Recommendations: Recommendations are often the most difficult part of the report to craft. While conclusions may flow directly from monitoring, making recommendations on the timing, scope, and nature of systemic, institutional, or legislative reforms requires a completely different approach from monitoring cases. To help formulate recommendations, a wide range of actors should be brought into the process. In addition, like conclusions, recommendations should only extend as far as the subject matter and findings of monitoring. Despite the hazards of formulating recommendations, they remain an opportunity to stimulate a first step in the process of improving the current situation. • Recommendations should be specific: If recommendations suggest amendment to a rule or law, the precise provision or part of the provision that is problematic or requires amendment should be identified with specificity. The language of the amendment needs to be specific. Similarly, if recommendations concern training, resource allocation, or that other actions be taken, it needs to be clearly articulated as to exactly what is required, and in what time frame. • Recommendations need to be addressed at a particular actor: Identify the institutional actors by the institution to which recommendations are directed based upon their legal competency. If necessary, the basis of their legal competency along with the recommendation to clarify the authority of the actor to act on the recommendation should be provided; • It is advisable to consult in advance with the recipient of recommendations: As the authority to implement recommendations is in local institutions, the monitoring programme cannot implement recommendations. Authorities may be hesitant or understandably reluctant to take direction from external sources especially when surprised or uninformed regarding the process. Through consultations in advance, they can be brought into the process. 8.4 Best practices for getting reports done on time Report-writing can be a time-intensive, detail-oriented, and labour-intensive activity. Before drafting even begins, the process often entails the synthesis of hundreds of field reports, assessment of information, and preparation of an analytical framework and outline. Once drafting begins, it is not unusual for limitations in information or methodology to become apparent, and for changes or additional data and synthesis to be required. After a final draft is completed, the process then requires the review, feedback, and approval of many individuals. The experience of OSCE programmes is that publication of a comprehensive report may take from three to six months from the point the drafting process begins. Some strategies may be employed to help avoid unnecessary delays and short-circuit problems that may complicate the process of report-writing. The following steps have been found useful to organize and streamline the report-writing process, with some beginning far in advance of actual drafting: 112 Trial-Monitoring: A Reference Manual for Practitioners