Strengthening NHRIs through strategic planning support Our work focuses on building the operational skills, expertise, and capabilities of NHRIs to better protect and promote human rights. This includes enhancing internal operations such as strategic planning; monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL); and gender mainstreaming. Through training, advice, and resources, we help NHRIs strengthen their operational capacity to fulfil their mandates. In partnership with UNDP and OHCHR in Turkmenistan, we supported the Office of the Ombudsman in developing a five-year Strategic Plan for 2024–2029. This effort resulted from the 2022 CA, which identified the need for a strategic planning framework. This strategic direction is expected to strengthen the institution’s long-term impact and capacity to fulfil its mandate. During a transition period at the Office of the Ombudsman of Samoa, we worked in partnership with the Pacific Community (SPC), and OHCHR Pacific office to carry out consultations to support the institution. The consultations, initiated by the Acting Ombudsman, focused on proposed amendments to the Ombudsman Act 2013 and capacity development needs during the transition. The team met with the Ombudsman’s leadership, staff, and external stakeholders, including Samoa’s Prime Minister and Attorney General, to build consensus on the amendments and identify further areas for support to strengthen its work. Strengthening the leadership of NHRIs Supporting NHRI leadership is a core part of our work. We help leaders build institutions committed to promoting and protecting human rights in line with the Paris Principles, fostering independence and initiative. Our leadership services include high-level dialogues, virtual sessions, and outreach calls offering guidance and solidarity. In 2023-24, we engaged NHRI leaders through Chairperson calls, introductory sessions, and ad-hoc advice to reinforce their resilience and effectiveness. Key activities included outreach calls with the NHRIs of the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates in August 2023; an introduction to APF for the NHRI of Indonesia in September 2023; and an outreach call with the NHRI of Fiji in December 2023. In February 2024, we held an introductory call with the NHRI of Oman. We also translated our NHRI Leadership Guide into Arabic and Russian, making it more accessible for leaders in West and Central Asia. Participants from the APF, Office of the Ombudsman of Turkmenistan, GANHRI, OHCHR, and UNDP gathered in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan for strategic planning consultations. APF Annual Report 2023-24 21