Internal Oversight Office

The Internal Oversight Office provides an independent and objective assessment of financial, regulatory, administrative and operational activities at WMO with a view to support effective and efficient use of resources at the agency. 

The Internal Oversight Office also investigates all allegations or presumptions of fraud, waste, mismanagement or misconduct, or suspected fraudulent activities within WMO. 

We take all reports of alleged misconduct seriously.

Report misconduct through our online form

or write to us

Director, Internal Oversight Office, 
WMO, 7 bis, avenue de la Paix,
Case postale 2300, CH-1211 Geneva,
Switzerland

Email: oversightatwmo [dot] int (oversight[at]wmo[dot]int)
Telephone: +41 22 730 84 72

Overview

The Internal Oversight Office was established in line with Financial Regulation 13.7-13.10, which requires that the WMO Secretary-General establish an office to provide for an independent verification of financial, administrative and operational activities of WMO, including programme evaluation, monitoring mechanisms and consulting services.

The Office is also responsible for investigating allegations of fraud, waste, mismanagement or misconduct and for undertaking inspections of services and organizational units.

It also provides control expertise to minimize risks, improve process quality, and enhance operational effectiveness to further WMO business goals. The Internal Oversight Office is governed by the Charter of the Internal Oversight Office.


Disclosure of reports

The Annual Report of the Internal Oversight Office is presented to the Executive Council in line with the WMO Financial Regulations.

Internal Audit reports of the Internal Oversight Office are disclosed in accordance with the Policy for the Disclosure of Oversight Reports approved by the Executive Council.


Internal Oversight Office Annual Reports

IOO Annual Reports

IOO Plan of Work


Activities

Internal Audits

The Internal audit unit provides independent, objective assurance and consulting services designed to add value and improve an organization's operations. It helps WMO accomplish its objectives by ensuring a systematic and disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes.

Internal Audits are performed in accordance with the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing and the Code of Ethics of the Institute of Internal Auditors. This includes periodic quality assessments as well as ongoing quality assurance and improvement initiatives.

Investigations

The Internal Oversight Office is mandated to investigate all reports of alleged wrongdoing involving WMO staff members and allegations of fraud and corruption against WMO whether committed by WMO staff members or other persons, parties or entities.

Investigations are undertaken in accordance with Uniform Guidelines for Investigations of the Conference of International Investigators of the Conference of International Investigators, the relevant WMO rules and regulations, the Principles and Guidelines for Investigations adopted by the Conference of International Investigators, and the professional standards of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Evaluations

The Internal Oversight Office is responsible for delivering on the independent evaluation function of WMO.  The office ensures systematic and impartial assessments of activities, projects, programmes, strategies and operations. Evaluations focus on expected and achieved accomplishments, examining the results chain, processes, contextual factors and causality in order to understand achievements or the lack thereof.

Evaluations in WMO aim at assessing the relevance, impact, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of interventions and contributions of the WMO programmes and activities. The evaluations are conducted according to the WMO Evaluation Policy which are in conformance with UN Evaluation Group norms and standards.


Other Oversight Activities

Oversight activities promote accountability and transparency at WMO by reinforcing the accountabilities and internal control established by the governing bodies and the Secretary-General.

Joint Inspection Unit

Joint Inspection Unit, the only independent external oversight body of the United Nations system mandated to conduct evaluations, inspections and investigations system-wide.

All the reports and notes of the Joint Inspection Unit are available on their public website: www.unjiu.org. 

Follow-up reports on the implementation of the JIU recommendations:

Ethics

WMO is committed to the highest standards of ethics, integrity, accountability and transparency as outlined in the WMO Code of Ethics.

Staff members may contact the UN Ethics Office in New York using the channels listed on their website.


Report fraud and abuse

Staff Members have an obligation to report suspected fraud and abuse to the Internal Oversight Office as per the WMO Code of Ethics.

Anyone with information regarding fraud against WMO-related activities or involving WMO staff are strongly encouraged to report this information through the Direct Communication Line, details of which are provide above.

An individual who makes such a report or who cooperates in good faith with an audit or investigation has the right to be protected against retaliation in accordance with WMO Policy for the protection against Retaliation for Reporting Misconduct and for Cooperating with Duly Authorized Audits or Investigations.

Those reporting misconduct can choose to remain anonymous. You are encouraged to be as specific as possible in your complaint, allowing the Office to understand the allegations and proceed with its review. WMO to appropriately investigate the matter.