Chapter 19 — Operational Aspects of Ad Hoc Trial-Monitoring Projects also impact the number of monitors engaged.228 Since ad hoc monitoring generally deals with a relatively small number of highly sensitive trials, pairing may be particularly appropriate to help ensure that monitoring is accurate and comprehensive, and to help protect against any misperceptions by a single monitor. In some instances, a host country has limited the number of monitors it agreed to accept at one time. In such circumstances, a decision must be made whether the limitations are too severe to allow for a professional monitoring operation and, if so, whether to enter into further negotiations with the host government or to call the monitoring operation off altogether. In general, the larger and longer the project is, the more applicable are field support mechanisms outlined earlier in this manual, such as providing a forum for continuous training and exchange of information and experiences.229 19.2.3 Contract issues Depending on the available budget and the expected number and duration of the trials to be observed, ad hoc project monitors may be hired on a daily or monthly contract. Short duration contracts, coupled with a requirement that monitors be available on “stand-by” to deploy for the next hearing, have the disadvantage of being unattractive to many professionals who have competing offers and parallel engagements. Therefore, project managers should find ways to make the compensation package sufficiently competitive to attract qualified personnel, or be prepared to engage staff with less experience. If contracts cover only the days when a monitor is present at hearings, this may be a disincentive for monitors to devote any additional time to report writing or carrying out research on legal or factual issues to substantiate their findings. Project managers should, therefore, consider including a reasonable number of extra days in contracts for such activities. To ensure that monitors complete their final reports, contracts can include provisions stipulating a final payment only upon satisfactory completion of all tasks. 19.2.4 Support staff Like other types of trial-monitoring programmes, ad hoc projects require the assistance of support staff. Especially when the monitoring is carried out in a country where the monitoring organization does not have offices, local assistants and interpreters may be indispensable. Duties of a local assistant may include consulting court schedules, making local travel arrangements and other administrative duties. Engaging reliable interpreters is essential to carrying out monitoring activities effectively. In particularly sensitive contexts, where security, capacity and objectivity-related concerns exist, project managers may choose to hire international interpreters. However, this will entail significant additional costs and logistics. In ordinary circumstances, project managers may rely on professional recommendations or address translation agencies that provide interpreters specialized in legal terminology. 19.3 Training and briefing issues Since ad hoc projects are often organized on short notice, there may not be sufficient time to conduct formal training prior to the monitoring activity. Time constraints may also limit the time monitors – especially internationally-recruited monitors – have to “read in” before their deployment. In some instances, monitors may first meet each other only after their arrival in a host country. 228 See Chapter 8.5.4, “Monitor pairing.” 229  See, for instance, Chapter 8 and Chapter 5. 151