Capacity Assessment Manual for National Human Rights Institutions Unlike many other forms of assessment, the CA is participatory and inclusive. It seeks to involve everyone in an NHRI – leaders (commission members or ombudsman), senior managers and all staff, including lawyers, investigators, administrative and finance staff, secretaries, drivers, everyone. All perspectives on the NHRI’s capacity are sought and welcomed. All leaders and staff are given opportunities to participate and are urged to contribute. In this way, unlike many other forms of assessment, the CA is able to reflect the full range of perspectives within the NHRI and to draw on the expertise of all the NHRI’s leaders and staff. The CA focuses on development issues in the five core capacity areas identified in the UNDP framework: • policies, procedures and processes, including organisational structure • leadership • human resources and knowledge • financial and other resources • accountability. It analyses these five core areas in relation to six functional and technical capacities: • capacity to plan strategically, and implement plans • capacity to investigate, manage and handle complaints • capacity to conduct human rights research and analysis • capacity to advocate, raise awareness and educate • capacity to engage with stakeholders and create/manage partnerships • capacity to monitor and evaluate. The CA report then proposes strategies and actions to address the identified core capacity challenges and to strengthen the NHRI as a whole, including developing the capacities of individual staff and making the internal processes and procedures of the NHRI more efficient and more effective. It tries to identify strategies and actions that are within the current or reasonably obtainable resources of the NHRI. The report’s primary objective is not to mobilise additional financial resources, physical resources or staff, although that may be a result. The CA team can also advise on opportunities to increase resources, if required. The CA complements the strategic planning, priority setting and work planning processes of the NHRI. It can be carried out in conjunction with the strategic planning process and is a valuable means of strengthening its implementation. The CA process also helps the NHRI review its organisational structure, operational functions and business processes as well as analysing stakeholder positions. 2.4. THE INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL REVIEW OF THE CAPACITY ASSESSMENT PROCESS In 2012 UNDP commissioned an independent external review of the CAP and the CA process. The review was strongly supported by the other CA partners, APF and OHCHR. The review was conducted through interviews with those involved in CAs in the three partner agencies and in the NHRIs themselves, a desk review of the nine CA reports produced at that time and visits to the NHRIs of Palestine and the Maldives that had undertaken CAs. The draft report was also discussed at a consultation arranged for that purpose in Bangkok, Thailand, in October 2012. The review report was finalised in November 2012. The review report affirmed the value of CAs and the validity of the CA process. Chapter 2: The capacity assessment approach for national human rights institutions | 11