Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions • a baseline assessment of capacity that can be used to measure improvement and achievement over time • an additional means to improve its effectiveness • training for key NHRI personnel in CA and CD • the opportunity to lead CD for other NHRIs in the Asia Pacific region • a firm basis for international cooperation to assist NHRIs when they undertake institutional strengthening through CD. The CA was invaluable for this Office for a number of reasons. Firstly, it helped us to understand our own shortcomings in being able to fulfil our human rights mandate and to devise a strategy to address these. Secondly, the CA report was a wonderful advocacy tool in helping us to secure much needed additional resources for the Office. Finally, the process focused the Office on exactly how the human rights mandate should be fulfilled, educated staff and external parties on its new functions, and pointed us in the right direction to become an ‘A’ accredited NHRI. MAIAVA LULAI TOMA Ombudsman of Samoa Many NHRIs have found CAs so valuable that they have sought to keep the information, analysis and strategising up to date, through a Capacity Assessment Review (CAR) or another CA. 5.2. CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REVIEWS A CAR is a means of building on the CA and the CA report. It is a shorter, simpler process than the CA itself, facilitated by a team of two persons, one from the APF and one other, possibly from UNDP over a one week period. The CAR team does not attempt to speak with all NHRI leaders, senior manages and staff, as the CA team does. Rather, it focuses on the top leadership – the Commission members or ombudsman and the senior managers – and key external stakeholders. It does not make quantitative assessments of current and required future capacities but relies on the qualitative information provided in meetings and interviews and through a review of documents. The CAR takes the CA report as its starting point. It looks at progress in implementation of the CA recommendations, including what obstacles to implementation have arisen. It also examines changes in the broader context in which the NHRI is working. It results in a short report to the NHRI with updated recommendations that take account of progress in implementation, developments within the NHRI and context changes. A CAR is usually undertaken about three or four years after the CA, at a time chosen by the NHRI on the basis of its own identified needs. It can coincide with the completion of terms of one group of NHRI members and the commencement of a new group or with the preparation of a new strategic plan or with legislative amendments to the NHRI’s mandate. It could come with a significant expansion or contraction of the NHRI’s budget and so staffing. Basically, a CAR is undertaken when the NHRI considers it appropriate and relevant. 52