• Other levels of government may also be able to contribute to resource requirements. For example, local governments may provide venues and local transport for the consultation process. 13.3 International assistance Some countries that have already instituted national action plans have employed development assistance funding to meet some resource requirements. Other countries contemplating the development of national plans will probably also wish to consider external funding assistance. This is in keeping with recent trends, as both donors and recipient governments increasingly see human rights as an appropriate area for international cooperation of this kind. Potential donors include international development agencies such as those within the United Nations family, donor governments and private foundations. A major advantage of the national action plan process is that it provides a systematic framework for the integration of specific areas of activity into a coherent whole. The plan identifies objectives, time frames and projected outcomes. It can assist donors and recipients alike in developing specific technical cooperation projects. An example is the Indonesian plan, which: “welcomes bilateral, regional and international cooperation in strengthening its national capacity to implement the programme to promote and protect human rights, in the spirit of international cooperation as enshrined in the United Nations Charter and on the basis of principles of mutual respect and equality among nations.” Footnotes to lists of the various activities provided for in the plan indicate which may require technical cooperation. They include, in particular, training activities. The Malawian plan takes a similar approach, emphasizing: “the importance of international assistance and cooperation aimed at supporting the democratic transition in Malawi and strengthening national capacity to promote and protect human rights.” The Malawian plan outlines various areas in which international assistance will be sought. Other national plans have used technical assistance for the production and dissemination of information materials. National action plans can also be a vehicle for donor government commitments. The Australian plan states that Australia will: “continue to assist other countries to strengthen their national human rights infrastructure as well as developing promotional and educational activities aimed at ensuring that human rights are enjoyed by everyone.” If the plan is developed in a systematic way, it will become clear which areas are likely to experience resource shortfalls and which may lend themselves to external assistance. As experience to date has suggested, areas in which such assistance may 104