Senior Executive Officers (SEOs) from National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) across the Asia Pacific region met online on 6 August 2026 for the latest meeting of the APF SEO Network.

The meeting formed part of the Network's quarterly virtual meeting series, established to provide an ongoing forum for senior NHRI executives to exchange experiences, discuss common challenges and share practical solutions to strengthen institutional effectiveness.

The discussion focused on strengthening institutional capacity through staff development, recognising the critical role that staff capability plays in enabling NHRIs to effectively deliver on their mandates to promote and protect human rights.

Participants heard presentations from several member institutions on their approaches to organisational learning and staff development, including the development of capacity development strategies, implementation of staff training programmes, knowledge management practices, and initiatives to support organisational learning and sustainability.

The presentations highlighted a range of approaches being used by NHRIs to build staff competencies, strengthen institutional knowledge and foster a culture of continuous learning. Participants shared lessons learned from implementing capacity development initiatives, as well as challenges related to resourcing training programmes, staff turnover and retaining institutional knowledge.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for SEOs to discuss practical strategies for identifying and accessing professional development opportunities for staff, including partnerships, external training opportunities and peer learning approaches.

In addition, participants received updates from the APF Secretariat on recent and upcoming activities, resources and opportunities available to support member institutions.

The discussion reinforced the value of the SEO Network as a dedicated peer-learning platform for senior NHRI leaders. Participants welcomed the opportunity to learn from one another's experiences and to explore common approaches to strengthening organisational capacity and effectiveness.

The APF SEO Network was established to connect the most senior executive staff members of APF member NHRIs and provide a space for peer exchange on strategic and operational issues. Quarterly virtual meetings complement in-person gatherings held alongside APF governance events and support ongoing collaboration among members across the region.