About Sub-sectoral Committee on Meteorology (SCOM)
The sub-sectoral committees shall comprise -
- senior officials and technical experts responsible for policy development and technical co-ordination in the sub-sector concerned; and
- consultative members representing public and private sector interests representative of service providers, users, regulators, labour and other stakeholders.
Functions of Sub-sectoral Committee
- Each sub-sectoral committee shall implement the Protocol within the area of responsibility by -
- undertaking comprehensive policy review to develop harmonized regional and national policies;
- aligning policies, legislation and procedures with international rules and practices;
- preparing broad-based implementation strategies aimed at meeting developmental needs and promoting economic growth falling within the parameters of the approved regional development and policy agenda;
- considering the three-monthly progress reports regarding the implementation of this Protocol;
- submitting a recommendation to the Committee of Senior Officials to amend an existing annex or to include a new annex to this Protocol; and
- performing such other functions as may be determined by the Committee of Senior Officials.
- Sub-sectoral committees shall conduct regional policy reviews in respect of their respective sub-sectors and develop proposals for a regional development and policy agenda for submission to the Committee of Senior Officials.
- Sub-sectoral committees shall ensure compliance with international obligations by -
- ensuring complementarity with the policy objectives formulated at international or continental level; and
- developing common action programmes for the ratification of international agreements and the implementation of and co-ordinated compliance with appropriate international standards and practices.
- Sub-sectoral committees shall formulate implementation strategies per sub- sector addressing -
- (a) legal reform measures by -
- i. collectively preparing technical drafting guidelines for legislation in those areas where consensus exists; and
- ii. synchronizing legislative programmes to promote complementary implementation between Member States;
- (b) institutional capacity development and resource needs by -
- i. identifying institutional requirements, including persons and bodies responsible for individual implementation; and
- ii. setting out resource needs and identifying sources of resource provisioning on a regional basis;
- (c) co-ordinated time frames by -
- i. collectively prioritizing matters for short-, medium- and long-term harmonization;
- ii. setting time scales for the synchronized implementation of harmonization measures and programmes;
- ii. considering the position of Member States with limited implementation
- iv. capacity and identifying options for speedier implementation between two or more Member States enjoying greater capacity; and
- v. setting interim and final time scales for the execution of processes, procedures and action steps;
- (d) information and communication requirements;
- (e) financial resource identification by assessing budgetary sources and fund allocations, undertaking cost-benefit analyses and evaluating technical and institutional capacity to comply with international standards and recommended practices;
- (f) human resource development by -
- i. identifying opportunities for co-operation in the transfer of technology, skills and expertise; and
- ii. identifying training needs, developing regional training standards and programmes and guidelines for accreditation of centres and standards of qualification in line with international standards and practices; and
- (g) key economic, financial, technical, operational and social performance indicators.
- Sub-sectoral committees shall continually review implementation strategies to ensure compliance with the approved regional development and policy agenda and shall refer proposals to amend that agenda affecting matters of principle, to the Committee of Senior Officials.
- For the purposes of the execution of their functions, the sub-sectoral committees shall report to the Committee of Senior Officials on progress achieved in realizing the objectives of this Protocol and formulate recommendations for approval by the Committee of Senior Officials.
- A sub-sectoral committee may establish a specialized working group or groups to assist in the execution of its functions.
For more information refers to the Article 13.6 and Article 13.7 on Protocol on Transport Communications and Meteorology (document)
