Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning | A Guide for NHRIs in the Asia Pacific Module 1: Understanding MEAL Section 1.2. Why is MEAL important for NHRIs? NHRIs are established by law or in a country’s constitution with powers to promote and protect human rights. Your NHRI is uniquely positioned to make change happen through the following functions: • monitoring the human rights situation in your country and making your findings available to the public, • providing advice to government so laws and policies reflect national and international human rights standards, • receiving, investigating and resolving complaints so victims of human rights violations can seek redress, • delivering human rights education programs to facilitate knowledge, attitude and behaviour change, • engaging with the international human rights community to raise pressing issues and advocating for recommendations that make a difference in your country. Your NHRI must build effective monitoring and evaluation processes into all of its activities so it can report on its impacts with confidence and authority. You NHRI can also learn how well it is performing by reflecting on the data gathered during monitoring and evaluation processes and using it to better achieve your intended outcomes. Figure 3: Benefits of having a MEAL Framework. It will help you to: Demonstrate greater transparency and accountability to your stakeholders, funders and partners to showcase your successes Enhance your accountability to Parliament and the communities you serve Build a stronger reputation and ability to influence others Make better, data-driven decisions Attract external funding and allocate resources more effectively Continually improve your performance and outcomes by learning from the information gathered Demonstrate your competence against the Paris Principles when you are seeking (re)accreditation 12