UNDP-OHCHR TOOLKIT Within the UN system, UNDP and OHCHR have been increasingly involved in supporting the establishment and/or strengthening of NHRIs. For both organizations, engagement with NHRIs has become a priority area.7 However, this has brought with it many substantive and operational challenges. There are constraints on the UN system’s capacity to mobilize the skills required to support national development strategies and achieve development goals. Consequently, intensive, harmonised and integrated efforts are still needed. There may be difficulties in contextualising a Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) at the country level: How does one reconcile universality of human rights to history, politics and the socio-economic context of the country? There remains a need to share experiences and knowledge about HRBA and developing implementation strategies tailored to particular national contexts. UNCT members stress the need for a clear framework and call for sharp, focused examples, lessons learned, handbooks, fact-sheets, modules, “tip sheets” and other tools.8 The Toolkit targets these issues, as well as other challenges and opportunities, and identifies good practices and support strategies for projects aimed at supporting organisational development and capacity assessment generally, with a focus on the two substantive areas of NHRI work: 11 Protection mandate: investigations, effective complaints handling strategies, alternative dispute resolution and conflict resolution (at both the individual and community levels), public inquiries and monitoring. 11 Promotion mandate: good In 2004, an UNDP Issues Paper, “Supporting National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights – a Strategic Niche for UNDP?”, was commissioned through the Danish Institute for Human Rights. The Issues Paper assessed the support provided by UNDP Country Offices in the establishment and strengthening phases, and identified potential ideas for UNDP support at the international, regional and national levels, as well as the type of capacity development needed. It raised a number of key challenges and opportunities, including general capacity issues, professional leadership and management, analysis and research capacity, follow up on legislative reviews, the role of NHRIs in conflict areas, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of NHRI performance, and fund raising strategies. See for example the UNDP Strategic Plan 2008-2011 and OHCHR Strategic Management Plan 2008-2009. 7 Ibid. 8 viii practices in public education, media relations, advice and assistance to government, reports, policy development, and programs of cooperation that can “leverage” resources and achieve broader impact.