2.3.3. Designing the NHRI gender audit tool The NHRI must ensure that the audit methods are accessible to, and appropriate for, multiple perspectives and views to be canvassed (especially from those who experience gender-based inequalities) and that will meet the outcomes planned for the audit. Surveys and questionnaires can be very useful tools to gather information from a large number of people. However, that information tends to be more superficial. On the other hand, focus groups, workshops and interviews will be suitable for smaller numbers of people and the information will be more detailed. It is good practice to use a combination of methods to provide robust and in-depth information. Audit methods could include: • Gathering the views of people across the NHRI through: –– focus groups, –– workshops, –– individual and/or group interviews, –– survey questionnaires, –– other participatory techniques such as force field analysis14, community mapping15, photovoice16 and theatre17. Depending on the size of the NHRI you may choose to involve all or some of the NHRI’s personnel. If only selected people’s views are canvassed, it is important to ensure that they include a crosssection of those groupings mentioned previously: those impacted by gender discrimination (rights holders), those who have the structural mandate and responsibility to promote and protect the rights of staff (duty bearers) and those who inform and influence (influencers). • Gathering the views of relevant external stakeholders who have experience of the NHRI and/or an interest in the NHRI’s efforts to achieve gender equity. Similar methods as above may be used. • Reviewing relevant documentation, such as strategic, decision-making and performance documents and reports; budgetary decision-making and allocations; relevant policy and operational documents; human resource policies, practices and data and case studies and/or reports of previous gender equality work. • Observing the physical and cultural environment of the NHRI, such as messages, symbols, imagery and informal attitudes, behaviours, norms and hierarchies. In all of the above, appropriate methods of effectively documenting information need to be considered. OUTPUT A gender audit tool designed to gather in-depth and robust information involving high levels of participation from across the NHRI. 2.3.4. Carrying out the NHRI gender audit The gender mainstreaming team will identify the appropriate personnel resources required to facilitate the audit methods. It is important that the facilitators are skilled at using the audit methods selected and create environments that enable the full and authentic engagement of NHRI members, staff and others. During group activities, facilitators need to ensure that people feel free to have open and deep discussions about the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges facing them. Among other things, good facilitators will minimise formal and informal power differences, will use techniques to encourage free thinking, will encourage participants to clarify and refine their ideas and then demonstrate that these Section 2: Developing an NHRI gender mainstreaming strategy | 21