The International Activities Office (IAO) manages the WMO Voluntary
Cooperation Program (VCP) for the U.S. National Weather
Service. The VCP is a technical program focused on meeting
the needs of WMO Member countries to implement WMO Scientific
and Technical Programs. The VCP provides support for
Member countries, at their request, in the form of equipment
and services or training and education. The VCP is maintained
by voluntary contributions received from Members for
the purpose of meeting official requests proposing cooperation
projects in various fields of meteorology and operational
hydrology.
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The
U.S. National Weather Service administers approximately
US$2M each year in funds authorized by the Department
of State |
Importance
of the Program
Since its inception at U.S. behest in 1967, the WMO's
VCP Program has provided training and equipment to help
developing countries participate in WMO Programs, particularly
the World Weather Watch which provides continuous, vital
atmospheric and oceanic data and products to:
- Give the U.S. and other nations the basic information
needed to forecast weather events and assist with
critical information on natural and man-made disasters
that affect life, safety, water use, and crop yields
around the globe;
- Support civil aviation, marine navigation, and basic
global data needs for industry and many U.S. agencies,
including the Department of Defense; and
- Monitor changes in climate and freshwater availability.
Programs of this type are important to the United States
in that the NWS requires meteorological and hydrological
data from outside its borders for forecasting severe
weather and extreme climate, and for international air
travel. Other parts of the U.S. national economy, in
their routine operations, depend on weather and climate
data from other parts of the world (e.g., shipping,
power companies and agricultural interests).
PROCESS
Under VCP procedures, Members are invited to submit
official request forms under the VCP. After review of
the request in the WMO Secretariat and subsequent consideration
by the President of WMO, a consolidated list of project
requests under the VCP is circulated among Member countries.
Donor Members able and willing to offer support under
the VCP, decide what support will be provided and, in
most cases, make the arrangements. The WMO Secretariat,
upon notification of support, assists as required and
also arranges for the agreement between the donor's
Government and the recipient's Government.
SAMPLE
PROGRAMS
Four-month fellowships are provided to visiting meteorologists
as part of the U.S. contribution to the VCP. The fellowship
provides a stipend for living expenses (housing, meals
and transportation). Health insurance is also provided
through WMO.
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Candidates
should submit a VCP fellowship application to
WMO through their Permanent Representative to
the WMO. For additional information click here. |
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For additional
information on the World Weather Watch and other
WMO Programs click on the graphic below to go
to the WMO Home Page .* It will open in a new
window. |
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