Annual Report 2012–2013 Figure 1 shows the collective progress in implementing the action plans. The figure indicates steady progress in implementing recommendations regarding situational assessment, defining visions and mandates, formulating policies and strategies, monitoring, evaluation and reporting, the management of human rights cases, and those regarding the conduct of human rights analysis. The reduction in implementation of recommendations regarding stakeholder engagement, advocacy and awareness can be attributed to the recent completion of a number of capacity needs assessments, where the NHRIs have not yet fully implemented outreach activities. Figure 2 shows the extent to which the capacity needs assessments have improved capacity by NHRI, as measured by the mean of each participating NHRIs’ views on the degree to which the capacity needs assessment has been effective. Figure 2: Perceived impact of implementing capacity needs assessment recommendations in 2012 and 2013 (median ratings across participating NHRIs and different themes) Assess a situation and define vision and mandate Formulate policies and strategies Monitor, evaluate and report Manage human rights cases 2013 2012 Engage with stakeholders Conduct human rights analysis Advocate and raise human rights awareness 0 1 2 3 4 5 Most members participating in the capacity needs assessment program to date agree that the recommendations arising from the assessment have improved their capacity in all areas (the median response across the participating NHRIs and across different themes was 4 out of 5). The Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights, which last year indicated that the recommendations had not improved their capacity in several areas, has this year acknowledged progress in these areas. The Australian and New Zealand Human Rights Commissions indicated that it was too early to tell whether the recommendations, made in 2012, had demonstrably improved their capacity. They also indicated a need to review the program evaluation methodology in response to improvements to the capacity needs assessment process in the course of the year. An independent review of the design, methodology, delivery, implementation and impact of the APFUNDP-OHCHR capacity assessment program was undertaken during the reporting period. The reviewer undertook a desktop review of all capacity assessments to date and travelled to two NHRIs to discuss the implementation of the recommendations of their capacity assessments and their resulting impact. The reviewer also participated in a regional meeting of all NHRIs that have participated in the capacity assessment program to date which was held in Bangkok, Thailand from 10–14 September 2012. The independent review strongly supported the capacity assessment program and made a number of recommendations to the three partners to further strengthen it. The APF adopted all the recommendations of the independent review. 1. Enhance members’ institutional capacity to promote and protect human rights | 17