Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions 4.3. STRENGTHENING LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS Leadership is a function and responsibility shared by all those who have decision making and supervisory authority within the NHRI. Depending on the NHRI, it may include the commission members or ombudsman, the executive director (or secretary-general) and directors and senior managers. The development of NHRI leadership capacities is a critical component to the full and effective functioning of an NHRI. Under the issue of leadership, strategies and actions that have been relevant to many NHRIs include: • improve the NHRI’s management systems by employing a structured approach to management, including clarification of roles and responsibilities of those in leadership positions and the development and adoption of clear operational procedures and rules • delegate to managers the authority they require to manage the affairs of the NHRI in accordance with their roles and responsibilities while ensuring accountability to their supervisors • provide opportunity and time for leaders and all staff to meet to exchange information and views, receive feedback on the progress of the NHRI’s initiatives, and develop proposals on the overall objectives, priorities and strategies of the NHRI, its performance and its challenges • provide leadership development in accordance with leadership areas appropriate to that position through training courses, learning events, study tours and other activities relating to some of the following areas: –– strategic planning, particularly engaging stakeholders in policy formulation and setting up organisational and operational work plans for implementing, managing, and monitoring progress in strategic plans –– results-based management and change management, particularly with regard to building coalitions, alliances and finding/targeting champions –– ethics and integrity –– team building, negotiation and consensus building –– international human rights law, the international human rights system, contemporary human rights issues and strategic planning. 4.4. STRENGTHENING HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT For any organisation, human resource capacities are: • individual expertise, skills and experience – technical and functional capacities – relevant to the position • institutional personnel policies and procedures, including recruitment and promotional procedures, incentive systems, performance management, training and development plans and programs, and team relations. The NHRI CAs to date have highlighted the need to strengthen and implement mechanisms that allow for a fair, transparent and merit-based human resource management system that motivates and supports staff to carry out their functions. Proposed strategies and actions on human resource management have included: • ensure an appropriate staff structure with adequate numbers of qualified and professional staff • adopt a staffing structure that ensures proper lines of supervision and accountability and offers opportunities to staff for internal promotion and career development 46