Part I Defining the issues to be monitored • How? As in step two, qualitative techniques can gather feedback from particular rights holders. Quantitative perception surveys and indicators (e.g. the Open Budget Index) can provide a general overview of the country situation. Element Human rights norm Types of assessment techniques Evaluate planned and actual resource expenditures Core obligations Calculate the percentage of the State’s budget allocated to social spending relevant to the specific right, comparing to relevant benchmarks. Non-discrimination Progressive realization according to maximum available resources Transparency and accountability Identify which population groups are benefitting from spending; contrast spending disparities with disparities in human rights outcomes. Compare allocations to previous budgets to see how spending has evolved over time, taking into account economic growth over the period. Track public expenditure (e.g. using public expenditure tracking surveys or social audits). Evaluate resource generation Progressive realization according to maximum available resources Non-discrimination Calculate the State budget as a percentage of the overall economy and compare to similar countries. Identify and assess the adequacy and fairness of the State’s main revenue sources (e.g. taxation, borrowing, international assistance). Evaluate the State’s fiscal and/or monetary policies governing the raising of revenue (e.g. identify tax base as a percentage of GDP and track its evolution over time, taking into account economic growth over the period). Analyse relevant policy processes Participation, accountability, transparency, right to a remedy Collect feedback on public participation in the design, implementation and evaluation of fiscal and monetary policies (e.g. through interviews or other qualitative methods and quantitative data, if available). Analyse indicators related to transparency of economic policy process. 3.3.4. Step four: Assessment Step four draws together the findings from the first three steps to make an overall assessment of the State’s performance in meetings obligation to realize ESCR. However, before making that assessment, it considers some the broader factors that influence the operation of the State, suggesting ways to use political economy analysis techniques to ask: “Why haven’t efforts been more successful?” Key questions include: What other socio-economic, political or cultural factors inhibit people’s ability to enjoy the rights being studied? Why has reform been slow? Why are more resources not available? Has it been a result of genuine limitations on the State? Interference from third parties? Lack of political will? Identify other determinants • Why? To determine whether other socio-economic, political or cultural factors inhibit people’s ability to enjoy their rights, or seek redress if they are violated, and to identify the responses expected of the State. • How? Although these barriers can be uncovered through sophisticated quantitative methods, such as econometrics, qualitative approaches, such as capacity gaps analysis, can also facilitate the participation of rights holders. Chapter 3: Monitoring the fulfilment of economic, social and cultural rights | 37