Capacity Assessment Manual for National Human Rights Institutions Approach • To enable the NHRI to assess its current capacities against the capacities it requires to implement its mandate and its strategic plan • To identify the capacity gaps, or deficits, that are the most important and most urgent to be addressed • To develop strategies and actions to address the identified capacity gaps in a long-term manner. Participants The process is a self-assessment approach in which: • all NHRI leaders, managers and staff are the most important participants • a small number of key external stakeholders are also invited to contribute their perspectives • a CA team facilitates the process, in consultation with an NHRI liaison person. Methodology Information is collected through: • individual and group discussions with the NHRI leaders, managers and staff • completion of an analytical questionnaire by NHRI leaders, managers and staff • background material shared by the NHRI • individual and group interviews with key external stakeholders. Product An analytical report of: • the self-assessment, with both qualitative and quantitative components, and • proposed strategies and actions to address identified priority needs for capacity development, prepared jointly by the NHRI and the CA team. Result Increased effectiveness of the NHRI through implementation of a capacity development program in accordance with the recommended strategies and actions, with support if required from the APF and others. Project implementation The project will be implemented by the CA team, appointed by the APF, in close consultation with the NHRI’s Liaison Officer. The team will request the appointment of the Liaison Officer when the project proposal is approved by the NHRI. Implementation involves five principal stages. 1. Preparation The NHRI and the CA team prepare for the CA. The NHRI is briefed on the process and decides whether to proceed. If it decides to undertake the CA, a Memorandum of Understanding is entered between the APF and the NHRI. If possible a preliminary visit is made by two or three people on behalf of the CA team for the briefing and the preparation. The membership of the CA team is finalised. The NHRI appoints its Liaison Officer to work with the CA team. Together they identify the key documents and the small number of external stakeholders to assist the CA. The external stakeholders should be people who know the NHRI and its work well and can comment from experience and knowledge on the NHRI’s capacities. They can be drawn from Appendices | 55