54 CHAPTER 7 Programme Structure and Staffing Issues Trial-monitoring programmes carry out activities that require a staff and structure capable of supporting a complex system of information gathering, reporting and advocacy. At the working/ monitoring level, trial monitoring requires specialized knowledge, accurate legal reporting and coordinated activity by monitors over sometimes large geographic areas. At the supervisory level, programmes usually require the active channelling of findings into reform processes, ensuring that information is effectively managed and reported to a wide variety of stakeholders. Whatever institutional model is chosen, 61 the programme’s internal structure must provide the capacity to meet the basic operational demands. For instance, a programme with robust resources to collect information but with little ability to process it will be limited in its efforts to impact reform processes in a timely manner. This chapter describes the structure and functions of the basic components of a trial-monitoring programme. Staffing issues are addressed with a view to meeting the basic operational demands. Past experience suggests that a well-defined division of labour among programme staff is key to meeting organizational requirements. 7.1 Trial-monitoring field structure and organization The three main steps of the trial-monitoring cycle62 – information gathering, analysis and advocacy – cover the three core responsibilities of professionals engaged in trial monitoring programmes: monitoring, analyzing and advocating. A programmes’ structure usually consists of three levels: the monitoring level, the analyst level (which can also be considered mid-level management), and the senior management level, which is usually responsible for advocacy, in addition to supervision of the team. Monitoring programmes are further reliant on support personnel to operate effectively. For example, interpreters might be essential for communication among staff and domestic stakeholders or for the translation of material. Legal or other assistants can perform various research, secretarial or administrative duties. There might be a need to engage database developers for some time to facilitate the creation and implementation of an electronic database, as described in Chapter 5. 63 As the role of support personnel is essential to monitoring operations, programme organizers and managers should budget adequately for such posts and engage people who have sufficient skills to work in the demanding legal environment of trial-monitoring programmes. For the purposes of this manual, the responsibilities of support staff will not be examined in detail. Nevertheless, managers should assess and plan for aspects of operations that will require the aid of support staff and the qualifications each category of assistants should have. 61 See Chapter 3, “Choosing institutional models”. 62 See Chapter 1.3.2, “Description of the working methodology - the trial monitoring cycle”. 63  As an example, the Mission to BiH employed a full-time database developer to assist with the creation and maintenance of the electronic database.