Director, Information and Communications Technology and

Disaster Risk Reduction Division, UNESCAP for providing useful inputs and

suggestions related to the study.

Taoyong Peng, Chief, Tropical Cyclone Programme Division, World Meteorological

Organization for providing useful inputs.

Sanjay Srivastava, Chief, Disaster Risk Reduction, IDD, UNESCAP, for sharing

expertise and know-how in DRR and experience in working with TC/PTC.

Edgar Dante, Chief, Evaluation Unit, SPMD, UNESCAP, for providing all the necessary

information and guidance in the conduct of the evaluation.

Patricia Wong and Yuki Mitsuka, UNESCAP, for arranging and providing needed

assistance during the meetings and consultations.

Chulaluck Pongroj, Evaluation Unit, SPMD, UNESCAP, for providing efficient

administrative support.

Special thanks to Genevieve Uriarte for her efficient notetaking during the stakeholder

interviews and consultations and for her expert assistance in preparing the graphics and in

editing the evaluation report.


Table of Contents

3

Table of Contents

List of Annexes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

List of Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

List of Acronyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

1 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

1.1 Background of the Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

1.2 Purpose, Objectives and Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

1.3 Object of Evaluation and Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

2 METHODOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

2.1 Description of Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

2.2 Data Collection and Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

2.3 Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

3 FINDINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

3.1 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

3.1.1 ESCAP/WMO Partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

3.1.2 ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

3.1.3 WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

3.2 Performance Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

3.2.1 Relevance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

3.2.2 Effectiveness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

3.2.3 Sustainability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

4 CONCLUSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

5 RECOMMENDATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51


List of Annexes List of Figures

4

List of Annexes

Annex 1 Terms of Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Annex 2 List of Key Documents Reviewed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Annex 3 List of Interviewees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Annex 4 Survey Questionnaires

4.1 Survey Questionnaire for TC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

4.2 Survey Questionnaire for PTC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Annex 5 List of Survey Respondents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Annex 6 Data Tables and Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

List of Figures

Figure 3.1 Five Regional Bodies of the WMO Tropical Cyclone Programme . . . . . . 23

Figure 3.2 Relevance of TC and PTC activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Figure 3.3 How to strengthen ESCAP-WMO partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Figure 3.4 Areas where TC and PTC activities make significant impact . . . . . . . . . . 35

Figure 3.5 What ESCAP/WMO can do to enhance TC and PTC effectiveness . . . . . 36

Figure 3.6 Measures to improve TC and PTC coordination and expand ESCAP/WMO partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Figure 3.7 Suggested measures to enhance ESCAP/WMO partnership to support TC and PTC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44


List of Acronyms

5

List of Acronyms

AOP Annual Operating Plan

APDIM Asian and Pacific Centre for the Development of Disaster Information Management

APFM Associated Programme on Flood Management

ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations

ASMC ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre

AWG Advisory Working Group

BMKG Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency

CIFDP Coastal Inundation Forecasting Demonstration Project

CMA China Meteorological Administration

CREWS Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems

DESA Department of Economic and Social Affairs

DRR Disaster Risk Reduction

ESCAP Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

EWS Early Warning System

EXOTICCA Experiment on Typhoon Intensity Change in Coastal Area

FFGS Flash Flood Guidance System

GDP Gross Domestic Product

GFCS Global Framework for Climate Services

GWP Global Water Partnership

ICHARM International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management

IDNDR International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction

IFM Integrated Flood Management

IN-MHEWS International Network for Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems

IOT Internet of Things

IOTWS Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System

ISDR International Disaster Reduction Secretariat

KMA Korea Meteorological Administration


List of Acronyms

6

KRA Key Result Area

MMD Malaysian Meteorological Department

MOFFS Management Overview of Flood Forecasting Systems

MOU Memorandum of Understanding

MRC Mekong River Commission

NDMI National Disaster Management Institute (Republic of Korea)

NMHS National Meteorological and Hydrological Service

NTWC National Tsunami Warning Center

OHP Operational Hydrology Programme

OSUFFIM Operational System for Urban Flood Forecasting and Inundation Mapping

PAGASA Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration

PPR Programme Planning and Review

PRiMO The Pacific Risk Management Ohana

PTC WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones

PTCTF Panel on Tropical Cyclones Trust Fund

PWS Public Weather Services

QPE Quantitative Precipitation Estimation

RA I WMO Regional Association I: Africa

RA II WMO Regional Association II: Asia

RA IV WMO Regional Association: North America, Central America and the Caribbean

RA V Regional Association V: South-West Pacific

RIMES Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia

RSMC Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre

RS Radiosonde

SAARC South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

SIDS Small Island Developing States

SMRC SAARC Meteorological Research Centre

SOP Standard Operating Procedures

SPECTRUM Special Experiment Concerning Typhoon Recurvature and Unusual Movement

SSOP Synergized Standard Operating Procedures for Coastal Multi-Hazards Early Warning System


List of Acronyms

7

SSWS Storm Surge Watch Scheme

STI Shanghai Typhoon Institute

SWFDP Severe Weather Forecasting Demonstration Project

SYS University Sun Yat Sen University

TC ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee

TC50 ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee 50th Session

TCC Tropical Cyclone Committee for the South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean (RA V)

TCP WMO Tropical Cyclone Programme

TCTF Typhoon Committee Trust Fund

TLFDP Typhoon Landfall Forecast Demonstration Project

TMD Thai Meteorological Department

TOPEX Typhoon Operational Experiment

TRCG Training and Research Coordination Group

UNESCAP United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific

UNDP United Nations Development Programme

UNISDR United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

WG Working Group

WGDRR Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction

WGH Working Group on Hydrology

WGM Working Group on Meteorology

WIGOS WMO Integrated Global Observing System

WMO World Meteorological Organization

WWRP World Weather Research Programme


1. INTRODUCTION

8

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Introduction

The report at hand presents the evaluation of the United Nations Economic and Social

Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) – World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

partnership for strengthening regional platforms on tropical cyclones, which involves the

ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee (TC) and the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones

(PTC). The TC and the PTC were established in 1968 and 1972, respectively, under the auspices

of ESCAP and WMO to promote and coordinate the planning and implementation of

measures required for minimizing the loss of life and material damage caused by typhoons.

Resolution 71/12 requested ESCAP to deepen existing regional cooperation mechanisms such

as the TC and the PTC, among others. This evaluation was conducted by Dr F. A. Uriarte, Jr.,

former Secretary (Minister) of Science and Technology, Republic of the Philippines, between

November 2018 and April 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand, and in Metro Manila, Philippines.

Purpose and Scope

The evaluation aims to review the partnership of ESCAP and WMO with regard to the TC and

PTC and recommend a way forward towards their better alignment with the 2030 Agenda for

Sustainable Development and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

In this context, the evaluation:

• Assesses the programmatic results of the TC and PTC supported by WMO and ESCAP;

• Identifies strengths and challenges in the current partnership of ESCAP and WMO in

support of TC and PTC;

• Formulates recommendations for the ESCAP and WMO secretariats to strengthen and

expand the partnership in supporting the TC and PTC and to increase their results;

• Provide recommendations to better align the TC and PTC with the 2030 Agenda for

Sustainable Development and the Sendai Framework.

Methodology

The evaluation made use of the following methods of information and data collection and

analysis and which were triangulated for the purposes of the evaluation:

• Desk review of relevant documents;


1. INTRODUCTION

9

• Consultations with relevant staff of the ESCAP, WMO, TC and PTC secretariats;

• Consultations with representatives from TC and PTC member countries and partners;

• Consultations with TC secretariat staff and Thai TC and PTC Focal Points during

missions to Macao, China and Bangkok, Thailand in November 2018;

• Evaluation survey.

Conclusions

We conclude that the TC and PTC programmes and activities are generally in line with the

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk

Reduction 2015-2030. The TC has issued its Strategic Plan 2017-2021 and the PTC its

Coordinated Technical Plan 2016-2019 with explicit intent to contribute to the 2030 Agenda

and the Sendai Framework. Nevertheless, much could still be done in project development

and implementation with the support of and in cooperation with ESCAP and WMO.

In supporting the TC and PTC, a unique strength of WMO is that the programmes of work of

TC and PTC are aligned with the WMO Tropical Cyclone Programme, which covers

meteorology, hydrology, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) for which WMO has the required

expertise and experience as well as intergovernmental platforms and research and

cooperation frameworks. The main strength of ESCAP is its long presence in and great

familiarity with the region, its robust DRR programme supported by seasoned professionals

and experts, and its intergovernmental platforms, research and analysis, and technical

cooperation work. The major challenge for ESCAP is how to expand and deepen its support

to the areas of meteorology and hydrology from the perspective of DRR, which is ESCAP’s

strength.

The WMO/ESCAP Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of 16 July 2003 covers many areas

of shared interest and cooperation but cooperation thus far has been rather limited to

attendance in annual meetings with limited joint project planning and implementation, and

there has been no reporting on achievements and joint outputs under the MOU. For ESCAP

and WMO a continuing challenge is how to enhance financial support for large, multi-year,

joint TC/PTC projects to more comprehensively attain the targets of the 2030 Agenda and the

Sendai Framework in the region.

The TC and PTC remain relevant to the needs and priorities of their member countries and

deserve support and cooperation from ESCAP and WMO. They are an integral part of the

WMO TCP, constituting two of its five regional bodies and as such are needed to effectively

respond to the call for global action to mitigate the harmful effects of tropical cyclones. TC


1. INTRODUCTION

10

has been in existence for over 50 years and the PTC for over 45 years. They have met annually

since then; new members are joining (Indonesia to TC) or have just joined (Iran, Qatar, Saudi

Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) to PTC); and members contribute regularly to the TC

and PTC trust funds (TCTF/PTCTF) and make significant in-kind contributions. The TC Strategic

Plan 2017-2021 and the PTC Coordinated Technical Plan 2016-2019 are explicit in their intent

to contribute to the attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the

Sendai Framework for Disaster Rick Reduction 2015-2030, which echo the priorities of

participating countries. The key results and outputs of both plans are clearly linked to specific

SDG goals and targets such as Goal 1 Target 1.5 and Goal 11 Target 11.b. Finally, the success

of TC’s annual Integrated Workshops (IWSs) over many years must somehow reflect its

continuing relevance to the needs of member countries.

In terms of effectiveness and sustainability, the TC is clearly performing well. Joint projects

among TC member countries have contributed significantly to the upgrading of relevant

technologies and expertise, improvement in data quality, enhancement of forecasting

reliability, and overall advancement in disaster risk mitigation and management. ESCAP

support to the Synergized Standard Operating Procedures for Coastal Multi-Hazards Early

Warning System (SSOP) project has contributed to the development and implementation of

standard operating procedures (SOP) for coastal multi-hazard early warning systems

(MHEWS). WMO support has enhanced the TC’s interaction and cooperation through the

implementation of projects that upgraded national capabilities in storm surge warning and

mitigation, typhoon forecasting and warning, and technology transfer and adaptation.

The PTC, however, is an underperforming platform, with a relatively weaker secretariat and

lesser-endowed trust fund. Unlike the TC Secretariat which has four fulltime professional staff

and two support staff, the PTC Secretariat has only two part-time professional staff, which

could have been the reason why the PTC Secretariat missed attending the 43rd and 45th annual

PTC sessions, and other stakeholders find it difficult to communicate with them. While TC

countries make an annual contribution of US$12,000 to the TCTF, PTC countries contribute

only a maximum of US$3,000 annually to the PTCTF.

The partnership between ESCAP and WMO in support of the TC and PTC has been successful

but rather limited. There is thus need to further strengthen this partnership. A more robust

ESCAP/WMO partnership would enable it not only to help improve and strengthen the PTC

and its Secretariat but also help widen the already successful work of the TC, which in the past

had been largely focused on single hazard, to more fully address multi-hazard situations.


1. INTRODUCTION

11

Member countries made several suggestions to further enhance this partnership including to:

support and facilitate regular joint meetings of TC and PTC; develop partnerships with the

Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Initiative of WMO, the World Bank and its

Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the United Nations Office for

Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), and similar institutions/bodies; enhance use of the ESCAP

Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness in Indian Ocean and Southeast

Asian Countries; formulate jointly large, multi-year project proposals and shepherding them

through normally lengthy and competitive evaluation processes; strengthen partnership of

ESCAP and WMO with the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa

and Asia (RIMES); and enhance involvement of WMO regional offices. Member countries also

emphasized that the most important role of the ESCAP/WMO partnership is in resource

mobilization for the TC and PTC activities.

Recommendations

Recommendation 1: Strengthen ESCAP and WMO partnership by scaling up its role

with multi-hazard approaches, including second generation early warning products,

impact-based forecasting and risk-informed early warning.

Member countries want to strengthen ESCAP/WMO partnership to enhance regional

cooperation in multi-hazard risk reduction, including impact-based forecasting and risk-

informed early warning. This may be attained through, among others, the following measures:

(a) Strengthening ESCAP’s and WMO’s cooperation with the RSMCs Tokyo and New Delhi by

increasing joint technical and financial support, particularly in capacity development and

attachment training; (b) Extending the ESCAP/WMO partnership by incorporating the Asia

regional component of the IN-MHEWS; (c) Developing further partnership with the CREWS

Initiative, World Bank, UNISDR, GFDRR, and similar institutions/bodies; (d) Enhancing ESCAP’s

and WMO’s cooperation with RIMES; and (e) Enhancing the use of the ESCAP Trust Fund for

Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness in Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian Countries,

with involvement of WMO, to support large, multi-year projects. In line with this

recommendation, ESCAP and WMO may conclude a new or updated MOU defining clear roles

and accountabilities and a regularly updated action/implementation plan with activities,

milestones, deliverables, monitoring mechanism, time frame and a sunset clause.


1. INTRODUCTION

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Recommendation 2: Continue to consider expanding ESCAP and WMO partnership to

cover the Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

The ESCAP/WMO bilateral meeting held in Hanoi, Viet Nam, on 28 February 2018, identified

as a possible new area of collaboration the expansion of the ESCAP/WMO partnership on

tropical cyclones to the Pacific. This recommendation is consistent with ESCAP Resolution

71/121 which calls for “deepening existing regional cooperation mechanisms such as the

ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee, the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones” and requests

the ESCAP Executive Secretary to “further strengthen the Trust Fund2 and expand its

geographic scope to include Pacific Small Island Developing States” (SIDS). It is also in line with

the recommendation of the ESCAP Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction (4th session,

October 2015) for “further strengthening the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee and the

WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones and that the ESCAP Secretariat become a partner in

the WMO Tropical Cyclone Committee for the South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean.” The

17th session of WMO RA V TCC3 acknowledged the proposal for WMO and ESCAP partnership

and “requested that WMO and ESCAP explore options for future formal partnerships that

would deliver more effective operation of TC warning services in the Region and contribute to

the enhanced safety of vulnerable communities.” As a next step, ESCAP and WMO need to

present the modality of partnership at the 18th session of TCC to be held in Tonga in 2020.

The ESCAP Multi-donor Trust Fund may be used to support partly the operational cost of TCC

secretariat that is at present borne by WMO alone.

Recommendation 3: ESCAP and WMO to support and assist in strengthening the PTC

through, among others, strengthening the PTC Secretariat as well as in enhancing the

PTCTF.

To enable the PTC platform to more effectively address some of the critical unmet needs of

cyclone early warning in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, it is important to strengthen

PTC, including the PTC Secretariat. ESCAP and WMO could encourage PTC member countries,

including the new members, to initiate consultations regarding this matter. ESCAP, through

APDIM based in Iran, could consider providing support to the PTC Secretariat, including

providing host facilities, if agreed to and requested by PTC member countries. ESCAP and

1 ESCAP Resolution 71/12: Strengthening regional mechanisms for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in Asia and the Pacific. 2 Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness in Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian Countries. 3 WMO RA V TCC for the South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean, 17th session, Final Report, Noumea, New Caledonia, 23-26 July 2018.


1. INTRODUCTION

13

WMO could also encourage PTC member countries to increase their annual contribution to

the PTCTF to a level equal to the annual contribution of TC member countries to the TCTF.

Recommendation 4: ESCAP and WMO to jointly develop and implement through the

TC and PTC large, multi-year projects supported by external funding.

TC and PTC member countries have expressed their desire to seek the assistance of ESCAP

and WMO in resource mobilization, including those through the ESCAP Multi-donor Trust

Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness, the CREWS Initiative and other sources,

in formulating large, multi-year project proposals, and in shepherding them through normally

lengthy and competitive evaluation processes. For example, there is urgent need to develop

national capacities in urban flood forecasting and inundation mapping. A large, multiyear

project with external funding would enable a comprehensive and in-depth approach to this

issue of forecasting, early warning and risk management of urban flooding. About 57% of TC

member countries and 83% of PTC member countries believe that the ESCAP/WMO

partnership could be strengthened to support the needs and priorities of member countries by

developing and implementing large, multiyear projects supported by external funding through

the TC and PTC mechanisms.

Recommendation 5: ESCAP and WMO to continue supporting the TC and PTC to enable

them to fully implement the recommendations of the 3rd Joint Session of the TC and

PTC held in February 2015.

The 3rd TC/PTC Joint Session made nine recommendations covering several areas. A major

recommendation is for more frequent and regular TC and PTC joint meetings. Consultations

with stakeholders confirm that there is greater desire on the part of the PTC to have more

frequent joint sessions with the TC, stating that PTC member countries have a great deal to

learn from TC member countries where typhoons occur more frequently than do cyclones in

the region covered by the PTC. The TC and PTC secretariats should be encouraged to initiate

discussions and consultations on the possible agenda, frequency and schedule of the

proposed joint sessions. The two other recommendations are: to facilitate participation of TC

and PTC representatives in each other’s annual sessions, workshops and seminars; and to

undertake joint TC and PTC expert missions to assess the damage caused by tropical cyclones

and related disasters. It is recommended that ESCAP and WMO provide technical and/or

financial support and help facilitate getting such technical and/or financial support from other

donors to enable the TC and PTC to fully implement the Joint Session’s recommendations,

giving priority to the three aforesaid activities.


1. INTRODUCTION

14

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Evaluation

This is the report of the evaluation of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for

Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) – World Meteorological Organization (WMO) partnership for

strengthening regional platform on tropical cyclones, which involves the ESCAP/WMO

Typhoon Committee (TC) and the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC). The TC and

the PTC were established in 1968 and 1972, respectively, under the auspices of ESCAP and

WMO to promote and coordinate the planning and implementation of measures required for

minimizing the loss of life and material damage caused by typhoons. Disasters triggered by

natural hazards have threatened development gains in the Asia-Pacific region. Addressing

disaster risks is thus essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the region.

In this regard, the Regional Roadmap for Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Development in Asia and the Pacific4 as well as the Regional Action Plan for the

Implementation of the Sendai Framework5 identify disaster risk reduction (DRR) and

resilience as one of the regional priority areas. In addressing shared disaster risks such as

tropical cyclones, regional and subregional strategies and mechanisms play critical roles, as

highlighted in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. In this regard,

member States, through resolution 71/12, requested ESCAP to deepen existing regional

cooperation mechanisms such as the TC and the PTC, among others.

This evaluation was conducted by Dr F. A. Uriarte, Jr., an independent consultant based in the

Philippines, an academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology, and former

Secretary (Minister) of Science and Technology, Republic of the Philippines, and also former

Director, Information, Communications and Space Technology Division, ESCAP. This

evaluation was conducted between November 2018 and April 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand, and

in Metro Manila, Philippines.

1.2 Purpose, Objectives and Scope

The evaluation is forward-looking and formative in nature and designed to support

organizational learning and decision-making. Recognizing the evolving global and regional

understanding on natural disasters and their impacts on development, the evaluation aims to

review the partnership engagement of ESCAP and WMO with these two inter-governmental

platforms and recommend way forward towards better alignment with the 2030 Agenda for

4 https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/publications/SDGs-Regional-Roadmap.pdf. 5 https://www.preventionweb.net/english/professional/policies/v.php?id=52286.

https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/publications/SDGs-Regional-Roadmap.pdf

https://www.preventionweb.net/english/professional/policies/v.php?id=52286


1. INTRODUCTION

15


It will also take a look at 50 years of TC and 45 years of PTC experiences in addressing tropical

cyclones and related coastal hazards through regional cooperation, which will provide

practical guidance in strengthening/expanding the partnership of ESCAP and WMO in the

Asia-Pacific region. Findings and recommendations of the evaluation will be shared with the

TC and the PTC.

The overall objective is to assess, as systematically and objectively as possible, the partnership

of ESCAP and WMO with regard to the TC and PTC for their better alignment with the global

development agenda and to take a look at decades of experiences of these platforms (Annex

1). In this context, the evaluation:

• Assesses the programmatic results of the TC and PTC supported by WMO and ESCAP;

• Identifies strengths and challenges in the current partnership of ESCAP and WMO in

support of TC and PTC;

• Formulates recommendations for ESCAP and WMO secretariats to strengthen and

expand the partnership in supporting the TC and PTC and to increase the results of the

TC and PTC;

• Provides recommendations to better align the TC and PTC with the 2030 Agenda for

Sustainable Development and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

2015-2030.

1.3 Object of Evaluation and Description

The target users of the evaluation results include the ESCAP and WMO management and staff,

ESCAP and WMO member States, TC and PTC secretariats, TC and PTC member countries, and

other stakeholders of TC and PTC. The final deliverables of the evaluation are:

• Evaluation Report (following the structure presented in the Annex to the Terms of

Reference);

• Evaluation Brief (two‐page summary of the evaluation report); and

• PowerPoint presentation on the key findings, conclusions and recommendations.


2. METHODOLOGY

16

2. METHODOLOGY

2.1 Description of Methodology

The scope of the evaluation sought to analyze and evaluate the performance of the TC and

PTC against three key parameters: relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability.

Evaluation criteria Evaluation questions

Relevance Assess the relevance of TC and PTC to the needs and priorities of the participating countries in addressing tropical cyclones and related coastal hazards.

• To what extent were the TC and PTC relevant to the needs and priorities of the participating countries in addressing tropical cyclones and related coastal hazards?

• How could the ESCAP and WMO partnership be strengthened in supporting the needs and priorities of the participating countries through the TC and PTC mechanisms?

Effectiveness Assess the programmatic results of the TC and PTC supported by WMO and ESCAP.

• What could be done by ESCAP and WMO to increase the effectiveness of the TC and PTC in fulfilling its mandate and achieving results?

• What are the key programmatic results of the TC and PTC? What specific indicators could be used for measuring the programmatic results of the TC and PTC?

Sustainability Assess the sustainability of the WMO/ESCAP partnership arrangements.

• What partnership arrangements exist to sustain the work of ESCAP and WMO supporting TC and PTC?

• How can ESCAP and WMO collaborate for resource mobilization including those through ESCAP Multi-donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness; WMO/World Bank-Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR)/United Nations Office for DRR (UNISDR)’s Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Initiative, etc.?

• How could these partnership arrangements be further sustained?

Based on these key parameters, the evaluation questions were developed. These evaluation

questions were posed to TC and PTC member countries who were able to take part in this

assessment. They were also internally posed by the evaluator when assessing relevant

outputs and survey results undertaken in conjunction with this project.


2. METHODOLOGY

17

2.2 Data Collection and Analysis

The evaluation made use of the following methods of information and data collection and

analysis and which were triangulated for purposes of evaluation:

• Desk review of relevant documents

A comprehensive review of relevant documents and reports was made during the

duration of the study (Annex 2).

• Consultations with relevant staff of the ESCAP, WMO, TC and PTC secretariats

Consultations (mostly via Skype or phone) with relevant staff of the ESCAP, WMO, TC

and PTC secretariats to clarify requirements or expectations and the overall

approach and work plan of the evaluation (Annex 3).

• Consultations with representatives from TC and PTC member countries and

partners

Consultations (via Skype or phone) with representatives from TC and PTC member

countries and partners (Annex 3).

• Consultations with TC secretariat and Thailand TC and PTC Focal Points

Consultations with TC secretariat staff during a mission to Macao, China and with

Thai TC and PTC Focal Points during a mission to Bangkok, Thailand in November

2018 (Annex 3).

• Evaluation survey

An evaluation survey was conducted to solicit the opinion of relevant government

officials, organizations, and individuals who had participated in various TC and PTC

activities (Annexes 4 and 5).

2.3 Limitations

The success of the evaluation was contingent on the support and cooperation of the various

informants and stakeholders during the conduct of the survey and interviews. Given budget

limitations for the evaluation, it was not feasible to visit most of the relevant agencies in TC

and PTC member countries to conduct interviews with the wider stakeholder group. Thus an

e‐mail survey was undertaken to gather feedback from the broader constituency of the

stakeholders involved. In addition, the study merely “took a look” at the 50 and 45 years of

experiences of the TC and PTC, respectively, as it is not possible to “take stock” of these


2. METHODOLOGY

18

experiences given the limited budget. Although the 2003 WMO-ESCAP Memorandum of

Understanding (MOU) was reviewed and is referenced in this report, this budget-limited study

does not include an evaluation of the implementation of the MOU, which covers much wider

areas and activities.

Due to budget constraints, face‐to‐face interviews with all country project participants were

not possible. Some interviews were conducted through Skype or telephone. While not in all

cases, it was found that this interview was not as effective as face‐to‐face interviews in

obtaining information particularly when it came to having in‐depth discussions on the subject

matter.

Also due to budget constraints, visits to relevant country counterparts and their organizations

were not undertaken, except for the TC Secretariat in the host country. The field visits would

have allowed a broader group of stakeholders to be approached and spoken to, allowing a

broader diversity of views. However, the evaluator feels that this would not have made

significant difference in terms of the overall findings, conclusions, and recommendations.


3. FINDINGS

19

3. FINDINGS

3.1 Overview

The Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 20176 reports that Asia and the Pacific is the region most

affected by hazards resulting in disasters. In 2016 disasters triggered by natural hazards

affected 35 million people, killed 4,987 people, and caused an estimated damage of about

US$77 billion. The greatest loss of life was through flooding, which caused 3,250 deaths. Since

1970, a person living in the Asia-Pacific region has been five times more likely to be affected

by natural hazards than a person living outside the region. Between 1970 and 2016, Asia and

the Pacific lost US$1.3 trillion in assets. A major portion of this was the result of

typhoons/tropical cyclones and the resulting floods, storm surges, and landslides.

3.1.1 ESCAP/WMO Partnership

On 16 July 2003 a MOU was signed between WMO and ESCAP, in which WMO and ESCAP

agreed to “collaborate on targeted activities in the field of capacity building and on targeted

thematic programme areas, drawing on the relative strengths of each organization.” In

capacity development, it was agreed, among others, to “formulate and implement joint

subregional projects in support of developing countries in the region, particularly for the

Typhoon Committee and the Panel on Tropical Cyclones”. In thematic programme areas, it

was agreed, among others, to “develop a common programme on water-related disaster

monitoring and impact assessment, including effects of global climate change, on the socio-

economic development process in the region, especially in the areas of the Typhoon

Committee and the Panel on Tropical Cyclones, in cooperation with the International Strategy

for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) Secretariat and other regional organizations.”

Among the ESCAP and WMO activities in support of the TC include the following: Project on

Synergized Standard Operating Procedures for Coastal Multi-Hazard Early Warning System

(SSOP); Expert mission on Typhoon Haiyan; Workshop on Space Applications to Reduce

Water-related Disaster Risk in Asia; Fact-finding and assessment mission in Pakistan; WMO

Voluntary Cooperation Programme (VCP); and Emergency Assistance Fund (EAF) scheme;

6 Leave No One Behind: Disaster Resilience for Sustainable Development, Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2017, United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand, 2017.


3. FINDINGS

20

technical cooperation among developing countries; and Assessment of Socio-Economic

Impact of Flood-related Disasters.7

At the ESCAP/WMO bilateral meeting held in Hanoi, Viet Nam, on 28 February 20188, the

following matters were taken up: (a) Expansion of the ESCAP/WMO partnership; (b) Revision

of the ESCAP/WMO MOU; and (c) Evaluation of the ESCAP and WMO partnership with regard

to the TC and PTC. It was agreed to expand the ESCAP-WMO partnership in addressing

disaster risk reduction (DRR) and promoting MHEWS in Asia and the Pacific, update the MOU

between ESCAP and WMO, and conduct a joint evaluation to review the engagement of

ESCAP and WMO with regard to the TC and PTC. It was also agreed to consider joint resource

mobilization (e.g., through the CREWS Initiative in the Asia-Pacific region), expansion of the

ESCAP/WMO partnership on tropical cyclones to the Pacific, and strengthening the exchange

of climate risk information, etc.

3.1.2 ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee

The TC is an intergovernmental body that was officially established in December 1968 under

the auspices of the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East, the name of which was

changed in 1974 to ESCAP, and WMO in order to promote and coordinate the planning and

implementation of measures required to minimize the loss of life and material damage caused

by typhoons in Asia and the Pacific. The TC is composed of 14 members: Cambodia (1968);

China (1968); Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (1992); Hong Kong, China (1968); Japan

(1968); Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) (1968); Macao, Special Administrative Region

of the People's Republic of China (1992); Malaysia (1968); Philippines (1968); Republic of

Korea (ROK) (1968); Singapore (1997); Thailand (1968); United States of America (1998); and

Viet Nam (1968).

The TC implements activities and projects under the umbrella of three substantive

components: meteorology, hydrology, and DRR, as well as training and research. The TC is

supported by an Advisory Working Group (AWG) composed of the Chairs of the working

groups and RSMC Tokyo. The representatives of ESCAP and WMO serve as ex-officio members

of the TC AWG. There are three Working Groups (WGs on Meteorology, Hydrology, and DRR)

and a Training and Research Coordination Group. The WGs are supported by the AWG, the

Training and Research Coordination Group and the Resources Mobilization Group, with

7 Brief descriptions of these activities are presented in Annex 6. These activities are implemented mainly by the TC although some had participation from PTC, e.g., the SSOP and the fact-finding and assessment mission to Pakistan. 8 See Annex 6.


3. FINDINGS

21

assistance from the secretariats of the TC, ESCAP and WMO. Annual sessions of the TC are

convened by ESCAP and organized by the secretariats of ESCAP, WMO and TC.

The executive body of the TC was originally known as the Joint Unit on Typhoons, which was

located in Bangkok. During the initial three years, ESCAP and WMO provided experts to work

in the Joint Unit. In 1971, in response to an invitation from the Government of the Philippines,

the unit was transferred to Manila and renamed the TC Secretariat. ESCAP and WMO provided

three experts, including the Chief Technical Adviser, meteorologist and hydrologist. The

Philippine Government provided the supporting staff. Up to 1976, the United Nations

Development Programme (UNDP) provided institutional financial support. From 1975 to

2006, the Philippine Government provided the meteorologist, while the Governments of

Japan, ROK and the Philippines seconded hydrologists from 1977 to 2007. From 1980 to 2004,

the Director-General of the Philippines Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services

Administration (PAGASA) served as the TC Secretariat coordinator and from 2005 to 2006 as

Secretary of the TC.

In February 2007, the Secretariat was officially transferred from Manila to Macao, China. The

move entailed separate agreements between the TC and the Government of China and the

government of Macao, China. At present, the TC Secretariat has four professional staff: The

Secretary of the TC who heads the Secretariat, one meteorologist, one hydrologist, and one

DRR expert. There are two support staff: one finance assistant and one senior secretary. The

Government of Macao provides the premises and office facilities and the compensation of all

Secretariat staff.

3.1.3 WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones

The PTC for the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea is an intergovernmental organization officially

established in 1973 as a regional body of ESCAP and WMO and associated with the WMO TCP.

The PTC aims to improve and coordinate programmes and measures of disaster prevention

in the North Indian Ocean rim countries and reduce the loss of lives and properties caused by

tropical cyclone-related disasters. The PTC develops activities under three substantive

components: meteorology, hydrology, and disaster prevention and preparedness, as well as

in areas of training and research.

The PTC is composed of 13 members: Bangladesh (1972), India (1972), Maldives (1982),

Myanmar (1972), Oman (1977), Pakistan (1972), Sri Lanka (1972), Thailand (1972), and Yemen

(2016), and four countries that joined in 2018, namely, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United

Arab Emirates (UAE).


3. FINDINGS

22

The PTC annual sessions are convened by the WMO and ESCAP in cooperation with the PTC

Secretariat. Generally, the annual sessions are hosted by PTC member countries on rotational

basis or as agreed by PTC. The sessions are attended by PTC member countries,

representatives of WMO and ESCAP, as well as representatives of non-member countries and

international organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), UNDP,

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific

and Cultural Organization (IOC-UNESCO) with the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for

the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWS), UNISDR,

International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management under the auspices of UNESCO

(ICHARM) and others as observers. Preparations for the annual sessions, including

preparation of the session documents are handled by the WMO, ESCAP and PTC secretariats.

The activities of the PTC with possible collaboration of ESCAP and WMO include: (a) Organise

capacity development training programme for PTC countries particularly in the areas of

impact-based forecasting and risk-based warning; (b) Develop a regional component of

International Network for Multi Hazard Early Warning Systems (IN-MHEWS)9 together with

the WMO, ESCAP and TC secretariats; (c) Undertake flood hazard mapping in major

delta/coastal areas in each country and organize workshops for capacity development; and

(d) Collaborate and share experiences with the TC.

The PTC Secretariat (formally known as Technical Support Unit of PTC) is the executive arm of

the PTC. It is mandated to assist the PTC in its day-to-day work and coordinate the PTC

programmes in close consultation with the WMO and ESCAP secretariats. The PTC Secretariat

keeps in close contact with PTC members and other relevant organizations by carrying out

the day-to-day coordination of all related activities undertaken at the request of the PTC. It

reports to the PTC at regular intervals on the progress of the work it undertakes. It was initially

hosted by Thailand and located in the premises of Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) in

Bangkok. Since 2000, it has been hosted by Pakistan and located in the premises of Pakistan

Meteorological Department (PMD). The current professional staff of the PTC Secretariat is

composed of the Secretary of the PTC and one meteorologist.

3.2 Performance Assessment

3.2.1 Relevance

Here the study is asked to assess the relevance of the TC and PTC to the needs and priorities

of the participating countries in addressing tropical cyclones and related coastal hazards.

9 mhews.wmo.int/partners


3. FINDINGS

23

In 1972 WMO established the Tropical Cyclone Project (which later became the TCP) in

response to a call for international action to mitigate the harmful effects of tropical cyclones

brought about by the disastrous 1970 Bangladesh storm. Five institutions were set up to cover

the tropical cyclone basins around the world: (a) The TC; (b) The PTC; (c) The WMO Regional

Association I Tropical Cyclone Committee (TCC) for the South-West Indian Ocean; (d) The

WMO Regional Association IV Hurricane Committee; and (e) the WMO Regional Association

V TCC for the South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean (Figure 3.1). These institutions are

regional bodies of the WMO TCP, which is tasked with establishing national and regionally

coordinated systems to minimize the loss of life and the damage caused by tropical cyclones.

The TCP is administered by the TCP Division which is part of the WMO Weather and Disaster

Risk Reduction Services (WDS) Department.

Figure 3.1. Five Regional Bodies of the WMO Tropical Cyclone Programme

Being an integral part of WMO’s TCP, the TC and the PTC are relevant and needed to

effectively respond to the call for global action to mitigate the tropical cyclones’ harmful

effects. As such, TC and PTC member countries are involved in WMO’s cross-cutting projects

such as the Severe Weather Forecasting Demonstration Project (SWFDP), Coastal Inundation

Forecasting Demonstration Project (CIFDP) and projects for strengthening early warning

systems (EWS) and DRR in WMO regional associations I, II, IV and V.


3. FINDINGS

24

The relevance of TC and PTC is reflected in the fact that the TC Strategic Plan 2017-2021 and

the PTC Coordinated Technical Plan 2016-2019 are explicit in their intent to contribute to the

attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sendai Framework for

Disaster Rick Reduction 2015-2030, which echo the priorities of participating countries. The

TC Strategic Plan specifically states: “The Typhoon Committee, through its regional

cooperation and collaboration has since 1968, been working to help the people of the region

through accomplishments and actions to reduce the loss of life and property due to typhoon-

related effects through the effective use of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

2015-2030, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and Sustainable Development Goals

(SDGs) ... The purpose of this Strategic Plan is … to continue to produce meaningful results for

saving lives and mitigation of damage from typhoon-related events ... The Typhoon

Committee intends to champion the goals of the Sendai Framework, concerning typhoon-

related disasters, by setting its Targets in line with the Framework.”

On the other hand, the PTC Coordinated Technical Plan “took into account Sendai Framework

for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030” and encouraged members to “contribute to national

obligations under many regional and international conventions” including the Sustainable

Development Goals 2015-2030 and the Sendai Framework.

The key results and outputs of both plans are clearly linked to specific SDG goals and targets

such as Goal 1 Target 1.5: Build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations,

and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other

economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters; and Goal 11 Target 11.b:

Substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and

implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation

and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line

with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk

management at all levels.

The relevance of the TC to the needs of its member countries is further reflected in the success

of and great interest given to the TC’s annual Integrated Workshop (IWS), which are always

well-attended. It is an annual event to review the implementation status of the Annual

Operating Plans of the AWG, Training and Coordination Group, and the WGs and to discuss

implementation plan for the coming year. Since 2006, 13 IWSs have been held with themes

relevant to TC member countries ranging from social and economic impacts of extreme

typhoon-related events to technological innovation for typhoon-related forecasting and


3. FINDINGS

25

DRR.10 The PTC does not have a similar activity but since the recent past, the TC IWSs have

been opened to possible PTC participation.

Parenthetically, it may be noted that ESCAP and WMO are often cited in the proceedings of

the TC and PTC annual sessions reflecting in some way the importance or relevance accorded

by member countries to the ESCAP/WMO partnership in support of the TC and PTC. These

annual sessions provide a platform for assessing the needs of member countries and deciding

on programmes and activities to address those needs and how ESCAP and WMO could assist

and cooperate.11

Survey Results

73% of respondents from TC and 83% from PTC countries state that TC and PTC activities are

relevant or very relevant to the needs and priorities of their respective countries in addressing

tropical cyclones and related coastal hazards.

The TC member countries consider sharing of data/information and best practices as the most

relevant, followed by capacity development (including training and projects on DRR and

related areas) while PTC member countries identified capacity development (including

training) as the most relevant activity, followed by sharing of data/information and best

practices, and projects on and related areas (Figure 3.2).

10 See Annex 6 for the complete list of workshop themes, places, and dates. 11 See Annex 6 for statements made during the 50th TC session and 44th PTC session referring to ESCAP and WMO, as examples of frequent references to ESCAP and WMO made during TC and PTC annual sessions.


3. FINDINGS

26

Figure 3.2. Relevance of TC and PTC activities

Activities: 2.1 Sharing of data/information and best practices 2.2 Training and capacity building 2.3 Projects on DRR and related areas

To strengthen the ESCAP/WMO partnership to support the needs and priorities of member

countries through the TC and PTC mechanisms, member countries want to (in order of

priority): (a) Facilitate regular and more frequent joint meetings of the TC and PTC; (b) Help

develop cooperation between the TC and PTC and sub-regional organizations such as the

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the South Asian Association for Regional

Cooperation (SAARC) that have similar activities; and jointly support large, multi-year projects

to be implemented by the TC and PTC (Figure 3.3).

In addition, TC member countries suggested that WMO and ESCAP could work together to

support TC and PTC activities particularly in DRR related to tropical cyclones while PTC member

countries proposed to partner with and leverage RIMES’ technical and institutional capacities,

modernize and expand national meteorological and marine monitoring networks, enhance

service delivery system, support DRR-related capacity development and research and

development (R&D), and strengthen ESCAP’s and WMO’s administrative, monitoring and

regulatory mechanism to make the PTC more vibrant and pro-active.


3. FINDINGS

27

Figure 3.3 How to strengthen ESCAP-WMO partnership

Activities:

3.1 Jointly support large, multi-year projects to be implemented by TC and PTC 3.2 Facilitate regular and more frequent joint meetings of TC and PTC 3.3 Help develop cooperation between TC and PTC and subregional organizations such as ASEAN and SAARC that have similar activities 3.4 Other suggestions

Overall, the survey shows that 73% of respondents from TC and 83% from PTC member

countries find TC and PTC activities to be relevant or very relevant to the needs and priorities

of their countries in addressing tropical cyclones and related coastal hazards. These results

translate into a score of 4.3 (very relevant) for both TC and PTC member countries as shown

graphically below.12

12 For the purpose of graphical presentation, the answers to the survey question are given the following scores: 1- very irrelevant, 2- irrelevant, 3-average, 4-relevant, 5-very relevant.


3. FINDINGS

28

3.2.2 Effectiveness

Here the study is asked to assess the programmatic results of the TC and PTC supported by

WMO and ESCAP.

Two case studies may be cited to describe the results (outcome level) of TC and PTC

cooperation supported by WMO and ESCAP.

Maximize the efficiency of regional early warning support mechanisms. ESCAP and WMO

jointly established the TC and the PTC. These bodies coordinate country cooperation, focusing

on meteorology, hydrology, , training and research. As such, the TC and PTC help enhance

regional cooperation by sharing of dynamic risk data, monitoring tropical cyclones and

typhoons from their origin to the landfall at the coast, and developing institutional capacity

of member states. Consequently, many Asia-Pacific countries have improved their EWS for

typhoons and cyclones – notably India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, the Philippines and Viet Nam.

In the Philippines, for example, Albay province is frequently hit by some of the strongest

typhoons but has a zero casualty policy – based on early warnings, combined with engineering

interventions, and social preparedness and capacity development, along with preemptive

evacuation.

Cross-border tracking improves typhoon monitoring and forecasting. For 50 years, the TC has

enabled the use of the latest innovative technologies to ensure well-coordinated regional

responses to typhoons and cyclones. When a storm passes a certain threshold, the TC’s

standard operating procedure is activated, and countries exchange data to minimize blind

spots when tracking the typhoon. Typhoon Meranti, which hit the Philippines, eastern China

and Taiwan, Province of China, in September 2016, was the strongest tropical cyclone in the

world that year. Its estimated peak intensity was 165 knots (305 km per hour). Nevertheless,


3. FINDINGS

29

the damage was minimal due in part to precise tracking of the cyclone’s speed, intensity and

movement. Such precision was made possible by the joint monitoring operation of the TC

members.

The effectiveness of the ESCAP/WMO partnership in support of TC and PTC cooperation may

be gleaned from the numerous training opportunities, sharing of timely and useful

information, joint projects and other technical cooperation activities such as SSOP.

With ESCAP and WMO support, TC and PTC cooperation has enhanced the technical know-

how and capacity of member countries as a result of numerous training opportunities made

available to them.

With ESCAP and WMO support, numerous training opportunities have been made available

to the TC and PTC member countries. There were eight such activities in 2016 and nine in

2017 including attachment trainings in RSMC Tokyo and RSMC New Delhi, and technical

training or research fellowships in China and ROK.13 Interviews and consultations with TC and

PTC member countries confirm that these trainings have been useful and effective,

particularly the attachment trainings in the RSMCs, and have enhanced the performance of

their technical staff.

TC and PTC cooperation, with ESCAP and WMO support, has enhanced the sharing of timely,

relevant and useful information among member countries resulting in, among others,

improved typhoon/cyclone tracking and forecasting.

The TC and PTC member countries extensively share timely and relevant information in the

following areas:

• Annual tropical cyclone activities over the region, including data related to tropical

cyclones and typhoons such as track, intensity, genesis and frequency, and others.

• Occurrence of low-pressure area and its possible intensification leading to genesis of

cyclonic disturbances over the region.

• Impact of tropical cyclones in the affected countries.

• Activities of members related to meteorology, hydrology, DRR, including major national

projects of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs).

• Type of radiosonde instruments, gas and accessories used and their cost; algorithms of

satellite products related to the tropical revolving storms for better interpretation and

13 See Annex 6 for the list of training, fellowships and other capacity building activities in 2016 and 2017.


3. FINDINGS

30

utilization of products; microwave data and products of tropical storms even at the initial

stage of genesis.

The RSMC Tokyo contributes to the regional Storm Surge Watch Scheme (SSWS) by providing

various products including storm surge forecast distribution maps, time-series charts at

selected stations and multi-scenario storm surge predictions as well as week-range wave

forecasts. WMO supports attachment trainings at RSMC Tokyo. Since 2016 there has been

exchange of radar composite data among RSMC Tokyo, TMD and the Malaysian

Meteorological Department. RSMC Tokyo continues to provide technical support to TC

countries to utilize data and products from the operation of Himawari-8/9 geostationary

meteorological satellites. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) also continues to

provide seasonal outlook information for frequency of typhoon genesis and track patterns to

TC member countries. All these have effectively contributed to more accurate typhoon

tracking and forecasting.

Meetings of the various TC WGs serve not only as a venue for capacity development (including

technical training) but also for sharing of information. ESCAP participates in and supports a

number of WG meetings. To cite a few examples, the 6th WGH meeting held in September

2017 in Seoul on Adaptive Capacity Building for Extreme Flood Preparedness provided an

occasion for information sharing among 20 participants from eight TC member countries. The

same was true at the 7th WGH meeting held in September 2018 in Japan, which included a

workshop on Flash Flood Risk Information for Local Resilience and a seminar on Coastal Multi-

hazards Early Warning and Reduction, and at the 12th WGDRR Annual Workshop on the Future

Strategic Plan of the WGDRR for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-

2030, hosted by the Korea National Disaster Management Research Institute (NDMI).

Joint projects among TC member countries have contributed significantly to upgrading of

relevant technologies and expertise, improvement in data quality, enhancement of

forecasting reliability, and overall advancement in disaster risk reduction and management.

Among the joint projects that have made significant contributions include the China-led and

funded project on Development and Application of Operational System for Urban Flood

Forecasting and Inundation Mapping (OSUFFIM) for TC member countries. It involves: (a)

Software updating and system configuration in China and Thailand; (b) Field survey missions

in Malaysia and Viet Nam; (c) Experts from Malaysia and Thailand working at Sun Yat Sen (SYS)

University in Guangzhou, China; (d) A technical workshop for participants from China,

Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam as well as the TC Secretariat; and (e)

Experts from SYS University working in Thailand for geographic data collection. The Project


3. FINDINGS

31

will continue till 2020 to cover updating of OSUFFIM software and application in new selected

pilot cities in TC member countries; and studies on trends of urban flood patterns in TC

member countries under a changing climate and urbanization.

The application of computer and information technology in flood forecasting has enhanced

forecasting in some TC member countries. For example, the River Information and

Forecasting Center of China has established its widely used National Flood Forecasting

System; and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID), Malaysia has developed its

National Flood Forecasting and Warning System (NaFFWS) for several river basins using two

types of models. Another example is the publication of the Guidelines on Urban Flood Risk

Management,14 which is a concrete output of the project Urban Flood Risk Management in

the TC Region.

Three new projects were launched in 2018: (a) Application of Hydrological Data Quality

Control System in TC member countries to support and provide the guidelines and system to

improve the quality control of hydrological data (2018-2022) with funding from ROK; (b)

Enhancement of Flood Forecasting Reliability with Radar Rainfall Data and Stochastic

Technique to upgrade flood forecasting using radar data and probabilistic flood forecasting

technology (2018-2022) with funding from ROK; and (c) Impact Assessment of Climate Change

on Water Resource Variability in TC member countries to collect, collate, analyse, evaluate

and develop the water resources modelling information for better decision management

system with funding from China.

Here are some examples of DRR projects in 2018 that contributed to the overall advancement

and upgrading of technologies and expertise in disaster risk management:

Expert Mission Exchanged information and experience in DRR policies and technologies

Set up early warning Installed Early Warning and Alert Systems in Lao PDR and Viet Nam to improve resilience for typhoon related disasters

iCowin Project Provided training for setting up community weather station to raise public awareness on severe weather

WGDRR Annual Workshop

Invited PTC Members to join the TC WGDRR annual workshop to promote TC-PTC cooperation

PRiMO Conference TC member countries participated in the Honolulu Conference

Shanghai Typhoon Institute (STI) fellowship

Evaluated benefit of typhoon disaster prevention and preparedness

14 https://www.preventionweb.net/english/professional/policies/v.php?id=52286.

https://www.preventionweb.net/english/professional/policies/v.php?id=52286


3. FINDINGS

32

Support SSOP II Project Trained on how to establish SOP based on the SSOP Manual

Forum on TC website Exchanged information and experience on DRR

Big Data and Social Media Use

Published reports from members about big data and social media use for DRR

Educational videos Produced educational videos on disaster risk management

TC and PTC cooperation, with ESCAP and WMO support, has improved coordination and

integration of activities in meteorology, hydrology and DRR, which are essential for

effective early warning systems and in developing national capacities.

An effective means to improve coordination and integration of TC and PTC activities is the

holding of joint TC/PTC sessions. Three joint sessions had been held in Pattaya, Thailand on

18-27 February 1992, in Phuket, Thailand on 20-28 February 1997, and in Bangkok, Thailand

on 9-13 February 2015. At the Third Joint Session, experts in the fields of meteorology,

hydrology and DRR came together to share knowledge, review advances in science and

technology, and identify gaps across the region. The experts agreed to implement collective

operating plans and approved a set of measures to enhance cooperation between TC and

PTC. These new measures include joint projects, information sharing, opportunities for

sharing second generation meteorological satellite products, state-of-the-art modelling

solutions, advanced scientific research and analysis, and training activities, with a particular

aim of assisting least developed countries at high risk from hydro-meteorological hazards.

Specifically, TC and PTC member countries partner to enhance the forecasting of tropical

cyclones, typhoons, flash floods and landslides, and integrate activities in meteorology,

hydrology and DRR, which are essential steps to strengthen EWS, with technical and financial

support from ESCAP, WMO and the RSMCs New Delhi and Tokyo.

Guided by the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), the TC and PTC have been

coordinating their initiatives and activities in the development and provision of relevant

science-based climate information and prediction for climate risk management and

adaptation to climate variability and change. Implementing the ESCAP resolution on

enhancing regional cooperation for building resilience to disasters in Asia and the Pacific, the

TC and PTC also work towards improving the provision of assistance in developing national

capacities in meteorology and hydrology. This is illustrated in the joint project SSOP funded

by the ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness in Indian Ocean and

Southeast Asian Countries. With ESCAP serving as a regional platform, the two organizations


3. FINDINGS

33

link more closely new scientific information to practical efforts to adapt to climate change

and reduce disaster risk across the region.15

ESCAP support to the SSOP Project contributed to the development and implementation of

SOP for coastal MHEWS.

The first phase of the SSOP Project has been successfully completed with the publication of

the SSOP Manual and its Quick Reference. The second phase is being implemented under

SSOP-II: Implementation of SSOP for Coastal MHEWS. It has three main activities: (a) Training

courses/workshops on mechanism of establishing and preparing SSOP for coastal MHEWS for

DRR experts and warning experts; (b) Workshops at national level on updating and improving

the existing SOP by using the knowledge of the SSOP Manual in combination with the

Monsoon Forums organized by RIMES under the umbrella of ESCAP; and (c) Attachment

trainings at the RSMCs Tokyo and New Delhi for tropical cyclone forecasters. The total budget

from the ESCAP Trust Fund is US$250,000. The implementing countries include Bangladesh,

Cambodia, Lao PDR, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet

Nam.

WMO support has enhanced TC and PTC interaction and cooperation through the

implementation of a number of projects that upgraded national capabilities in storm surge

warning and mitigation, typhoon forecasting and warning, and technology transfer and

adaptation.

The current projects that contribute to enhanced TC and PTC cooperation and to upgrading

relevant national capabilities include:

• Storm Surge Watch Scheme (SSWS). After tropical cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar in 2008

and caused serious damage and heavy loss of lives, WMO established a SSWS in all five

tropical cyclone basins by incorporating storm surge advisories into WMO RSMC tropical

cyclone advisories.

• Typhoon Landfall Forecast Demonstration Project (TLFDP). The WMO TLFDP is a joint

project supported by WMO’s World Weather Research Programme (WWRP), TCP and

Public Weather Service (PWS) Programme. The leading institution is the STI, with full

involvement of the East China Regional Meteorological Centre and RSMC Tokyo. It

develops a system able to collect, integrate and display real-time forecasting results for

15 E/ESCAP/CDR(3)/INF/5, Climate information services: the role of the Typhoon Committee and the Panel on Tropical Cyclones, ESCAP Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction, Third Session, Bangkok, 27-29 November 2013.

http://tlfdp.typhoon.gov.cn/index.php


3. FINDINGS

34

landfall typhoons, including their track, intensity, gale extent and rainstorm distributions,

from various centres; develop and integrate techniques to evaluate accuracy of forecast

for landfall location and time, gale distribution, and torrential rain; make comprehensive

analyses of the forecasts and evaluate reliability; and assess social and economic impacts.

• Technology Transfer. Remarkable progress has been made under the TCP in the transfer

of technology through specialised training events, forecasting demonstration projects

and publication of scientific guidance materials in combination with activities under the

operational and technical plans of all the WMO Regional Bodies.

The past projects include, among others:

• Storm Surge Project. The TCP sub-project on the combined effects of storm surges and

river floods in low lying areas is designed to upgrade the national capability of storm surge

mitigation in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea with emphasis on improving the national

expertise for storm surge prediction.

• Management Overview of Flood Forecasting Systems (MOFFS). Developed by WMO, the

MOFFS is a points scoring system which provides a measure of the effectiveness of

performance of the forecasting system with respect to each forecast location and each

major flood event, and summarises the results on a single sheet of paper.

• Typhoon Operational Experiment (TOPEX). The TC carried out the TOPEX to test the

typhoon warning system under real typhoon conditions. The 3-year project produced a

useful data set and enabled TC member countries to greatly improve their forecasting

ability and measures related to disaster preparedness.

• Regional Computer Network. Under the guidance of TCP, all five WMO Regional Bodies

had established regional computer network projects to computerise operational data

handling, processing and display for tropical cyclone and storm surge forecasting and

warning which had markedly improved the warning systems in the regions.

• International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) demonstration project. The

TCP Project to upgrade the Tropical Cyclone Warning System for the South-West Indian

Ocean was classified as an IDNDR demonstration project.

• Special Experiment Concerning Typhoon Recurvature and Unusual Movement

(SPECTRUM). Under the auspices of TC, the SPRECTRUM was the most comprehensive

meteorological observation programme ever mounted to study typhoons in the western

North Pacific. The data sets from the experiment were used in researches aimed at

improving operational typhoon forecasting, which resulted in the publication of a series

of technical papers and the conduct of four technical conferences. This experiment

proved to be a wonderful example of international cooperation and coordination.


3. FINDINGS

35

Survey Results

72% of respondents from TC countries and 67% from PTC countries state that TC and PTC

activities are effective or very effective in fulfilling their mandates and achieving results.

90% of respondents from TC countries state that TC activities made significant impacts in their

countries with only a small minority stating they made little or no impact (10%). On the other

hand, 100% of respondents from PTC countries state that all three activities made significant

impacts. For TC and PTC member countries, the activity that make the most significant impact

is the sharing of data/information and best practices, followed by capacity development, and

projects such as those in DRR and disaster management and related areas (Figure 3.4).

Figure 3.4. Areas where TC and PTC activities make significant impact


3. FINDINGS

36

Activities:

5.1 In capacity development

5.2 In sharing of data/information and best practices

5.3 In projects such as those in DRR and disaster management and related areas

Member countries confirm that they receive support from TC and PTC mechanisms in, among

others, forecasting, tropical cyclone advisories, passage and early warning, typhoon and

storm surge forecasts, and from attachment trainings at the RSMCs Tokyo and New Delhi,

sharing of information and best practices through various workshops and seminars as well as

participation in projects such as the SSOP. They consider these support and assistance to have

helped their countries to some or great extent.16

To further increase the effectiveness of the TC and PTC in fulfilling their mandates and

achieving results, member countries suggest that ESCAP and WMO could (in order of priority):

(a) Enhance funding and expertise support to the TC and PTC in implementing their projects

particularly in capacity development; (b) Encourage harmonization of the respective

programmes of TC and PTC member countries and promote greater information and data

gathering including satellite data; and (c) Support and coordinate TC and PTC joint expert

missions in assessing the damage caused by tropical cyclones and related hazards (Figure 3.5).

Figure 3.5. What ESCAP/WMO can do to enhance TC and PTC effectiveness

16 See Annex 6 for the result details.


3. FINDINGS

37

Activities: 9.1 Enhance funding and expertise support to the TC and PTC in implementing their projects

particularly in capacity development

9.2 Encourage harmonization of the respective programmes of TC and PTC member

countries and promote greater information and data sharing including satellite data

9.3 Support and coordinate TC and PTC joint expert missions in assessing the damage caused

by tropical cyclones and related disasters

9.4 Other suggestions

In addition, member countries made the following suggestions:

TC Member Countries PTC Member Countries

Enhance observations over data sparse ocean areas using various remote sensing and in-situ observation technologies (e.g. weather buoy, reconnaissance flight).

Leverage RIMES’s mechanisms for designing and implementing projects, data sharing and harmonization of the programmes.

Enhance communication and sharing of near real-time observations between warning centres to narrow down differences in intensity assessment by different centres.

Increase the number of training programmes for all levels of observers and forecasters.

Spread weather radars in the Arabian Sea, Bengal Sea and Indian Ocean.

Promote Members’ and TC’s contribution to the Global Multi-Hazard Alert System (GMAS) initiative of WMO.

Increase the number of marine stations.

Support capacity development and R&D in DRR and tropical cyclones.

Coordinate and facilitate international experts on tropical cyclones forecasting and remote sensing to share knowledge at workshops and seminars.

Strengthen the PTC administrative, monitoring and regulatory mechanism to make the PTC more vibrant and pro-active in implementing projects.

Support training (by coordinating for funding) of tropical cyclone forecasting and remote sensing at international centres of excellence and specialised institutes.

Promote impact-based forecasting and risk-informed warning through SSOP training and improved infrastructure and data acquisition.

90% of TC respondents find the TC Secretariat to be effective or very effective in

supporting/coordinating TC programmes and activities, while only 50% of PTC respondents

find the PTC Secretariat effective or very effective.


3. FINDINGS

38

To further enhance their respective secretariat’s effectiveness, member countries suggested

the following measures:


Enhance administrative support to regional research, operational demonstration activities, and training workshops in collaboration with RSMCs, NMHSs and research institutes (e.g., development of analysis and forecasting techniques, alerting and warning services on impact-based forecasts).

Form a committee of member countries to support the PTC Secretariat.

Enhance the TC website for knowledge sharing and promoting activities.

Enhance the PTC website, publish PTC newsletters, and the use and regular sharing of data and products.

Set up TC centres in every member country with the help of experts and increase support to national disaster agencies.

Include more countries in the capacity development and training programme.

Promote regional partnerships, particularly in national DRR.

Enhance coordination with member countries regarding the trainings, activities, etc.

Improve coordination so that fellowships are equitably shared, and trainings and seminars are cost effective and useful.

Institute administrative reforms in the PTC Secretariat, including in monitoring and regulatory mechanisms.

Strengthen professional staff and TCTF. Share the responsibility of hosting the PTC Secretariat by rotation among member countries. Enhance knowledge of member countries less

effected by tropical cyclones.

Raise visibility and engage stakeholders in initiatives and projects.

Enhance activities of the PTC Secretariat according to its mandate and the current PTC requirements.


3. FINDINGS

39

To improve coordination between TC and PTC and expand the ESCAP/WMO partnership in

multi-hazard risk reduction and early warning frameworks in the Asia-Pacific region, TC and

PTC member countries suggested to (in the order of priority): (a) Enhance the TC’s and PTC’s

capacity to generate and provide accurate, timely and understandable information using

multi-hazard, impact-based forecasts and risk-informed warnings; (b) Extend the

ESCAP/WMO partnership by incorporating it into the IN-MHEWS; and (c) bring together

different streams of TC and PTC work related to MHEWS, regional space applications for DRR

and knowledge-sharing under an Asia-Pacific Disaster Resilience Network (APDRN) (Figure

3.6).

Figure 3.6. Measures to improve TC and PTC coordination and expand ESCAP/WMO partnership

Activities:

12.1 Bring together different streams of PTC and TC work related to MHEWS, regional space

applications for DRR and knowledge-sharing under the APDRN

12.2 Extend the ESCAP/WMO partnership by incorporating the Asia regional component of

the IN-MHEWS

12.3 Help enhance PTC and TC capacity to generate and provide accurate, timely and

understandable information using multi-hazard impact-based forecasts and risk-

informed warnings



3. FINDINGS

40

PTC member countries further suggested to cooperate with RIMES in early warning,

national/regional monsoon forums, and other capacity development activities and leverage

on the strengths of RIMES through partnership.

Overall, 72% of respondents from TC member countries and 67% from PTC member countries

confirm that TC and PTC activities are effective or very effective. These results translate into

an overall score of 4.2 or very effective for TC member countries but only 3.8 or merely

effective for PTC member countries as shown graphically below.17 The difference in the

overall effectiveness rating between the TC and PTC is considered significant, meaning the

PTC is significantly less effective compared to the TC.

Regarding the effectiveness of the TC and PTC secretariats, 90% of TC respondents find the

TC Secretariat to be effective or very effective in supporting/coordinating TC programmes and

activities while only 50% of PTC respondents find the PTC Secretariat effective or very

effective. These results translate into an overall score of 4.1 (very effective) for the TC

Secretariat and only 3.7 (effective) for the PTC Secretariat as shown graphically below.18 The

difference in the overall effectiveness rating between the TC Secretariat and the PTC

Secretariat is also considered significant, meaning PTC Secretariat is significantly less effective

compared to TC Secretariat.

17 For the purpose of graphical presentation, the answers to the survey question are given the following scores: 1- very irrelevant, 2- irrelevant, 3-average, 4-relevant, 5-very relevant. 18 For the purpose of graphical presentation, the answers to the survey question are given the following scores: 1- very ineffective, 2- ineffective, 3-average, 4-effective, 5-very effective.


3. FINDINGS

41

The survey’s finding that the overall effectiveness of the TC and the TC Secretariat, on the one

hand, is significantly higher than that of the PTC and the PTC Secretariat, on the other hand,

is supported by the results of the consultations with TC and PTC stakeholders. While the TC

Secretariat has consistently serviced the TC annual sessions, the evaluator was informed that

representatives of the PTC Secretariat were unable to attend the 43rd and 45th PTC annual

sessions and to make significant contributions although the main function of the Secretariat

was to organize these sessions. Several stakeholders have also expressed difficulties in

communicating with the PTC Secretariat. Presented in Annex 6 is a list of ESCAP Secretariat’s

failed attempts to contact the PTC Secretariat, reflecting the lack of feedback and cooperation

from the PTC Secretariat in the ongoing evaluation and in the submission of its reports to the

Commission, and limited support for SSOP II implementation.

Asked about what support they have received from the TC and PTC mechanisms during the

past three years, TC member countries responded positively stating that they received various

types of support ranging from tropical cyclone information for forecast and warning

generation to technical training to enhance knowledge in tropical cyclone projection and

impacts, flood warning issuance, satellite and radar images interpretation, and rainfall

amount forecasting. On the other hand, PTC member countries stated that they received little

support with one country reporting not having participated in any regional activity except the

PTC annual sessions and another reporting not having been able to attend even the PTC

annual sessions due to funding constraints.19

19 Refer to Annex 6, Table A1, for a summary of responses from TC and PTC countries to the question on what support they received from TC and PTC mechanisms during the last 3 years.


3. FINDINGS

42

Finally, the evaluator was informed that tropical cyclone Pabuk that impacted both TC and

PTC member countries had presented an opportunity for cooperation but this did not happen

due to the apparent failure of the PTC Secretariat to initiate action towards this end. Pabuk

occurred on 3 to 5 January 2019 from the Pacific towards west-northwest over the Gulf of

Thailand to the Indian Ocean, impacting Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand. It was expected to

get peak strength before moving over Malaysia to north of Phuket, and with reduced intensity

into the Bay of Bengal. Satellite data processing forecasted the cyclone track and intensity

necessary to predict Pabuk’s possible impacted areas. The trans-ocean progression of this

tropical cyclone provided an opportunity for cooperation between the TC and PTC but

countries instead used global resources including those from the RSMCs in Tokyo and New

Delhi. A framework of cooperation between the TC and PTC was missing.

3.2.3 Sustainability

Here the study is asked to assess the sustainability of the ESCAP/WMO partnership

arrangements.

One indicator of sustainability is longevity. The TC has been in existence for over 50 years while

the PTC for over 45 years. During these long years, the ESCAP/WMO partnership arrangements

for the TC and PTC have enabled them to sustain holding their annual sessions regularly.

Another indicator is the availability of funding to ensure that regional cooperative activities

can be carried out. TC established a Trust Fund (TCTF) in 1987 with annual contributions of

US$12,000 from member countries to facilitate the implementation of its programmes. WMO

is responsible for the management of the Fund while the TC Secretariat is responsible for its

disbursement and use. The balance of the Fund as of 22 February 2018 was US$1,058,336.

For the period 1 January 2017 to 22 February 2018, contributions ranging from US$11,567 to

US$24,000 were received from ROK, China, Hong Kong, China, Macau, China, Thailand,

Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Viet Nam, United States of America and Japan. There are

also in-kind contributions from member countries. In 2017, China, Hong Kong, China, Japan,

ROK and Thailand provided in-kind contributions (222 man-months) equivalent to US$1.1

million.

Similarly, PTC established a Trust Fund (PTCTF) in 1995 to facilitate the implementation of its

programmes and activities, provide institutional support to the PTC Secretariat, and funding

support to the representatives of Panel Members attending training events and conferences.

The Fund is established from voluntary cash contributions of PTC member countries initially

US$1,000 annually, later increased to US$2,000, and currently US$3,000. Contributions are


3. FINDINGS

43

made directly to WMO or through the PTC Secretariat. The Secretary General of WMO or his

authorized representative is responsible for the management of the Fund. The PTC Trust Fund

Balance as of 31 December 2014 was US$56,098, and US$63,915 as of 31 December 2015. In

2015, contributions ranging from US$2,000 to US$3,000 were received from Bangladesh,

Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Effective partnership arrangements can also indicate sustainability. Among the most

important and effective partnership arrangements to sustain the work of ESCAP and WMO in

supporting the TC and PTC is the partnership with the RSMCs Tokyo and New Delhi. Since

2015, the RSMC Tokyo has provided attachment training to TC member countries (and later

also to PTC member countries) and continued annually since then: 22-31 July 2015, 15-26

August 2016, 11-21 December 2017, 15-26 October 2018. On the other hand, attachment

training in RSMC New Delhi commenced in 2016 and continued annually since then: 19-30

September 2016, 11-22 December 2017, 2-13 July 2018. Funding, technical and

administrative support to these training activities have come from the host institution, the

TCTF and PTCTF, and WMO. In addition to the attachment trainings, the RSMCs Tokyo and

New Delhi also make available useful information to TC and PTC member countries such as

data related to tropical cyclones and typhoons (track, intensity, genesis and frequency, etc.).

Regular and occasional capacity development (including training) activities are also made

available to TC and PTC member countries through partnership arrangements with the STI in

China, the National Typhoon Center of the ROK in Jeju, the WMO Regional Training Centre in

Nanjing, China, and the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO).

WMO has partnered with the Global Water Partnership (GWP) in the Associated Programme

on Flood Management (APFM) to promote Integrated Flood Management to minimize loss of

life due to flooding and to enhance cooperation between national meteorological and

hydrological services for improved flood forecasting and to support the implementation of

demonstration projects such as the Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS). Three projects cover

several PTC Members, namely the South Asia Flash Flood Guidance System (SAFFGS), the

Mekong River Commission Flash Flood Guidance System (MRCFFGS), the Southeast Asia Flash

Flood Guidance System (SeAFFGS) and the Myanmar Flash Flood Guidance System.

Survey Results

70% of TC and 83% of PTC respondents find the ESCAP/WMO partnership arrangements to

be sustainable or very sustainable in supporting TC/PTC activities.


3. FINDINGS

44

To sustain the work of supporting the TC and PTC, member countries suggested the following

further partnership arrangements of ESCAP/WMO: first, ESCAP and WMO to support and

facilitate regular joint meetings of TC and PTC and the relevant working groups; second,

ESCAP and WMO to further develop partnership with the CREWS Initiative, a global initiative

implemented by WMO, the World Bank-GFDRR, and UNISDR, and similar institutions/bodies;

and third, enhance use of the ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate

Preparedness in Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian Countries to, among others, build on good

practices identified across the region to develop generic multi-hazards SOPs (Figure 3.7).

Figure 3.7. Suggested measures to enhance ESCAP/WMO partnership to support TC and PTC


3. FINDINGS

45

Activities:

14.1 Enhance use of the ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness

in Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian Countries to, among others, build on good

practices identified across the region to develop generic multi-hazards SOP.

14.2 ESCAP and WMO to further develop partnership with the CREWS Initiative, a global

initiative supported by WMO, the World Bank and GFDRR, and UNISDR, and similar

institutions/bodies.

14.3 ESCAP and WMO to support and facilitate regular joint meetings of the PTC and TC

and their relevant WGs.


Member countries also suggested the following measures:


Enhance support of WMO regional offices to coordinate cooperative activities and increase involvement of WMO regional centres in TC activities.

Enhance partnership with RIMES to bring more effective participation of low capacity countries and cost-effective implementation of projects and leverage country resources effectively.

Enhance cooperation under the Letter of Intent between the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) and WMO to promote regional meteorological cooperation.

Note that the most important role of ESCAP and WMO is resource mobilization for TC/PTC activities

Increase support to capacity development to improve EWS in collaboration with international agencies.

Overall the survey shows that 70% of TC and 83% of PTC respondents find the ESCAP/WMO

partnership arrangements to be sustainable or very sustainable in supporting TC/PTC

activities. These results translate into an overall score of 4.1 (very sustainable) and 4.2 (very

sustainable) for TC and PTC, respectively, as shown graphically below.20

20 For the purpose of graphical presentation, the answers to the survey question are given the following scores: 1- very unsustainable, 2- unsustainable, 3-average, 4-sustainable, 5-very sustainable.


3. FINDINGS

46

But while member countries find the ESCAP/WMO partnership arrangements for the TC and

PTC to be sustainable, it is evident from available information that the TC, with a healthier

balance in its TCTF and higher annual and in-kind contributions from its members, is more

financially sustainable than the PTC. The TC Secretariat is also better staffed and receives

strong and generous support from the host government. In fact, representatives of the PTC

member countries, during consultations, expressed strong desire for more frequent joint

annual meetings with the TC since, in their words, “PTC has much to learn from TC.”


4. CONCLUSIONS

47

Based on the findings of this study, we conclude that TC and PTC programmes and activities

are generally in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sendai

Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. The TC has issued its Strategic Plan 2017-

2021 and the PTC its Coordinated Technical Plan 2016-2019 with explicit intent to contribute

to the 2030 Agenda and the Sendai Framework. Nevertheless, much could still be done in

project development and implementation with the support of and in cooperation with ESCAP

and WMO.

In supporting the TC and PTC, a unique strength of WMO is that the programmes of work of

the TC and PTC are fully aligned with the WMO TCP, which covers meteorology, hydrology,

and DRR for which WMO has the required expertise and experience. Its main challenge is

distance having to run the Programme from Geneva; but this is now no longer a concern with

the establishment of the WMO Regional Office for Asia and the South-West Pacific based in

Singapore.

On the other hand, the main strength of ESCAP is its long presence in and great familiarity

with the region and its robust DRR programme supported by seasoned professionals and

experts. Additionally, ESCAP support to the TC and PTC has always been integrated in its DRR

programme of work. The TC and PTC have evidently benefitted from ESCAP’s

intergovernmental platforms, research and analysis (e.g., regional disaster reports) and

technical cooperation work (e.g., SSOP). The major challenge for ESCAP is how to expand and

deepen its support to the other two areas of meteorology and hydrology from the perspective

of DRR, which is ESCAP’s strength.

The WMO/ESCAP MOU of 16 July 2003 covers many areas of shared interest and cooperation

in capacity building, thematic programme areas, and other specific fields of mutual interest.

The modalities of cooperation merely involve keeping each other informed of their respective

policies, programmes and activities, and having Programme Review Meetings annually or as

mutually agreed. Cooperation thus far has been rather limited to attendance in annual

meetings with limited joint project planning and implementation and monitoring. In addition,

there has been no reporting on achievements and joint outputs under the MOU. Finally, for

ESCAP and WMO a continuing challenge is how to enhance financial support for large,

multiyear, joint TC/PTC projects to more comprehensively attain the targets of the 2030

Agenda and the Sendai Framework in the region.

4. CONCLUSIONS


4. CONCLUSIONS

48

It is evident from the desk study of relevant documents, interviews and consultations with

various stakeholders, and the results of the survey that the TC and PTC remain relevant and

thus deserving of support and cooperation from both ESCAP and WMO. The TC and PTC are

an integral part of the WMO TCP comprising two of its five regional bodies and as such are

needed to effectively respond to the call for global action to mitigate the harmful effects of

tropical cyclones. It cannot be ignored or simply dismissed that the TC has been in existence

for over 50 years and the PTC for over 45 years and have met annually since then; that new

members are joining (Indonesia to TC) or have just joined (Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE

to PTC); and that, though modest, members contribute regularly to their respective trust

funds and make significant in-kind contributions. In the case of the TC, annual IWSs have been

successfully held for many years in response to the needs of its member countries. From the

perspective of countries in the region, these cannot but reflect the continuing relevance they

place on the TC as a regional platform for cooperation on typhoons and related areas.

In terms of effectiveness and sustainability, the TC is clearly performing well. With support

from ESCAP and WMO, it is evident that TC cooperation has been effective and contributed

to:

• enhanced technical know-how and capacity of member countries as a result of numerous

training opportunities made available to them;

• enhanced sharing of timely, relevant and useful information among member countries;

and

• improved coordination and integration of activities in meteorology, hydrology and DRR,

which are essential for effective early warning systems and in developing national

capacities.

Joint projects among the TC member countries have contributed significantly to the upgrading

of relevant technologies and expertise, improvement in data quality, enhancement of

forecasting reliability, and overall advancement in disaster risk mitigation and management.

ESCAP support to the SSOP project has contributed to the development and implementation

of SOP for coastal MHEWS. WMO support has enhanced the interaction and cooperation

among the TC member countries through the implementation of a number of projects that

upgraded national capabilities in storm surge warning and mitigation, typhoon forecasting

and warning, and technology transfer and adaptation.

Compared to the TC, the PTC is an underperforming platform. Asked about what support they

have received from the TC and PTC mechanisms during the past three years, TC member

countries responded positively stating that they received various types of support ranging

from tropical cyclone information for forecast and warning to technical training to enhance


4. CONCLUSIONS

49

knowledge in tropical cyclone projection and impacts, flood warning issuance, satellite and

radar images interpretation, and rainfall amount forecasting. On the other hand, PTC member

countries stated that they received little support with one country reporting not having

participated in any activity except the PTC annual sessions and another reporting not able to

attend even the PTC annual sessions due to funding constraints. The result of the survey

showing a significant difference in effectiveness between the TC and the PTC (the PTC being

less effective than the TC) is consistent with this conclusion.

The PTC has a relatively weaker secretariat. The TC Secretariat in Macao, China has four full-

time professional staff, namely, the Secretary of the TC who heads the Secretariat, one

meteorologist, one hydrologist, and one DRR expert, and two support staff: one finance

assistant and one senior secretary. The Government of Macao provides for premises and

office facilities and the compensation of all secretariat staff. On the other hand, the PTC

Secretariat is hosted by Pakistan and located in the premises of PMD. The professional staff

of the PTC Secretariat is composed merely of the Secretary of the PTC and one meteorologist,

both working for the Secretariat on a part-time basis, which could have been the reason why

the PTC Secretariat missed attending the 43rd and 45th annual PTC sessions, and why other

stakeholders find it difficult to communicate with them.

The above conclusion is reflected in the result of the survey showing a significant difference

in overall effectiveness between the TC Secretariat (4.1) and the PTC Secretariat (3.7). It is

reflected in the suggestions and views expressed by PTC member countries that there is need

to: (a) “Share the responsibility of hosting the PTC Secretariat by rotation among member

countries”; (b) “institute administrative reforms in the PTC Secretariat, including in monitoring

and regulatory mechanism”; (c) “enhance activities of the PTC Secretariat according to its

mandate and the current PTC requirements”; (d) “enhance the PTC website, publish PTC

newsletters, and the use and regular sharing of data and products”; and (e) “form a committee

of member countries to support PTC Secretariat”.

The PTC Secretariat has a lesser-endowed trust fund. TC member countries make an annual

contribution of US$12,000 to the TCTF, which had a balance US$1,058,336 as of 22 February

2018. In addition, several countries make in-kind contributions, which in 2017 was equivalent

to US$1.1 million. In comparison, PTC member countries make an annual contribution of only

up to US$3,000 to the PTCTF, which had a balance of US$63,915 as of 31 December 2015. It

is evident that the TC is more financially sustainable compared to the PTC.

While the partnership between ESCAP and WMO in support of the TC and PTC has been

successful, its scope, however, is rather limited. A more robust ESCAP/WMO partnership is

needed to enable it to help improve and strengthen the PTC and the PTC Secretariat, and to


4. CONCLUSIONS

50

help widen the work of the TC – which had been largely focused on a single hazard – to more

fully address multi-hazard situations. A stronger ESCAP/WMO partnership can help replicate

the TC’s success in dealing with typhoons, in addressing clusters of other hydro-

meteorological hazards, and in expanding cooperation to cover Pacific SIDS.

It is also evident that TC and PTC member countries value their partnership with ESCAP and

WMO and the active participation of ESCAP and WMO secretariat staff in their annual

sessions.21 Member countries made several suggestions to further enhance this partnership

including:

• ESCAP and WMO to support and facilitate regular joint meetings of the TC and PTC and

the relevant working groups;

• ESCAP and WMO to further develop partnership with the CREWS Initiative, World Bank,

UNISDR, GFDRR, and similar institutions/bodies;

• Enhance the use of the ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness

in Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian Countries;

• Formulate jointly large, multi-year project proposals and shepherd them through

normally lengthy and competitive evaluation processes.

• Strengthen partnership of ESCAP and WMO with RIMES; and

• Enhance involvement of WMO regional offices.

Member countries also emphasized that the most important role of the ESCAP/WMO

partnership is in resource mobilization for TC and PTC activities implying that increased focus

on this role could enhance the partnership.

21 Refer to Annex 6 for the table summarizing the number of times TC/PTC are cited or referred to in the reports of TC50 and PTC44 annual sessions.


5. RECOMMENDATIONS

51

5. RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendation 1: Strengthen ESCAP and WMO partnership by scaling up its role

with multi-hazard approaches, including second generation early warning products,

impact-based forecasting and risk-informed early warning.

As evident from this study’s findings, member countries want to strengthen ESCAP/WMO

partnership to enhance regional cooperation in multi-hazard risk reduction, including impact-

based forecasting and risk-informed early warning, which broadens what was agreed at the

ESCAP/WMO bilateral meeting in Hanoi in February 2018. This may be attained through,

among others, the following measures:

• Strengthening ESCAP’s and WMO’s cooperation with the RSMCs Tokyo and New Delhi by

increasing joint technical and financial support to various activities, particularly in capacity

development and attachment training.

• Extending the ESCAP/WMO partnership by incorporating the Asia regional component of

the IN-MHEWS.

• Developing further partnership with the CREWS Initiative, World Bank, UNISDR, GFDRR,

and similar institutions/bodies.

• Enhancing ESCAP’s and WMO’s cooperation with RIMES, particularly for the benefit of

low-capacity countries.

• Enhancing the use of the ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate

Preparedness in Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian Countries, with involvement of WMO,

to support large, multi-year projects.

In addition, the following measures may be considered by ESCAP and WMO for joint support

under the partnership and thus help strengthen the partnership itself:

• Help improve member countries’ capacity to generate and provide accurate, timely and

understandable information using multi-hazard impact-based forecasts and risk-informed

warnings.

• Increase the support and involvement of WMO regional offices in regional activities.

• Enhance the typhoon-related disaster monitoring and warning by using advanced

technologies;

• Improve the impact-based, risk-informed and community-based storm surge, urban flood

and sediment disaster (including flash floods, landslide and mudflow) monitoring,

forecasting and warning; and

• Enhance the application of Internet of Things (IOT), big-data, cloud compute, and mobile

Internet in disaster monitoring, forecasting and early warning.


5. RECOMMENDATIONS

52

In line with this recommendation, ESCAP and WMO may conclude a new or updated MOU

defining clear roles and accountabilities and a regularly updated action/implementation plan

with activities, milestones, deliverables, monitoring mechanism, time frame and a sunset

clause.

Recommendation 2: Continue to consider expanding ESCAP and WMO partnership to

cover the Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

The ESCAP/WMO bilateral meeting held in Hanoi, Viet Nam, on 28 February 2018, identified

as a possible new area of collaboration the expansion of the ESCAP/WMO partnership on

tropical cyclones to the Pacific (WMO/ESCAP partnership for the RA V TCC for the South

Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean). This study recommends the expansion of the

ESCAP/WMO partnership to cover RA V member states and territories, noting that many RA

V member states and territories are also members of ESCAP.22 In this regard, ESCAP may

continue exploring possible funding sources to enable it to meet the corresponding financial

implication.

This recommendation is consistent with ESCAP Resolution 71/1223 which calls for “deepening

existing regional cooperation mechanisms such as the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee, the

WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones” and requests the ESCAP Executive Secretary to

“further strengthen the Trust Fund24 and expand its geographic scope to include Pacific Small

Island Developing States.” It is also in line with the recommendation of the Committee on

Disaster Risk Reduction (4th session, October 2015) for “further strengthening the TC and the

PTC and that the ESCAP Secretariat become a partner in the WMO Tropical Cyclone Committee

for the South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean.”

The 17th session of WMO RA V TCC25 acknowledged and noted the proposal for WMO and

ESCAP partnership. Specifically, it “agreed that there should be close cooperation with ESCAP

22 RA V member states and territories include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia,

Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Federated States of Micronesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New

Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great

Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, and Vanuatu. 23 ESCAP Resolution 71/12: Strengthening regional mechanisms for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in Asia and the Pacific. 24 Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness in Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian Countries. 25 WMO RA V TCC for the South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean, 17th session, Final Report, Noumea, New Caledonia, 23-26 July 2018.


5. RECOMMENDATIONS

53

in the delivery of improvements in services and capacity building within NHMS across the

Region and would welcome participation of ESCAP at future meetings;” and “requested that

WMO and ESCAP explore options for future formal partnerships that would deliver more

effective operation of TC warning services in the Region and contribute to the enhanced safety

of vulnerable communities.” As a next step, ESCAP and WMO need to present the modality of

partnership at the 18th session of TCC to be held in Tonga in 2020. The ESCAP Multi-donor

Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness, which supported the

establishment of seasonal forums in PNG, Solomon, and Fiji through WMO and RIMES, may

be used to support partly the operational cost of TCC secretariat that is at present borne by

WMO alone.

Recommendation 3: ESCAP and WMO to support and assist in strengthening the PTC

through, among others, strengthening the PTC Secretariat as well as in enhancing the

PTCTF.

To enable the PTC platform to more effectively address some of the critical unmet needs of

cyclone early warning in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, it is important to strengthen

PTC, including the PTC Secretariat. ESCAP and WMO could encourage PTC member countries,

including the new members, to initiate consultations regarding this matter. ESCAP, through

APDIM based in Iran, could consider providing support to the PTC Secretariat, including

providing host facilities, if agreed to and requested by PTC member countries.

ESCAP and WMO could also encourage PTC member countries to increase their annual

contribution to the PTCTF to a level equal to the annual contribution of TC member countries

to the TCTF.

It may be noted that during the first three years of the TC, ESCAP and WMO provided experts

working in the ESCAP/WMO Joint Unit on Typhoon (the precursor of the TC Secretariat)

located at the ESCAP Secretariat. When the TC Secretariat was transferred from Bangkok to

Manila in 1971, ESCAP and WMO provided three experts including the Chief Technical

Advisor, meteorologist and hydrologist. The supporting staff (secretaries and drivers) were

provided by the Philippine Government. The UNDP also provided institutional financial

support through a multi-year project until 1976. From 1975 to 2006 the Philippine

Government provided a fulltime meteorologist, while the Governments of Japan, ROK and

the Philippines seconded hydrologists from 1977 to 2007.


5. RECOMMENDATIONS

54

Recommendation 4: ESCAP and WMO to jointly develop and implement through the

TC and PTC large, multi-year projects supported by external funding.

It may be noted that 57% of TC member countries and 83% of PTC member countries believe

that the ESCAP/WMO partnership could be strengthened to support the needs and priorities

of member countries by developing and implementing large, multiyear projects supported by

external funding through the TC and PTC mechanisms.

The ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness in Indian Ocean and

Southeast Asian Countries is funding a large, multi-year SSOP Project. The first phase of the

project had been successfully completed with the publication of the SSOP Manual and its

Quick Reference and the second phase (SSOP-II) is being implemented. But projects like this

are rare. Thus, TC and PTC member countries have expressed their desire to seek the

assistance of ESCAP and WMO in resource mobilization, including through the ESCAP Multi-

donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness, the CREWS Initiative and

other sources, in formulating large, multi-year project proposals, and in shepherding them

through normally lengthy and competitive evaluation processes.

To cite one example, TC and PTC member countries have expressed the urgent need to

develop national capacities in urban flood forecasting and inundation mapping. There is some

funding for activities in this area through the on-going project on Development and

Application of Operational System for Urban Flood Forecasting and Inundation Mapping

(OSUFFIM) but this is not enough. A large, multi-year project with external funding would

enable a comprehensive and in-depth approach to the issue of forecasting, early warning and

risk management of urban flooding.

Recommendation 5: ESCAP and WMO to continue supporting the TC and PTC to enable

them to fully implement the recommendations of the 3rd Joint Session of the TC and

PTC held in February 2015.

The 3rd TC/PTC Joint Session made nine recommendations covering several areas.26 A major

recommendation is for more frequent and regular joint meetings of the TC and the PTC. The

survey shows that 55% of TC and 100% of PTC respondents want ESCAP and WMO to support

and facilitate more frequent and regular joint meetings of the TC and PTC and the relevant

working groups. Consultations with stakeholders confirm that there is indeed a greater desire

on the part of the PTC to have more frequent joint sessions with the TC, stating that PTC

26 See Annex 6 for the complete list of recommendations.


5. RECOMMENDATIONS

55

member countries have a great deal to learn from TC member countries where typhoons

occur more frequently. The TC and PTC secretariats should be encouraged to initiate

discussions and consultations on the possible agenda, frequency and schedule of the

proposed joint sessions.

Two other recommendations of the Joint Session are worth noting: first, to facilitate

participation of TC and PTC representatives in each other’s annual sessions, workshops and

seminars; and second, to undertake joint TC/PTC expert missions to assess the damage caused

by tropical cyclones and related disasters. The ESCAP/WMO partnership may give priority to

supporting these proposed regular activities in order to enhance the impact/effectiveness of

the TC and PTC in fulfilling their mandates and achieving results.

It is recommended that ESCAP and WMO provide technical and/or financial support and/or

help facilitate getting such technical and/or financial support from other donors to enable TC

and PTC to fully implement all the Joint Session’s recommendations, giving priority to the

three aforesaid activities.

EVALUATION REPORT

Evaluation of the ESCAP-WMO Partnership for Strengthening

Regional Platforms on Tropical Cyclones

ANNEXES

April 2019

Evaluator:


Commissioned by:

Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific/World Meteorological Organization


List of Annexes

57

List of Annexes

Annex 1 Terms of Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Annex 2 List of Documents and Reports Reviewed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Annex 3 List of Interviewees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Annex 4 Survey Questionnaires

4.1 Survey Questionnaires for TC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

4.2 Survey Questionnaires for PTC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Annex 5 List of Survey Respondents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Annex 6 Data Tables and Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90


Annex 1. Terms of Reference

58


Evaluation of ESCAP-WMO partnership for strengthening regional platforms on tropical cyclones

1. BACKGROUND

1. The ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee (TC) and the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones

(PTC), represented by 14 and 9-member Countries,1 were established in 1968 and 1972

respectively under the auspices of ESCAP and WMO to promote and coordinate the planning

and implementation of measures required for minimizing the loss of life and material damage

caused by typhoons. The TC had its 50th session in Hanoi, Viet Nam from 28 February to 3

March 2018, celebrating its 50 years of cooperation on addressing shared risks from typhoons.

PTC will have its 45th session in 2018.

2. Natural disasters have threatened development gains in the Asia-Pacific region. Addressing

disaster risks is thus essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the region.

In this regard, the Regional Roadmap for Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Development in Asia and the Pacific identifies disaster risk reduction and resilience as one of

the regional priority areas.

3. In addressing shared disaster risks such as tropical cyclones, regional and subregional

strategies and mechanisms play critical roles, as highlighted in the Sendai Framework for

Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. In this regard, member States, through its resolution

71/12, requested ESCAP to deepen existing regional cooperation mechanisms such as the

ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee, the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones, among

others.

4. On 16 July 2003, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the World

Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission

for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to, among others, formulate and implement joint subregional

projects in support of developing countries in the region, particularly for the Typhoon

Committee and the Panel on Tropical Cyclones. The ESCAP and WMO partnership for

supporting regional platforms on tropical cyclones needs to reflect global and regional

developments through multi-hazard approaches. In this regard, the joint evaluation of ESCAP

and WMO will be undertaken in a rigorous and independent manner in line with the norms

and standards for evaluation set by the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG). Evaluation

in the UN context entails a systematic, impartial assessment, of an activity, programme,

strategy, policy, theme or institutional performance. Evaluation provides an evidence base for

1 The 14 members of TC are Cambodia; China; Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; Hong Kong, China; Japan; Lao People’s Democratic

Republic; Macao, China; Malaysia; the Philippines; Republic of Korea; Singapore; Thailand; Viet Nam and the United States of America. The 9 members of PTC are Bangladesh; India; Maldives; Myanmar; Oman; Pakistan; Sri Lanka; Thailand; and Yemen.



59

programmatic strengthening and enables the timely incorporation of findings,

recommendations and lessons into the decision-making processes.

2. PURPOSE, OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE

2.1 Purpose

5. The evaluation will be forward-looking and formative in nature and designed to support

organizational learning and decision-making. Recognizing the evolving global and regional

understanding on natural disasters and their impacts on development, the evaluation aims to

review the partnership engagement of ESCAP and WMO with these two inter-governmental

platforms, and recommend way forward towards better alignment with the 2030 Agenda for


It will also take a look at 50 years of TC experiences and 45 years of PTC experiences in

addressing tropical cyclones and related coastal hazards through regional cooperation, which

will provide practical guidance in strengthening/ expanding the partnership of ESCAP and

WMO in the Asia-Pacific region. Findings and recommendations of the evaluation will be

shared to TC at its 51st session and to PTC at its 46th session in 2019.

2.2 Objectives and scope

6. The overall objective is to assess, as systematically and objectively as possible, the partnership

of ESCAP and WMO with TC and PTC for better alignment with the global development agenda

and to take stock of decades of experiences of these platforms. In this context, the evaluation

will:

• Assess the programmatic results2 of the TC and PTC supported by WMO and ESCAP;

• Identify strengths and challenges in the current partnership of ESCAP and WMO in support

of TC and PTC;

• Formulate recommendations for ESCAP and WMO secretariats to strengthen and expand

the partnership in supporting TC and PTC and to increase the results of the TC and PTC;

• Provide recommendations to better align TC and PTC with the 2030 Agenda for

Sustainable Development and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-

2030.

2 In the context of this evaluation, results are assessed at the outcome level and reflect the changes made or improvements achieved in the policies and operations of the participating countries through the services and support provided by TC and PTC. Outcome level results also reflect the direct benefits gained by the participating countries through their engagement in the TC and PTC.



60

7. The following evaluation criteria and questions will be addressed:

Evaluation criteria Evaluation questions

Relevance • To what extent were TC and PTC relevant to the needs and priorities of the

participating countries in addressing tropical cyclones and related coastal

hazards?

• How could the ESCAP and WMO partnership be strengthened in

supporting the needs and priorities of the participating counties through

the TC and PTC mechanisms

Effectiveness • What could be done by ESCAP and WMO to increase the effectiveness of

TC and PTC in fulfilling its mandate and achieving results?

• What are the key programmatic results of TC and PTC? What specific

indicators could be used for measuring the programmatic results of TC and

PTC?

Sustainability • What partnership arrangements exist to sustain the work of ESCAP and

WMO supporting TC and PTC?

• How ESCAP and WMO can collaborate for resource mobilization including

those through ESCAP Multi-donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and

Climate Preparedness; WMO/World Bank/UNISDR Climate Risk Early

Warning System etc.

• How could these partnership arrangements be further sustained?

3. METHODOLOGY

3.1 Data collection and analysis

8. The evaluation will involve:

• Desk review of relevant strategic and meeting documents;

• Structured interviews and focus group discussions with member States’

representatives, and relevant staff from ESCAP and WMO;



61

• An online survey to gather feedback from a wide range of stakeholders, and

follow-up telephone/Skype interviews as may be required to clarify responses

provided through the on-line questionnaire; and

9. The evaluator is expected to produce evidence-based data and utilize appropriate,

ethical data collection methods and analysis. Data will be disaggregated by relevant

social categories. The evaluator will undertake a transparent and participatory

evaluation process that will involve male and female stakeholders identified in the

stakeholder analysis, including the reference group, key partners and target

beneficiaries in all key evaluation tasks.

10. In analyzing the data, the evaluator will use qualitative and quantitative approaches,

and provide charts and direct quotations using the data to assess evaluation against

the selected criteria. Gender mainstreaming is an essential component of data

analysis in all evaluations. Data analysis will enable useful, evidence-based findings,

conclusions and recommendations. Methodological triangulation is an underlying

principle of the approach chosen. Suitable frameworks for analysis and evaluation are

to be elaborated – based on the questions to be answered. The evaluator will identify

and set out the methods and frameworks as part of the inception report.

3.2 Evaluation management

11. The evaluation will be carried out under the overall direction and guidance of the

Executive Secretary of ESCAP and the Secretary General of WMO managed by an

evaluation reference group comprising staff of ESCAP and WMO. Implementation of

the evaluation will be consulted with Secretary of the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon

Committee and Secretary of the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones.

12. ESCAP and WMO will appoint a reference group to oversee the evaluation process;

provide technical and methodological guidance; review the selection of the

consultant, terms of reference and inception report; provide quality control of the

evaluation report and validation of recommendations; and ensure adherence to UNEG

norms and standards for evaluation and the use of evaluation outputs, including the

formulation of the evaluation management response and follow-up action plan.

3.3 Evaluation consultant

13. A professional evaluator will be recruited to design and conduct the evaluation in an

objective and independent manner. He/she will assume overall responsibility for



62

carrying out the evaluation, managing the work, ensuring the quality of interviews and

data collection, preparing the draft report, presenting the draft report and producing

the final report after comments have been received from the evaluation reference

group.

14. The desired qualifications of the evaluator are as follows:

• Knowledge of major development trends and issues in addressing transboundary

risk from tropical cyclones and related coastal hazards particularly in the North-

West Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.

• Experience and knowledge of measuring results of intergovernmental cooperation

mechanisms and platforms.

• Professional and technical experience in evaluation (application of evaluation

norms, standards and the relevant organizational evaluation policy and promotion

of evaluation and evidence-based learning).

• Knowledge of the United Nations System, including its programmes, conference

and organizational structures, as well as its principles, values, goals and

approaches, including human rights, gender equality, cultural values, the

Sustainable Development Goals and results-based management.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate and engage with high-level government

officials on challenging and politically sensitive matters.

15. The evaluation adheres to the UNEG Ethical Guidelines and Code of Conduct in

evaluation and all staff and consultants engaged in evaluation are required to uphold

these standards. To this end, a Consultants Agreement form that evaluators are

required to sign as part of the contracting process, is provided in Annex IV.

4. OUTPUTS

16. The following outputs will be delivered to the evaluation reference group:

• Inception report detailing the approach of the evaluator, workplan and evaluation

logical framework (see Annex I)

• Results of data collection exercise

• First draft of evaluation report (see Annex II)

• Presentation (ppt) on findings, conclusions and recommendations

http://www.uneval.org/document/detail/102

http://uneval.org/document/detail/100



63

• Final evaluation report

17. The draft evaluation report will be shared with key stakeholders prior to finalization.

The final report will be submitted to the evaluation reference group following the

correct format (Annex II). A summary of the evaluation findings and recommendation

will be submitted to the 51st session of TC and 46th session of PTC in 2019.

5. WORKPLAN

18. The evaluation will commence from 5 November 2018 to 28 February 2019.

Date Activities

05-09 Nov • Collection and review background documents on ESCAP-WMO

partnership, TC, PTC

12-16 Nov • Kick-off consultations (via Skype) with ESCAP, WMO and secretariats of TC

and PTC to clarify requirements/expectations of each entity and overall

approach and workplan of the evaluation

19-23 Nov • Preparation of data collection instruments, such as survey questionnaire

• Review of additional background documents.

18-21 Nov • Mission to Macao, China to meet with TC secretariat staff

• Review of TC/PTC documents

26-30 Nov • Mission to Bangkok to meet with ESCAP and Thailand TC/PTC focal points

• Skype/phone consultations with selected representatives from TC and PTC

member States and partners

6-21 Dec • Skype/phone consultations with selected representatives from TC/PTC

member States and partners

• Face-to-face consultation with Philippine PAGASA

• Submission of inception report

• Launch of online survey questionnaire

Jan 2019 • Data analysis and preparation of draft evaluation report

Feb 2019 • Presentation of preliminary findings and recommendations to ESCAP,

WMO, TC and PTC

• Finalization of the evaluation report



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ANNEXES

Annex I. Contents of the inception report

This report sets out the conceptual framework to be used in an evaluation and details the

evaluation methodology, including the evaluation criteria and questions, indicators, method

of data collection and analysis, gender mainstreaming approach and risk and limitations. It

allows the evaluator to clarify their understanding of what is being evaluated and why and

to present their preliminary findings based on initial review of documents and consultation

with the evaluation reference group and other stakeholders.

CONTENT PAGES

(estimate) COMMENTS

Title page 1 • Title, date of publication

• Name(s) of the evaluator(s)

1. Introduction

1-2 • Background and context

• Purpose and scope of the evaluation

2. Methodology 3-6 • Evaluation criteria and questions

• Indicators

• Methods of data collection and data analysis

• Gender and human rights mainstreaming approach

• Risk and limitations

3. Preliminary

findings

1-2 • Elaborate on the results of the desk study and other preparatory work carried out to this point

4. Workplan 1 • Develop a timeline which shows the evaluation phases

5. Outputs to be

delivered

1 • Outputs to be delivered

Annexes 6-10 • Evaluation logical framework

• Evaluation terms of reference

• List of documents reviewed

• Proposed template for questionnaires (if applicable)

Annex II. Contents of the evaluation report

The evaluation report should follow the structure as outlined in the table.

CONTENT PAGES

(estimate) COMMENTS

Title page 1 Title, date of publication Name(s) of the evaluator(s)

Acknowledgments 1 Prepared by the evaluator

Table of contents 1 List of chapters, sections and annexes



65

CONTENT PAGES

(estimate) COMMENTS

List of acronyms 1-2 In alphabetical order; these are written out in full the first time they are used in the report

Management

response

1-3 General response Response to individual recommendations

Executive summary 1-3 Background of the evaluation (one paragraph) Purpose and scope (one paragraph) Methodology (one paragraph) Main conclusions (one-sentence conclusions with brief explanation if needed) Recommendations (one-sentence recommendations) Other comments or concluding sentence

1. Background, purpose and scope of the evaluation

1-3 1.1 Background of the evaluation and the topic being evaluated

1.2 Purpose, objectives and scope

2. Object of evaluation description and context

1 Describe object of evaluation – location, target group, budget, timing, relevant norms standards and conventions Goals, objectives of intervention Results of intervention to date

3. Methodology 1-3 3.1 Description of methodology: activities, timeframe, changes compared to TOR, and reasons for selecting sample reports, countries, sites, case studies, and interviewees

3.2 Limitations: limitations of the methodology and scope and problems encountered

4. Findings Varying length

4.1 Overview: supporting information for the performance assessment

4.2 Performance assessment: assessment against relevant evaluation criteria (relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability, gender and human rights mainstreaming)

4.3 Other assessment: assessment against relevant additional criteria

5. Conclusions 1-4 Main conclusions, both positive and negative, of the evaluation that follow logically from the findings Ratings table with ratings for standard evaluation and additional criteria and a brief justification (optional)

6. Recommendations 1-4 Recommendations based on the conclusions

Annexes I. Management response

II. Terms of reference

III. List of documents reviewed

IV. List of interviewees

V. Data tables and analysis



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CONTENT PAGES

(estimate) COMMENTS

Other annexes as required (e.g. schedule of work, reports of

meetings, interview summaries, questionnaires)

Annex III. Quality criteria used to review evaluation reports

The draft and final evaluation reports will be assessed against these quality criteria.

Evaluation title:

Lead division:

Report content The report is structured logically and is well-written

The report follows the table of contents outlined in the TOR and includes the relevant annexes

All sections outlined in the TOR template are present and completed

The executive summary is 1-2 pages and highlights the key findings, conclusions and recommendations

The report uses consistent grammar and spelling in accordance with UN rules

Main messages are clearly distinguished from the text

The report is written in good English and is easy to read

Object of evaluation The report gives a clear description of the object of evaluation

The expected results chain is clearly outlined

The context of the intervention is outlined

The scope is discussed (geographical, resources, intervention components)

Key stakeholders are listed

Evaluation purpose, objectives & scope

The report meets the purpose, objectives scope of the evaluation as stated in the TOR

The report clearly explains the evaluation’s purpose, objectives and scope, including main evaluation questions

The report describes and explains the chosen evaluation criteria

The report can be used for the purpose stated in the TOR

Evaluation methodology

The evaluation methodology and its application are explained transparently and clearly

The evaluation methodology is clearly explained and has been applied throughout the evaluation process

The report describes data collection methods and analysis

The report describes the stakeholder consultation process

Amendments to the methodology identified in the inception report are clearly explained



67

The limitations of the evaluation methodology and their implications for the validity of the findings and conclusions have been clearly explained

Findings The findings and conclusions are credible

Findings respond to the evaluation criteria and questions detailed in the scope and objectives section of the report

Findings are based on evidence gathered in data collection using methodology identified in the report

Findings are based on rigorous analysis, are evidence based and objective

Findings are adequately substantiated, balanced and reliable

The relative contributions of stakeholders to the results are explained

Limitations are explained

Conclusions Conclusions are relevant, evidence based and insightful

The conclusions derive from the findings and are evidence based

Conclusions relate to the purpose and key questions of the evaluation

Conclusions are logically connected to evaluation findings

Recommendations The recommendations are useful

The recommendations are clear and follow logically from the evidence, findings and conclusions

The recommendations are impartial

Recommendations are realistic, concrete and actionable within a reasonable timeframe

Recommendations should be clearly within existing mandate



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Annex IV: Evaluation Consultants Agreement Form

Evaluation Consultants Agreement Form

UNEG Code of Conduct for Evaluation in the UN System

To be signed by all consultants as individuals (not by or on behalf of a consultancy company)

before a contract can be issued. This is an agreement to abide by the Code of Conduct for

Evaluation in the UN System3.

Name of Consultant:

__________________________________________________________________

Name of Consultancy Organization (where relevant):

__________________________________________________________________

I confirm that I have received and understood and will abide by the United Nations Code of

Conduct for Evaluation.

Signed at (place) on (date)

3 http://www.unevaluation.org/document/detail/100


Annex 2. List of Key Documents Reviewed

69


Terms of Reference, Evaluation of ESCAP-WMO partnership for strengthening regional

platforms on tropical cyclones,

Report on the Progress of the Proposal of SSOP-II: Implementation of Synergized Standard

Operating Procedures (SSOP) for Coastal Multi-hazard Early Warning System in 2016,

ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee, Forty-eighty Session, Honolulu, Hawaii, 21-24 February

2017.

E/ESCAP/RES/71/12, Strengthening regional mechanisms for the implementation of the

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in Asia and the Pacific, Economic

and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Seventy-first session, Bangkok, 29 May 2015.

E/ESCAP/73/INF/4, Report of the Panel on Tropical Cyclones, Economic and Social

Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Seventy-third session, Bangkok, 15-19 May 2017.

ESCAP/74/INF/4, Report of the Panel on Tropical Cyclones, Economic and Social Commission

for Asia and the Pacific, Seventy-fourth session, Bangkok, 11-16 May 2018.

ESCAP/74/INF/3, Report of the Typhoon Committee, Economic and Social Commission for

Asia and the Pacific, Seventy-fourth session, Bangkok, 11-16 May 2018.

E/ESCAP/CDR(5)/5, Report of the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction on its fifth session,

Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Committee on Disaster Risk

Reduction, Fifth session, Bangkok, 10-12 October 2017.

ESCAP/74/INF/3, Report of the Typhoon Committee, Economic and Social Commission for

Asia and the Pacific, Seventy-fourth session, Bangkok, 11–16 May 2018.

E/ESCAP/CDR(5)/2, Strengthening regional mechanisms for multi-hazard early warning

systems, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Committee on Disaster

Risk Reduction, Fifth session, Bangkok, 10-12 October 2017.

E/ESCAP/CDR(2)/5, Work of the Typhoon Committee and Panel on Tropical Cyclones,

Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Committee on Disaster Risk

Reduction, Second session, Bangkok, 29 June-1 July 2011.

E/ESCAP/CDR(4)/2, Strengthening regional multi-hazard early warning systems, Economic

and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction,

Fourth session, Bangkok, 27-29 October 2015.



70

E /ESCAP/CDR(3)/INF/5, Climate information and services: the role of the Typhoon

Committee and the Panel on Tropical Cyclones, Economic and Social Commission for Asia

and the Pacific, Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction, Third session, Bangkok, 27-29

November 2013.

Final Report, WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones, World Meteorological Organization and UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Forty-third session, New Delhi, India, 2 - 6 May 2016. Final Report, WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones, World Meteorological Organization and UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Forty-fourth session, Manama, Bahrain, 10-14 September 2017. Strategic Plan 2017-2021, ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee, ESCAP/WMO, May 2017. Report of the 3rd Joint Session of Panel on Tropical Cyclones & Typhoon Committee,

Bangkok, Thailand, 9-11 February 2015.

Report of the Forty-ninth Session of the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee, Yokohama,

Japan, 21-24 February 2017.

Report of the Fiftieth Session of the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee, Ha Noi, Viet Nam, 28

February - 3 March 2018.

Typhoon Committee Operational Manual, Meteorological Component, 2018 Edition, World

Meteorological Organization.

ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness, Strategic Note 2017-

2020, ESCAP, December 2017.

ESCAP Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2017, Leave No One Behind, Disaster Resilience for

Sustainable Development, 2017.

ESCAP Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness: Strategic

Note 2017-2020, 50th session of ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 28

February-3 March 2018.

Memorandum of Understanding Between the World Meteorological Organization and the

ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee Secretariat, ESCAP/Typhoon Committee, Forty-second

session, Singapore, 25-29 January 2010.



71

Memorandum of Understanding Between the World Meteorological Organization and the

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, 16 July 2003.

Agreement Between the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the

People’s Republic of China and the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee Regarding

Administrative, Financial, and Related Arrangements for the Typhoon Committee

Secretariat, 3-4 March 2013.

Brief of ESCAP/WMO bilateral meeting, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 5 March 2018.

Report on Activities of the Working Group on Meteorology, 12th Integrated Workshop,

ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee, Jeju, Republic of Korea, 30 October-3 November 2017.

Report on Activities of the Working Group on Hydrology, 12th Integrated Workshop,

ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee, Jeju, Republic of Korea, 30 October-3 November 2017.

Report on Activities of Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction, 12th Integrated

Workshop, ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee, Jeju, Republic of Korea, 30 October-3

November 2017.

ESCAP, Impact Based Forecasting and Early Warning System, Second KMA/WMO Workshop

on Impact-based Forecasts in Asia, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 19-21 November 2018.

United Nations, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 – 2030.

WMO RA V TCC for the South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean, 17th session, Final Report,

Noumea, New Caledonia, 23-26 July 2018.

WMO RA V TCC for the South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean, 16th session, Final Report,

Honiara, Solomon Islands, 29 August-2 September 2016.


Annex 3. List of Interviewees

72


Mr. Kaveh Zahedi

Deputy Executive Secretary for Sustainable Development

Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

United Nations

Ms. Tiziana Bonapace

Director, Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division


United Nations

Mr. Sanjay Srivastava

Chief, Disaster Risk Reduction Section

Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division


United Nations

Mr. Edgar Dante

Chief, Evaluation Unit

Strategy and Programme Management Division


United Nations

Ms. Kareff May Rafisura

Disaster Risk Reduction Section



United Nations

Ms. Ingrid Dispert




United Nations



73

Ms. Yuki Mitsuka




United Nations

Mr. Xu Tang

Director, Weather and Disaster Risk Reduction Services Department

World Meteorological Organization

Mr. Park Chung Kyu

Regional Director for Asia and South-West Pacific

World Meteorological Organization

Mr. Kyaw Moe Oo

Director General

Department of Meteorology and Hydrology

Myanmar

Mr. Juma bid Said bin Ahmed Al-Maskari

Director General of Meteorology

Meteorology and Air Navigation for Meteorological Affairs

Oman

Mr. Ali Shareef

Deputy Director General

Meteorological Service

Maldives

Mr. Kanduri Jayaram Ramesh

Director General of Meteorology

Meteorological Department

India

Mr. Kamoi Promasakha na Sakolnakhon

Director of Meteorological Radar and Satellite Data Analysis Sub-Division

Thailand Meteorological Department

Thailand



74

Mr. Surapong Sarapa

Director of Numerical Weather Prediction Sub-Division


Thailand

Ms. Patchara Petvirojchai

Director of Research and Technical Cooperation Sub-Division


Thailand

Mr. Boonlert Archevarahuprok

Expert on Research and Development for Meteorology


Thailand

Mr. Raymond Tanabe

Director, NWS Pacific Region

NWS Pacific Region Headquarters

Honolulu, Hawaii

Mr. Mohammed Saeed Hamid Alzuraiqui

Assistant Deputy Chairman

Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority

Yemen Meteorological Service

Yemen

Ms. Anusha Warnasooriya

Director, Forecasting

Department of Meteorology

Sri Lanka

Ms. Jitsuko Hasegawa

Senior Scientific Officer, International Affairs Office

Japan Meteorological Agency

Japan



75

Mr. Vicente Malano

Administrator

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration

Department of Science and Technology

Philippines


Annex 4.1. Survey Questionnaire for TC

76


WMO/ESCAP Partnership for Supporting Typhoon Committee

Dear TC Member,

You have been identified in the context of the ESCAP/WMO Joint Evaluation of the ESCAP-WMO

partnership for strengthening regional platforms on tropical cyclones. The Survey has the following

objectives:

1. Assess the programmatic results of the TC and PTC supported by WMO and ESCAP. 2. Identify strengths and challenges in the current partnership of ESCAP and WMO in support of

TC and PTC. 3. Formulate recommendations for ESCAP and WMO secretariats to strengthen and expand the

partnership in supporting TC and PTC and to increase the results of the TC and PTC. 4. Provide recommendations to better align TC and PTC with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Development and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

In order to provide your feedback to the project evaluator, you are kindly requested to fill up the

following questionnaire, which should take no more than 30 minutes to complete, and return it latest

by _____________ to _________________.

Kindly note that the questionnaire should be filled in the English language. Your feedback is

critical for the evaluation. For each question, you are requested to tick the box corresponding to your

answer, and provide a brief explanation of your response.

Thank you very much for your precious collaboration and your efforts in providing feedback.


ESCAP/WMO Project Evaluator

*********

Date:

Name:

Gender: Male Female

Organisation:

Title:

Since (year in this position):

Country:



77

1. How relevant are TC activities to the needs and priorities of your country in addressing tropical cyclones and related coastal hazards?

Very irrelevant

Irrelevant Average Relevant Very

relevant N/A

Please explain: ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________

2. Which of the following activities is the most relevant to your country’s current needs? (please choose one only)

Sharing of data/information and best practices

Training and capacity building

Projects on disaster risk reduction and related areas

All of the above

Sharing of data/information/best practices and training/capacity building

None of the above

Please explain: _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________

3. How could the ESCAP and WMO partnership be strengthened in supporting the needs and

priorities of your country through the TC mechanism?

Jointly support large, multi-year projects to be implemented by TC

Facilitate regular and more frequent joint meetings of TC and PTC

Help develop cooperation between TC and subregional organizations such as ASEAN and SAARC that have similar activities

Others (please list your suggestions below)

_________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________



78

4. How effective is the TC in fulfilling its mandate and achieving results?

Very ineffective

Ineffective Average Effective Very

effective N/A

Please explain: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. In what areas have TC activities made significant impacts in your country?

In capacity building

In sharing of data/information and best practices

In projects such as those in disaster mitigation and related areas

In all of the above

There has been no or little impact

Please explain:

_________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________

6. List the TC activities that your country has participated or is participating in.

a. __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________

b. __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ c. __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________+_______________ ____________________________________________________________________________



79

7. In last three years, what support (in terms of advisory/alert/capacity development/other technical assistance ) has your country received from TC/PTC mechanisms including respective Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres (RSMC – New Delhi/Tokyo) for typhoon/cyclone forecasting/early warning?

______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

8. To what extent did the support listed in Question 7 help?

To a great extent To some extent No impact Please explain: ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

9. What could be done by ESCAP and WMO to increase the impact/effectiveness of TC in fulfilling its mandate and achieving results?

□ Enhance funding and expertise support to TC in implementing their projects particularly in capacity building

□ Encourage harmonization of the respective programmes of TC member countries and promote greater information and data sharing including satellite data

□ Support and coordinate TC joint expert missions in assessing the damage caused by tropical cyclones and related disasters

□ Others (please list your suggestions below)

______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________

10. How effective is the TC Secretariat in supporting/ coordinating TC programmes and activities?

Very ineffective


effective N/A

Please explain: ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________



80

11. What measures should be implemented to further improve the effectiveness of the TC Secretariat?

No further measures are needed.

Implement the following measures (list measures below):

a. __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

b. __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

c. __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

12. What could be done to improve coordination between TC and PTC and expand ESCAP-WMO partnership in multi-hazard risk reduction framework and multi-hazard early warning in the Asia-Pacific region?

□ Bring together different streams of TC/PTC work related to multi-hazard early warning systems, regional space applications for disaster risk reduction and knowledge-sharing under an Asia-Pacific disaster resilience network

□ Extend the ESCAP/WMO partnership by incorporating the International Network for Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems

□ Help enhance TC/PTC capacity to generate and provide accurate, timely and understandable information using multi-hazard impact-based forecasts and risk-based warnings


________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

13. How sustainable are the partnership arrangements of ESCAP and WMO in supporting the TC?

Very unsustainable

Unsustainable Average Sustainable Very

sustainable N/A

Please explain: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



81

14. What further partnership arrangements of ESCAP and WMO are needed to sustain the work of supporting the TC?

□ Enhance use of the ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness in Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian Countries to, among others, build on good practices identified across the region to develop generic multi-hazards SOPs.

□ ESCAP/WMO to further develop partnership with the Climate Risk Early Warning Systems Initiative, a global initiative supported by WMO, World Bank, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, and similar institutions/bodies.

□ ESCAP/WMO to support and facilitate regular joint meetings of TC/PTC and the relevant working groups


________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you.


Annex 4.2. Survey Questionnaire for PTC

82

Annex 4.2. Survey Questionnaire for PTC WMO/ESCAP Partnership for Supporting Panel of Tropical Cyclones

Dear PTC Member,

You have been identified in the context of the ESCAP/WMO Joint Evaluation of the ESCAP-WMO

partnership for strengthening regional platforms on tropical cyclones. The Survey has the following

objectives:

1. Assess the programmatic results of the TC and PTC supported by WMO and ESCAP. 2. Identify strengths and challenges in the current partnership of ESCAP and WMO in support of

TC and PTC. 3. Formulate recommendations for ESCAP and WMO secretariats to strengthen and expand the

partnership in supporting TC and PTC and to increase the results of the TC and PTC. 4. Provide recommendations to better align TC and PTC with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Development and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

In order to provide your feedback to the project evaluator, you are kindly requested to fill up the

following questionnaire, which should take no more than 30 minutes to complete, and return it latest

by _____________ to _________________.

Kindly note that the questionnaire should be filled in the English language. Your feedback is

critical for the evaluation. For each question, you are requested to tick the box corresponding to your

answer, and provide a brief explanation of your response.

Thank you very much for your precious collaboration and your efforts in providing feedback.


ESCAP/WMO Project Evaluator

*********

Date:

Name:

Gender: Male Female

Organisation:

Title:

Since (year in this position):

Country:



83

1. How relevant are PTC activities to the needs and priorities of your country in addressing tropical cyclones and related coastal hazards?

Very irrelevant

Irrelevant Average Relevant Very

relevant N/A

Please explain: ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________

2. Which of the following activities is the most relevant to your country’s current needs? (please choose one only)

Sharing of data/information and best practices

Training and capacity building

Projects on disaster risk reduction and related areas

All of the above

Sharing of data/information/best practices and training/capacity building

None of the above

Please explain:

_________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________

3. How could the ESCAP and WMO partnership be strengthened in supporting the needs and priorities of your country through the PTC mechanism?

□ Jointly support large, multi-year projects to be implemented by PTC

□ Facilitate regular and more frequent joint meetings of PTC and TC

□ Help develop cooperation between PTC and subregional organizations such as SAARC and ASEAN that have similar activities


_________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________



84

4. How effective is the PTC in fulfilling its mandate and achieving results?

Very ineffective


effective N/A

Please explain: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. In what areas have PTC activities made significant impacts in your country?

In capacity building

In sharing of data/information and best practices

In projects such as those in disaster mitigation and related areas

In all of the above

There has been no or little impact

Please explain:

_________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________

6. List the PTC activities that your country has participated or is participating in.

a. __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________ b. __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________

c. __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________



85

7. In last three years, what support (in terms of advisory/alert/capacity development/other technical assistance ) has your country received from TC/PTC mechanisms including respective Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres (RSMC – New Delhi/Tokyo) for typhoon/cyclone forecasting/early warning?

______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

8. To what extent did the support listed in Question 7 help? (Please tick one)

To a great extent To some extent No impact Please explain: ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

9. What could be done by ESCAP and WMO to increase the impact/effectiveness of PTC in fulfilling its mandate and achieving results?

□ Enhance funding and expertise support to PTC in implementing their projects particularly in capacity building

□ Encourage harmonization of the respective programmes of PTC member countries and promote greater information and data sharing including satellite data

□ Support and coordinate PTC joint expert missions in assessing the damage caused by tropical cyclones and related disasters


______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________

10. How effective is the PTC Secretariat in supporting/ coordinating PTC programmes and activities?

Very ineffective


effective N/A

Please explain: ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________



86

11. What measures should be implemented to further improve the effectiveness of the PTC Secretariat?

No further measures are needed.

Implement the following measures (list measures below):

a. __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

b. __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

c. __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

12. What could be done to improve coordination between PTC and TC and expand ESCAP-WMO partnership in multi-hazard risk reduction framework and multi-hazard early warning in the Asia-Pacific region?

□ Bring together different streams of PTC/TC work related to multi-hazard early warning systems, regional space applications for disaster risk reduction and knowledge-sharing under an Asia-Pacific disaster resilience network

□ Extend the ESCAP/WMO partnership by incorporating the International Network for Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems

□ Help enhance PTC/TC capacity to generate and provide accurate, timely and understandable information using multi-hazard impact-based forecasts and risk-based warnings


________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

13. How sustainable are the partnership arrangements of ESCAP and WMO in supporting the PTC?

Very unsustainable

Unsustainable Average Sustainable Very

sustainable N/A

Please explain: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



87

14. What further partnership arrangements of ESCAP and WMO are needed to sustain the work of supporting the PTC?

□ Enhance use of the ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness in Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian Countries to, among others, build on good practices identified across the region to develop generic multi-hazards SOPs.

□ ESCAP/WMO to further develop partnership with the Climate Risk Early Warning Systems Initiative, a global initiative supported by WMO, World Bank, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, and similar institutions/bodies.

□ ESCAP/WMO to support and facilitate regular joint meetings of PTC/TC and the relevant working groups


_______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you.


Annex 5. List of Survey Respondents

88


Typhoon Committee:

1. Cambodia: Oum Ryna

Director

Department of Meteorology

Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology

2. China: Yu Jun

Division Director

China Meteorological Administration

3. Hongkong: Shun Ghi-ming

Director

Hong Kong Observatory

4. Japan: Jitsuko Hasegawa

Senior Scientific Officer

Japan Meteorological Agency

5. Republic of Korea: Kim Jongseok

Administrator

Korea Meteorological Administration

6. Macao: Lao Ieng Wai

Acting Chief of Meteorological Division

Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau

7. Malaysia: Alui Bahari

Director General

Malaysian Meteorological Department

8. Philippines: Vicente B. Malano

Administrator

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration

Department of Science and Technology



89

9. Singapore: Eugene Chong

Assistant Director (Partnerships and International Affairs)

Meteorological Service Singapore

10. Thailand: TMD Officials

Thai Meteorological Department

11. Viet Nam: Doan Thi Tuyet Nga

Director of Science, Technology and International Cooperation

Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority (VNDMA)

Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development

Panel of Tropical Cyclones

1. India: Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra

Additional Director General of Meteorology and

Head (Services) IMD and Head RSMC New Delhi

India Meteorological Organisation (IMD)

2. Maldives: Ali Shareef

Deputy Director General

Maldives Meteorological Service

3. Myanmar: Dr. Kyaw Moe Oo

Director General

Myanmar Department of Meteorology and Hydrology

4. Sri Lanka: A.R.P. Warnasooriya

Director (Forecasting)

Sri Lanka Department of Meteorology

5. Thailand: TMD Officials

Thai Meteorological Department

6. Yemen: Mohammed Saeed Hamid Alzuraiqi

Assistant Deputy Chairman for Meteorology

Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority

Yemen Meteorological Service (CAMA-YMS)


Annex 6. Data Tables and Analysis

90


Pie Charts

1. Relevance % of respondents who answered: average, relevant, very relevant4

2. Sustainability % of respondents who answered: average, sustainable, very sustainable

4 All other answers for all pie charts: 0%



91

3. Effectiveness in fulfilling mandate and achieving results % of respondents who answered: average, effective, very effective

4. Effectiveness of TC/PTC secretariats in supporting/coordinating programmes and activities

% of respondents who answered: average, effective, very effective



92



93

Score Charts

1. Relevance

2. Sustainability



94

3. Effectiveness in fulfilling mandate and achieving results

4. Effectiveness of TC/PTC secretariats in supporting/coordinating programmes and activities



95

Bar Charts

Question 2

Question 3



96

Question 5

Question 9



97

Question 12



98

Question 14



99

Brief of ESCAP/WMO Bilateral Meeting

MEETING INFORMATION

Date and time: 28 February, 08:00-08:30

Venue: Hanoi Deawoo Hotel, Viet Nam

Participants

ESCAP

• Mr. Kaveh Zahedi, Deputy Executive Secretary for Sustainable Development

• Mr. Sanjay Srivastava, Chief, Disaster Risk Reduction Section, IDD

• Mr. Sung-Eun Kim, Ass. Economic Affairs Officer, DRS/IDD

WMO

• Mr. Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General

• Mr. Chung-kyu Park, Director, Regional Office for Asia and South-West Pacific

• Mr. Taoyong Peng, Chief, Tropical Cyclone Programme, Weather and Disaster Risk

Reduction Services Department

SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION

1. Expansion of ESCAP-WMO Partnership

• Building on the experiences of ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee (TC) and WMO/ESCAP

Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC), and in line with the plan of United Nations Secretary

General on partnership between UN agencies, it was agreed to expand the ESCAP-WMO

Partnership in addressing disaster risk reduction and promoting multi-hazard early warning

systems in Asia and the Pacific.

• During the meeting, the following areas were identified as areas of collaboration:

✓ Expansion of ESCAP/WMO partnership on tropical cyclones to the Pacific (WMO/ESCAP

partnership for the Tropical Cyclone Committee for the South- West Indian Ocean, RA V)

✓ WMO/ESCAP partnership in the areas of sand and dust storms in Asia,

✓ Strengthening climate risk information, including the CREWS initiative in the Asia-Pacific

region; and

✓ Joint resource mobilization.



100

2. Revision of ESCAP-WMO MoU

• To officialize the ESCAP-WMO partnership, it was agreed to update the MoU between

ESCAP and WMO to reflect current developments in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Development and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, and to

operationalize partnerships of the two agencies in support of these global agreements.

3. Evaluation of ESCAP and WMO partnership with TC and PTC

• In the occasion of 50th anniversary of the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee, it was agreed

to conduct a joint evaluation to review the engagement of ESCAP and WMO with TC and

PTC and to take stock of experiences and achievements of the two platforms. To initiate

the process, draft terms of reference will be developed and discussed between ESCAP and

WMO.

• To have members of TC onboard, the evaluation plan was presented at TC50, and the

outcomes of evaluation are to be shared in their annual sessions in 2019. This is reflected

in the approved report of TC50 (para 149).

FOLLOW-UP ACTION POINTS

1. Drafting revised MoU/MoA between ESCAP and WMO

2. Drafting terms of references for the evaluation of TC/PTC

3. Joint proposal of ESCAP and WMO partnership framework at the 17th session of Tropical

Cyclone Committee for South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean

4. A brief on evaluation of the WMO/ESCAP partnership at upcoming 45th session of PTC.

5. Follow up discussions on sand and dust storms, climate risk information and CREWS, and

joint resource mobilization



101

Table A1. Support Countries Received from TC/PTC Mechanisms

In the last 3 years, what support has your country received from TC/PTC mechanisms including respective RSMCs for typhoon/cyclone forecasting/early warning?

Typhoon Committee Panel on Tropical Cyclones

Cambodia

• Support from RSMC New Delhi/Tokyo in terms of Tropical Cyclone information forecast and warning.

India

• India Meteorological Department and TCAC New Delhi act as RSMC tropical cyclones to provide tropical cyclone advisories and related activities to PTC member countries. These activities have resulted in significant reduction in damage and death due to tropical cyclones in the region and effective mitigation of disaster through early warnings. Considering the effectiveness of bulletins and advisories generated by RSMC New Delhi, the membership of PTC has increased to 13 with Yemen joining in 2016 and four Gulf countries, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran, joining in 2018.

China

• Mainly provides assistance to other TC/PTC Members.

Hongkong

• Two forecasters participated in Roving Seminars in 2016 and 2018.

• One forecaster attended the RSMC Tokyo Forecasters’ Training Attachment in 2017.

• Two experts participated in the TC Technical Conference in 2018.

Korea, Republic of

• Three experts from National Typhoon Center of KMA visited RSMC Tokyo from 6 to 7 July 2017 to introduce and discuss current TC analysis and forecast processes, and newly developed forecast skills such as validation of TC best tracks, satellite data analysis on the intensity of TCs.

• Technical presentation on Tropical Cyclone Analysis and Forecast by the expert of RSMC Tokyo in the NTC workshop, held from 22 to 23 November 2018 was given to Members.

Maldives

• Attend PTC annual meetings but not consistently due to financial limitations.

Macao

• The NTP website provided by the RSMC Tokyo/IMA supports TC Track Forecast and the storm surge model from JMA supports storm surge forecast.

• The TLFDP website of CMA/STL is very useful.

Myanmar

• Attend PTC meetings.

• Attachment training – RSMC New Delhi. Attachment training – RSMC Tokyo.

• WMO-PTC joint training support on storm surge forecasting by using India Institute of Technology Storm Surge Model.



102

Malaysia

• Tropical cyclone information from RSMC Tokyo and RSMC New Delhi are used as guidance or reference by MMD's weather forecaster to monitor the tropical cyclone movement over Malaysian waters and subsequently issue the advisory.

• RSMC Tokyo provides technical training to MMD officers in satellite, radar and wave model. Two officers attended the Bilateral Training Workshop on Radar Quality and QPE in Tokyo on 19-23 December 2016. Four officers attended the Technical Meeting on Radar QC and QPE at JMA Headquarters, Tokyo on 12-15 December 2017.

• Shanghai Typhoon Institute hosts MMD officer as Short Term Visiting Scientist, 4-17 September 2017, to enhance knowledge in tropical cyclone projection and impacts.

Sri Lanka

• Annual attachment tropical cyclone training at JMA and RSMC New Delhi.

• Attend PTC meetings.

Thailand

• Synergized Standard Operating procedure for Coastal Multi-Hazards Early Warning System (SSOP) I & II.

Philippines

• Training of forecasters in relation to TC warning issuance, flood warning issuance, satellite and radar images interpretation and rainfall amount forecasting. Yemen

• The impact of the activities of PTC in our country is still limited because we are a new member in PTC. There are no activities we participated except our participation in PTC 44 and PTC 45 sessions.

Singapore

• RSMC advisories.

• TC Passage Reports.

• Integrated workshops and roving seminars.

Thailand

• Typhoon and Storm Surge Forecast via RSMC

• Tokyo’s Numerical Typhoon Prediction.



103

Table A2. Summary of TC Integrated Workshops

No. Theme Place Date

1

Integrating activities of the hydrology, meteorology and DPP components of the Typhoon Committee into the related international frameworks for DRM for better impacts and visibility: hydrology component

Macao, China 04-09 Sep 2006

2 Social and economic impacts of extreme typhoon-related events

Bangkok, Thailand 10-14 Sep 2007

3 Coping with climate change in the Typhoon Committee area

Beijing, China 22-26 Sep 2008

4 Building sustainability and resilience in high risk areas of the Typhoon Committee: assessment and action

Cebu, Philippines 14-18 Sep 2009

5 Urban flood risk management in a changing climate: sustainable and adaptation challenges

Macao, China 06-10 Sep 2010

6 Damage assessment methodology and pre-assessment of typhoon landfall impact

Nha Trang, Vietnam 07-11 Nov 2011

7 Effective warnings Nanjing, China 26-30 Nov 2012

8 Forecasting, warning and DRR strategies in the mitigation of tropical cyclone impact in a multi-hazard environment

Macao, China 02-06 Dec 2013

9

Synergized, integrated, collaborative standard operating procedures strategies to improve early warning system for coastal multi-hazards

UNCC, Bangkok 20-24 Oct 2014

10 Innovative strategy to improve the quality of life for members’ population through mitigating typhoon-related impacts

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

26-29 Oct 2015

11 Improving typhoon impact-based forecasting and warning

Cebu, Philippines 24-28 Oct 2016

12 Tropical cyclone-related forecast, warning and DRR in the era of big data and social media: challenges and opportunities

Jeju, Korea 30 Oct-03 Nov

2017

13 Technological innovation for typhoon-related forecasting and disaster risk reduction

Chiang Mai, Thailand

6-9 Nov 2018



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Table A3. TC training, fellowships and other capacity building activities, 2016/20175

Year 2016 Year 2017 (early 2018)

RSMC Tokyo Attachment Training, Japan Meteorological Agency, 15-26 August 2016

Training and research program on typhoon track and intensity forecast, numerical weather prediction and typhoon re-analysis methods, National Typhoon Center, Korea Meteorological Administration, 16-29 April 2017

RSMC New Delhi Attachment Training, New Delhi, India, 19-30 September 2016.

Fellowship on “Benefit Evaluation of Typhoon Disaster Prevention and Preparedness”, Shanghai Typhoon Institute, China Meteorological Administration, 4-17 September 2017.

Training on technology transfer of Typhoon Analysis and Prediction System, National Typhoon Center, Korea Meteorological Administration, 13-14 October 2016.

International Training Course on Typhoon Monitoring and Forecast, China Meteorological Administration, 18-27 September 2017

Fellowship on “Observational Study on Intensity and Structure of Offshore Typhoon for EXOTICCA”, Shanghai Typhoon Institute, China Meteorological Administration, 1-30 September 2017.

Joint workshop for EXOTICCA and WMO-TLFDP on the target data using in-structure analysis and typhoon numerical model, Shanghai Typhoon Institute, China Meteorological Administration, 21 October 2016.

SSOP-II Workshop on Mechanism of Establishing and Preparing SSOP for Coastal Multi-hazards EWS, WMO Regional Training Centre Nanjing, 24-26 October 2017.

WMO International Training Course on Tropical Cyclone, WMO Regional Training Centre Nanjing, 13-24 November 2017.

Training to improve the influence of the TC Journal Tropical Cyclone Research and Review by providing guidance on editorial procedures, Shanghai Typhoon Institute, China Meteorological Administration, October 2016.

Fourth International Workshop on Tropical Cyclone Landfall Processes, Macau, China, 5-7 December 2017.

RSMC Tokyo Attachment Training, Japan Meteorological Agency, 11-21 December 2017

RSMC New Delhi, Attachment Training, New Delhi, India, 11-22 December 2017.

Technical meeting/training on radar composite map quality management, algorithm for developing QPE product and further utilization and sharing of radar data, Japan Meteorological Agency, 29 November-2 December 2016.

TC Research Fellowship on “Short-term Rainfall Forecast for Tropical Cyclone Using Himawari-8 Data and NWP Model Products”, Hong Kong Observatory, January-February 2018.

Fellowship for the Visiting Editor for Tropical Cyclone Research and Review, Shanghai Typhoon Institute, China Meteorological Administration, February 2018.

5 Some training sessions were also attended by representatives from PTC countries.



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Table A4. Statements in TC/PTC Session Reports Referring to ESCAP/WMO

50th TC Session 44th PTC Session

Request AWG to identify procedures to document how to accept new Members in coordination with TCS, ESCAP and WMO.

Opening Ceremony included the address of Dr Taoyong Peng, Chief, Tropical Cyclone Programme (TCP) Division of WMO, on behalf of Prof. Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General of the WMO.

The following speeches were delivered at the opening ceremony: Dr. Petteri Taalas, Secretary General, World Meteorological Organization; Mr. Kaveh Zahedi, Deputy Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

The Panel recommends WMO to consider to be engaged on the issue to reduce the cost of radiosonde for least developed countries and for developed countries to improve upper air observations.

Panel requests WMO to intervene in institutionalization the sharing of TCP and TC data.

ESCAP and WMO secretariats were also encouraged to help raise TC profile and link up TC’s regional effort with relevant international initiatives.

Panel emphasizes the need for microwave data and products of tropical storms and requests WMO to make arrangements with US Navi NRL and other service providers.

The Committee expressed its appreciation to the ESCAP Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness for its continued support.

Aircraft-based observations of WMO observation system should be transmitted to WMO GTS to provide high quality vertical profile.

RADAR data as metadata should go into the WMO observational system as more than 80 countries have already participated.

The Committee took note of new strategic note of ESCAP Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness for the implementation of the SSOP-II project and future proposals to be submitted.

WMO may organize and support the training on telecommunication, satellite and RADAR.

The Panel appreciated the comprehensive presentation of WMO representative, and thanked WMO support to endeavors of the Panel.

In accordance with the decision of the third joint session of PTC and TC, RSMC Tokyo, ESCAP, WMO, and PTC secretariats invited 3 forecasters from PTC Members.

The Panel was informed by the WMO Secretariat about decisions of the 17th WMO Congress and sessions of Executive Council.

The Panel was further informed by the WMO Secretariat about decisions made by the 68th session of WMO Executive Council.

The Session noted that WGH established the project-bank for coming years under TC Strategic Plan and the strategic framework of ESCAP and WMO on water-related disaster reduction.

The Panel was informed that WMO Congress Resolution 21 is to enhance cooperation between national meteorological and hydrological services for improved flood forecasting and to support the implementation of demonstration projects such as the Flash Flood Guidance System.



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The Committee was informed that 12th WGDRR Annual Workshop was successfully held, which was hosted and funded by NDMI and ESCAP, WMO and AWG members were also invited to join the meeting.

Panel will circulate WMO’s document on Associated Program on Flood Management to the PTC Working Group on Hydrology to formulate the project proposal for the region.

The Panel was presented with WMO DRR activities.

The Committee took note of the successful completion of the RSMC Tokyo training attachment of 6 forecasters from TC and PTC Members and expressed its appreciation to JMA and WMO TCP for continuously supporting this capacity-building initiative.

The Panel may wish to consider to further strengthen partnerships and support WMO regional centres to promote the implementation of the Sendai Framework, particularly MHEWS as a contribution to the WMO DRR Strategic Priority.

The Committee was informed by the WMO secretariat that the EC69 made a decision about development of WMO Global Multi-Hazard System, requesting all WMO technical programmes to contribute to GMAS development.

The Panel noted the training events and workshops in 2017. The Panel invited WMO to consider to continue to arrange for such trainings on annual basis.

The Committee took note of ESCAP’s analytical work on disaster risk reduction.

Members are encouraged to work with WMO to take advantage of the agreement between WMO and China Scholarship Council to train experts at the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology.

The Committee took note of the Asia-Pacific Disaster Resilience Network, ESCAP’s overall work programme on disaster risk reduction, and expressed its support for its implementation.

Members requested WMO to organize training on interpretation of satellite, Radar and NWP model products including ensemble prediction system.

Panel Members are encouraged to align their national research and development projects with the WMO’s World Weather Research Programme.

The Committee took note of ESCAP’s new regional institution, the Asian and Pacific Centre for the Development of Disaster Information Management (APDIM) and its initial work programme.

The Panel invited WMO to organize the 3rd WMO International Conference on Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclones and Climate Change in 2018.

The Committee noted the potential collaboration with APDIM for disaster information management, especially for advancing impact-based forecasting.

The WMO representative presented to the Panel the final statement for 2015 and the interim statement for 2016 of the PTC Trust Fund.

The Committee also noted the priority of APDIM to support WGDRR, WGH and TC/PTC collaboration activities.

The Panel was presented Decision 10 of 68th session of WMO Executive Council on development of impact-based tropical cyclone forecasting and warning products.

The Committee noted Indonesia has expressed interest in joining the Committee as a Member. The AWG will develop procedures to document the process in coordination with TCS, ESCAP and WMO.

The Panel was presented by WMO Secretariat Decision 3 of the WMO EC-69 that urges Members, regional associations, technical commissions and programmes to participate in and contribute to the development of WMO GMAS.



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Table A5. Recommendations of the 3rd Joint Session of TC and PTC in February 2015

• Develop a mechanism for holding joint TC/PTC sessions more frequently and regularly;

• Facilitate PTC and TC members to participate in each other’s annual sessions and workshops/seminars, and encourage PTC members to seek funding through ESCAP or WMO to attend training courses and workshops by TC members;

• Coordinate and undertake joint expert missions in assessing the damage caused by tropical cyclones and related disasters with the support from ESCAP;

• Invite 2 or 3 tropical cyclone forecasters from PTC members to the RSMC Tokyo attachment training every year with the support of ESCAP and request ESCAP to make financial and logistic arrangements for the PTC participants in cooperation with RSMC Tokyo;

• Invite 1 or 2 tropical cyclone forecasters or researchers from PTC member countries to the TRGC Research Fellowship Scheme of KMA every year with the support of WMO/ESCAP or other donors, as well as to request WMO/ESCAP to make financial and logistic arrangements for the PTC participants in cooperation with KMA;

• Invite TC member countries to join the initiatives of RSMC New Delhi on forecast demonstration project on landfalling cyclones over the Bay of Bengal, Severe Weather Forecast Demonstration Project, and coastal inundation modelling with the involvement of PTC member countries;

• Invite TC members to participate in the annual bi-weekly training and short term weekly/bi-weekly training programmes on specific themes such as satellite meteorology, radar meteorology, and NWP currently conducted by RSMC New Delhi/IMD for the benefit of PTC countries, with the support of WMO/ESCAP or other donors;

• Strengthen data sharing between TC and PTC members including satellite data, noting that by the end of 2016 EUMETSAT will terminate the operations of Meteosat-7.

• Request ESCAP and WMO to provide funding and expertise support for extension of TC on-going project of real-time Operational System for Urban Flood Forecasting and Inundation Mapping (OSUFFIM) to PTC members.



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Table A6. Some Examples of Activities of ESCAP and WMO in Support of TC

Synergized Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP) The project on Synergized Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP) for Coastal Multi-Hazard Early Warning System was implemented jointly with PTC with financial support from the ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness. Under the guidance of ESCAP and the Steering Committee of the project, and the strong support and close cooperation from the Advisory Working Group (AWG) members, project manager/ technical advisor, Working Groups and the task force of the project, the Typhoon Committee Secretariat (TCS), in cooperation with the PTC made great efforts on the implementation of the SSOP project since 2012 and successfully terminated the project in May 2015. The project made remarkable achievements and reached the expected goals, including publishing the Manual on SSOP

Expert Mission on Typhoon Haiyan The TC approved the nomination of representatives of the Typhoon Committee Secretariat and National Disaster Management Institute (NDMI) of the Republic of Korea to join the expert mission on Typhoon Haiyan organized by WMO and ESCAP. One of the main purposes of this mission is to obtain valuable insights for hazards monitoring and early warning systems, processes and products in the context of Typhoon Haiyan.

Workshop on Space Application to Reduce Water-related Disaster Risk in Asia The workshop on Space Application to Reduce Water-related Disaster Risk in Asia (SARWDR) was jointly organized by ESCAP and ICHARM in partnership with WMO and TC, and with support by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in December 2010. The ICHARM delivered its training on the Integrated Flood Analysis System (IFAS) at workshop of SARWDR for participants from Members.

Fact-finding and Needs Assessment Mission to Pakistan WMO in collaboration with ESCAP carried out a fact-finding and needs assessment mission to Pakistan following the 2010 floods. TC Members were invited to give consideration of possible support, as appropriate, in particular for short-term requirements of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). Hong Kong, China informed that in response to a request from Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), forecast products were launched for 20 Pakistani cities under the WMO RA II Pilot Project on the Provision of City-Specific NWP Products.

WMO Voluntary Cooperation Programme, Emergency Assistance Fund The technical cooperation activities of WMO and ESCAP in support of the programmes of the Typhoon Committee carried out in 2009, include the WMO Voluntary Cooperation Programme (VCP), Emergency Assistance Fund scheme and Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC) activities. WMO, ESCAP and collaborating partners provide assistance to Members of the Typhoon Committee.

Assessment of Socio-economic Impacts of Flood-related Disasters In 2006, ESCAP and WMO continued to extend its technical support to various activities in several areas of work, apart from its regular activities related to water resources management. There was increase of interest of the members in the application of the findings of the ESCAP project on assessment of socio-economic impacts of flood-related disasters, especially on the application of the ESCAP Disaster Impact Calculator for routine assessment. It encouraged ESCAP to further support TC members in this respect.



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Table A7. Feedback from ESCAP Secretariat on PTC Performance

ESCAP experienced following difficulties when interacting with the PTC Secretariat:

1. Contacting the PTC Secretariat for the evaluation a. Contact by Sanjay Srivastava on 22 November 2018 on Request for Interview with PTC

Secretariat on Tuesday, 27 November 2018 from 1:30pm Bangkok time (11:30 Pakistan time)

Request for

Interview with PTC Secretariat on Tuesday_ 27 November 2018 from 1_30pm Bangkok time (11_30 Pakistan time).msg

b. Contact by Yuki Mitsuka on 27 November 2018 to remind PTC Secretariat about the

Request for Interview with PTC Secretariat on Tuesday, 27 November 2018 from 1:30pm Bangkok time (11:30 Pakistan time)

RE_ Request for

Interview with PTC Secretariat on Tuesday_ 27 November 2018 from 1_30pm Bangkok time (11_30 Pakistan time).msg

c. Contact by Edgar Dante 07 February 2019 on Survey Questionnaire - Evaluation of ESCAP-

WMO partnership for strengthening regional platforms on tropical cyclones

REMINDER_ Survey

Questionnaire - Evaluation of ESCAP-WMO partnership for strengthening regional platforms on tropical cyclones.msg

d. Contact by Sanjay Srivastava on 20 February 2019 on Survey Questionnaire - Evaluation of

ESCAP-WMO partnership for strengthening regional platforms on tropical cyclones

RE_ REMINDER_

Survey Questionnaire - Evaluation of ESCAP-WMO partnership for strengthening regional platforms on tropical cyclones.msg

e. From Yuki Mitsuka’s record, no response received from the PTC Secretariat (20 March

2019)

2. Contacting the PTC Secretariat for inputs for the Commission Paper for the 75th session of ESCAP

a. Contact by Mitchell M Hsieh on 23 January 2019 requesting the Report of the Panel on

Tropical Cyclones



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b. Contact by Sanjay Srivastava on 25 January 2019 regarding the 75th session of ESCAP - Report of the Panel on Tropical Cyclones

FW_ 75th session

of ESCAP - Report of the Panel on Tropical Cyclones.msg

c. Contact by Ghulam Rasul on 26 January 2019 regarding the 75th session of ESCAP - Report of the Panel on Tropical Cyclones

Re_ 75th session of

ESCAP - Report of the Panel on Tropical Cyclones.msg

d. Contact by Yuki Mitsuka on 5 March 2019 reminding the PTC Secretariat on the requested

Report of the Panel on Tropical Cyclones

FW_ 75th session

of ESCAP - Report of the Panel on Tropical Cyclones.msg

e. Contact by Yuki Mitsuka on 8 March 2019 remining the PTC Secretariat on the requested


Friendly reminder_

75th session of ESCAP - Report of the Panel on Tropical Cyclones.msg

f. Contact by Yuki Mitsuka on 14 March 2019 remining the PTC Secretariat on the requested


RE_ Friendly

reminder_ 75th session of ESCAP - Report of the Panel on Tropical Cyclones.msg

g. Contact by Yuki Mitsuka on 14 March 2019 requesting key persons in PTC for inputs for

the Commission

FW_ Friendly


h. Receiving responses from key persons in PTC instead of the PTC Secretariat on inputs for

the Commission

Re_ FW_ Friendly


Re_ FW_ Friendly




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i. Contact by Sanjay Srivastava on 18 March 2019 requesting key persons in PTC for inputs for the Commission

FW_ Draft Email to

PTC Secretariat Imran.msg

j. So far, no response from the PTC Secretariat (status of 20 March)

3. Limited support for SSOP II implementation

a. Instead of the PTC Secretariat, ESCAP is providing contacts of PTC member countries to hasten implementation of the remaining SSOP II projects

SSOP-II project_

next steps.msg

b. A no-cost project extension was granted by ESCAP last year, allowing for a completion of

all remaining activities until November 2019

Key Programmatic Results and Indicators

Typhoon Committee

The key programmatic results and indicators of TC are embodied in its New Strategic Plan 2017-

2021 while that of the PTC can be gleaned from its Coordinated Technical Plan 2016-2019.

The ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee, at its forty-ninth session, held in Yokohama, Japan,

from 21 to 24 February 2017, adopted the New Strategic Plan 2017-2021, which is well-

aligned with the targets of the Sendai Framework on reducing the loss of lives and economic

impacts from disasters in its member countries. The Strategic Plan presents an innovative

approach for monitoring and forecasting typhoons through regional cooperation, while

addressing shared vulnerabilities and risk.

The Typhoon Committee has identified two targets and five key result areas for the period

2017-2021. The two Targets and five KRAs are:

• Target 1: Substantially reduce total mortality caused by typhoon-related disasters of

the Members in the decade 2020 -2030 compared to the period 2005 – 2015.

• Target 2: Reduce direct economic loss caused by typhoon related disasters in relation

to the total gross domestic product (GDP) of the Members by 2030.



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• KRA 1: Enhance capacity to monitor mortality and direct economic loss caused by

typhoon-related disasters.

• KRA 2: Enhance capacity to generate and provide accurate, timely and understandable

information using multi-hazard impact-based forecasts and risk-based warnings

• KRA 3: Improve typhoon-related flood control measures and integrated water

resource management.

• KRA 4: Strengthen typhoon-related disaster risk reduction activities in various sectors,

including increased community-based resiliency with better response,

communication, and information sharing capability.

• KRA 5: Enhance Typhoon Committee’s Regional and International collaboration

mechanism.

To support the Strategic Plan 2017-2021 the Advisory Working Group prepares an annual

operating plan, which is approved at each annual session of the Typhoon Committee. Each

such plan describes the detailed actions and success indicators which would be employed that

year to guide the Committee and its members towards achieving, by 2021, the strategic goals

and activities contained in the strategic plan.

Panel on Tropical Cyclones

The Panel on Tropical Cyclones has prepared and adopted the PTC Coordinated Technical Plan

2016-2019, which identifies the expected results in each area of cooperation as follows:

• Meteorology: Expected Result 1 - Developed capabilities of Members to produce and

provide impact-based forecasts and risk-based warnings of tropical cyclones, storm

surges and associated hazards.

• Hydrology: Expected Result 2 - Enhanced capabilities of Members to produce and

provide better hydrological forecasts and assessments.

• Disaster Risk Reduction: Expected Result 3 - Enhanced capabilities of Members to

promote tropical cyclone disaster resilient communities through providing guidance

on multi-hazard early warning dissemination and response mechanism.

• Training: Expected Result 4 - Development of a strategic approach to capacity building

with a regional perspective.

• Research: Expected Result 5 - Enhanced capabilities of Members to cope with high

impact weather through research.

• Partnership: Expected Result 6 - Enhanced cooperation among Members and with

partner organizations in the provision of forecasts and warnings for tropical cyclones

and storm surges.



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• Management and Governance: Expected Result 7 - Effective management and

functioning of the Panel.

Each expected result is supported by several strategic actions. In addition, the PTC Annual

Operating Plan (AOP) is designed to turn the expected results into specific initiatives and

projects which are needed to achieve the expected results. The AOP, which is prepared and

adopted at the annual PTC sessions, contains detailed actions and performance indicators to

meet the strategic actions of each of the expected results.

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