Our Capacity Assessment program, delivered in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), focuses on enhancing the capabilities of our members to safeguard and advance human rights at the national level.
Capacity Assessments (CAs) offer a thorough evaluation of the skills and resources necessary to meet institutional and human rights goals. By analysing existing capacities with those required, CAs provide a clear approach to identifying strengths, gaps, and opportunities for growth.
Through this structured self-evaluation, facilitated by external experts, NHRIs gain critical insights into their current capabilities and future needs. This process not only identifies areas for improvement but also develops strategies to address these gaps, ensuring NHRIs are well-equipped for the challenges ahead.
CAs are also instrumental in fostering international collaboration, laying the groundwork for institutional strengthening, and supporting NHRIs in delivering on their mandate to protect human rights.
Each assessment is a forward-looking process that draws on the collective expertise of NHRI Commissioners and staff, setting a strategic course for capacity development over the next five years.
I express my sincere appreciation for the comprehensive roadmap outlined in the document aimed at building the capacity of the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal. The recommended strategy ... showcases a very thoughtful and strategic approach towards enhancing the NHRC's efficacy in safeguarding human rights across the nation”.
Lily Thapa, Commissioner, National Human Rights Commission of Nepal
The report following each CA proposes strategies to strengthen the NHRI as a whole, to develop the capacities of staff individually and collectively, and to make the internal processes of the NHRI more effective and more efficient.
Feedback from our members and other NHRIs in the region has been positive and constructive. They say the process has led to significant changes within their NHRIs, often with additional financial and other support from governments and international donors.
Capacity assessments and reviews have been conducted with NHRIs across a wide range of countries, including Fiji, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Bahrain, Timor Leste, India, Myanmar, Uzbekistan, the Philippines, Samoa, the Maldives, Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, New Zealand, Australia, Mongolia, Afghanistan, Palestine, Jordan, Thailand, Oman, and Malaysia.
Get in touch to find out more about our Capacity Assessment program for NHRIs.
Contact usOutlines the key elements and steps to conduct an effective capacity assessment of NHRIs (updated October 2019)
Read more Read more about Capacity Assessment Manual for National Human Rights Institutions
