Governance
The SOFF institutional structure and governance is inclusive and focused.
SOFF SECRETARIAT
The SOFF Secretariat is accountable to the SOFF Steering Committee and operates under its overall guidance.
It is hosted by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and follows WMO financial and staff regulations and rules with respect to all administrative policies and procedures.
The SOFF Secretariat work plan and budget for the SOFF First Implementation Period can be viewed here.
MAIN FUNCTIONS
Governance
Serve the SOFF Steering Committee and the SOFF Advisory Board in performing their functions.
Operations and Programming
Coordinate SOFF operations, including programming and appraisal processes, and facilitate coordination and collaboration between beneficiary countries, IEs, peer advisors and WMO Technical Authority.
Financing
Liaise with the Trustee to ensure the Steering Committee is informed about the SOFF UNMPTF administration and fiduciary oversight and collaborate with the Trustee to ensure it has the required information to perform its duties.
Monitoring & Evaluation
Monitor the SOFF portfolio and its performance based on information provided by peer advisors, the IEs, beneficiary countries and the Trustee, and per the SOFF results framework.
Communication
Engage SOFF stakeholders and facilitate information sharing and learning, transparent communication and outreach.
Resource Mobilization and Outreach
Coordinate SOFF resource mobilization and outreach activities in close collaboration with the Steering Committee.
SOFF SECRETARIAT COMPOSITION
SECRETARIAT STAFF
Markus Repnik
Director of the SOFF Secretariat
Markus Repnik
Director of the SOFF Secretariat
Markus is Director of the SOFF Secretariat. He is an international development executive with 30+ years of experience gained with the United Nations, World Bank Group, Austrian Government, and private sector, including many years of operations experience in developing and transition countries. Previously he served as Director of Development Partnerships at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), as Managing Director of the Global Mechanism of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and as manager at the World Bank Group.
Olga Miltcheva
Deputy Director and Head of Partnerships
Olga Miltcheva
Deputy Director and Head of Partnerships
Ana Heureux
Programme Management Officer
Ana Heureux
Programme Management Officer
Ana oversees the portfolio of SOFF implementation activities and leads the operations cluster. Ana holds a PhD in Earth Sciences from the University of Oxford.
Prior to joining the SOFF team, Ana worked in international development including with International Financial Institutions, the United Nations and the US Government. Previously with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Ana led the organization’s engagement with the SOFF as Implementing Entity and the portfolio of climate finance for the Asia and Pacific Region.
Mario Peiró Espí
Partnership Officer
Mario Peiró Espí
Partnership Officer
Mario leads resource mobilization and partnerships. He holds a bachelor’s in environmental sciences and a master’s degree in Air Pollution and Climate Change from the University of Valencia.
He worked with UNDP in the Caribbean as Climate Specialist, supporting the Climate project portfolio of the Dominican Republic UNDP Country Office. Before joining the SOFF Secretariat, he worked as a project officer in WMO and has publications as a result of his research on climate change impacts.
Yasmeen Telwala
Programme Officer
Yasmeen Telwala
Programme Officer
Yasmeen is a Program Officer at SOFF with extensive experience working with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in environmental sustainability and climate resilience. She has engaged in intergovernmental processes, contributing to policy briefs and initiatives under the UNCCD, FAO and UNEP/CMS. With strong project management skills, she has coordinated multi-stakeholder initiatives, facilitated international collaborations, and supported sustainable development programs focused on biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and responsible resource governance.
Zulkarnain
Scientific Programme Officer
Zulkarnain
Scientific Programme Officer
Zulkarnain is supporting the scientific and technical aspects of SOFF. He previously served as a seconded expert at WMO’s WIGOS branch, where he focused on supporting the establishment of Regional WIGOS Centers, primarily in Africa, Asia, and West Pacific and aiding WMO Members with their observing networks, including GBON implementation. Before joining WMO, he worked at the Indonesian NMHS for 10+ years.
Anjeline Odialla
Associate Coordination Officer
Anjeline Odialla
Associate Coordination Officer
Anjie oversees the administrative operations of the Secretariat. She holds a Master of Science in management with HRM from the University of Sunderland and a Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resources management.
She has over ten years of experience in administrative operations within the United Nations Organizations. Prior to her current role, she worked at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) in New York.
Adaiana Lima
Innovative Finance Consultant
Adaiana Lima
Innovative Finance Consultant
Vacant
Associate Advocacy and Communications Officer
Tshering Lhamo
Assistant Programme Officer
Tshering Lhamo
Assistant Programme Officer
Tshering assists the SOFF operations and communications. Previously, she worked at the NMHS in Bhutan focusing on operational weather forecasting and NWP models. Her experience includes working with user agencies, climate change impacts and building capacity of mid-level professionals and local government leaders. She was the weather focal at the first international ultra-marathon in Bhutan- “Snowman Race.” She has BSc in Atmospheric-Science and an MSc in Hydrology and Water Resources.
Ha Young Lee
Data Analyst
Ha Young Lee
Data Analyst
Ha Young is a data analyst at the SOFF Secretariat. Before her current role, she served as a Project Management and Data Analyst Consultant at UNICEF, where she managed global data on immunization coverage rates and stock out data for various countries. She developed dashboards that illustrate global trends aimed at reducing the number of children who receive zero doses of vaccines. Previously, Ha Young interned at UNCTAD, assisting the team with data analysis related to illicit financial flows in Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
Zarifou Djibril
Data Management Consultant
Zarifou Djibril
Data Management Consultant
Data Analytics and Management professional with experience in developing monitoring tools, dashboards, and databases to support decision-making and efficiency. Proficient in Office 365, SharePoint, Python, VBA, and Power Automate, Zarifou contributes to SOFF through financial and legal tracking tools, M&E, and operational dashboards. Fluent in English, French, and Turkish, he is committed to sustainable development and improving organizational processes.
Anaëlle Deneuve
Communications Consultant
Anaëlle Deneuve
Communications Consultant
Anaëlle works with SOFF partnership outreach and communication team. She is researching climate-driven migration and adaptive strategies at the Geneva Graduate Institute and has a background in Sustainable Development studies. Before joining SOFF team, she gained professional experience by working in CSR project management and Audit for private companies in Paris
Rebecca Nambooze
Operations Intern
Rebecca Nambooze
Operations Intern
Rebecca is an Operations Intern with SOFF. She has an MSc in Hydrogeology Engineering from the University of Miskolc, Hungary (2024), and a BSc in Civil Engineering. With five years of experience as a project coordinator in the building and construction industry, she has worked with the UN World Food Programme and Excel Construction Ltd both organizations in Uganda.
Sammara Audi
Communications Intern
Sammara Audi
Communications Intern
Sammara supports communications and outreach at SOFF partnerships on working to aid climate observation and adaptation in vulnerable countries. She is pursuing a B.Sc. in Earth and Environmental Sciences at Constructor University Bremen and has gained communications experience with WMO and UNFCCC in Bonn. Bridging science, policy, and communications, she brings a global perspective and a commitment to advancing effective climate solutions.
GLOBAL FACILITATORS
Johannes Linn
Non-resident Senior fellow at Brookings Institution, Former World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia
Johannes Linn
Non-resident Senior fellow at Brookings Institution, Former World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia
Johannes has worked for over 50 years on development challenges and more recently also on climate change issues. He is committed to support the mobilization of financial and human resources to help achieve the SDGs and the Paris Agreement climate goals, including through improved weather and climate observations. But he also believes that we must improve the way these resources are deployed to achieve sustainable impact at scale and is working towards that goal as Co-Chair of the international Scaling Community of Practice.
Laura Tuck
Former World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development
Laura Tuck
Former World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development
Laura has over 40 years of global experience working on development issues; including senior leadership at the World Bank where she was responsible for climate change and sustainable development more generally. As a Global Facilitator for SOFF, she is committed to improving weather and climate forecasting to increase the efficiency and impact of climate action in mitigation and adaptation, as well as in all sectors that rely on sound weather forecasts (e.g., agriculture, transport, renewable energy).
Khadeeja Naseem
Former Maldives Environment Minister of State and UNFCCC lead negotiator
Khadeeja Naseem
Former Maldives Environment Minister of State and UNFCCC lead negotiator
Khadeeja Naseem was the Minister of State of Environment Climate Change and Technology where she was the lead negotiator for Maldives in international climate change talks. She was also elected to represent the Alliance of Small Island States in the transitional committee established to design the new global fund for loss and damage, a key outcome of UNFCCC’s 27th COP in 2022. Khadeeja also was the national lead for the UN Secretary Generals Early Warnings for All Initiative for the Maldives and oversee regulatory and capacity strengthening work of the Maldives Meteorological Service. She also headed the energy portfolio of the Ministry, leading and coordinating the investment plan for the ambitious commitment of Maldives becoming net zero by 2030. She also oversaw the renewable energy programs in 113 islands including close liaison with multiple donor agencies including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and bilateral partners. She has over 10 years of senior management experience in managing sustainable development programs, public administration, establishing strategic partnerships and climate diplomacy both domestic and internationally. She holds an undergraduate degree in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic, USA and a Master of Environment in Climate Policy from the University of Melbourne, Australia.
SOFF SECRETARIAT
TERMS OF REFERENCE
SERVICE SOFF GOVERNING BODIES
- Liaise with SOFF Steering Committee co-chairs and members, organize meetings and prepare all relevant documentation
- Liaise with SOFF Advisory Board co-chairs and members, organize meetings and prepare all relevant documentation
- Support the SOFF co-creators – WMO, UNEP, UNDP – in the implementation of their different roles.
COORDINATE SOFF OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMMING
- Liaise with the UNMPTF Office as SOFF Trustee to ensure the Steering Committee is informed about the SOFF UNMPTF administration and fiduciary oversight
- Support the Trustee activities, including the disbursement of funds to and legal arrangements with SOFF IEs, peer advisors, and countries
- Collaborate with the Trustee to ensure that the Trustee has all the information necessary to carry out its responsibilities, including notification to the Trustee of allocations approved by the Steering Committee.
FINANCE
- Liaise with the UNMPTF Office as SOFF Trustee to ensure the Steering Committee is informed about the SOFF UNMPTF administration and fiduciary oversight
- Support the Trustee activities, including the disbursement of funds to and legal arrangements with SOFF IEs, peer advisors, and countries
- Collaborate with the Trustee to ensure that the Trustee has all the information necessary to carry out its responsibilities, including notification to the Trustee of allocations approved by the Steering Committee.
DOCUMENT LIBRARY
SOFF document library relating to Steering Committee Meetings, Advisory Board Meetings, SOFF Secretariat and Funding Requests.
View Secretariat Document Repository View our complete Document Library
TERMS OF REFERENCE
This document presents the Terms of Reference of the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund (UN MPTF).
The SOFF Terms of Reference are the result of an intensive two-year participatory process to which many stakeholders contributed. The document provided the basis for the establishment of SOFF as a UN MPTF and for the administrative arrangements for financial contributions to the Facility.
