OHCHR MDGs Section – November 2013
Proposed UNDG-HRM capacity development strategy 2014 to 2016
in the context of human rights based approach (HRBA)
1.
Until 2009 the United Nations system (UNS) provided capacity development on
HRBA as part of support to United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF)
roll-out countries. This support was provided by Development Operations Coordination
Office (DOCO) together with the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) and in the
context of the Action 2 inter-agency project and its funding. However, the Action 2
programme ended in 2009 and since then the UNS has not been able to continue provide such
support systematically, except from some ad hoc activities through carry-over funding from
Action 2 programme. In addition, the UNSSC has been able to provide HRBA trainings when
the requesting UN Country Teams (UNCTs) have been in a position to self-fund such
activities. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has also
conducted HRBA capacity development activities, including to UNCTs, through its Field
Presences.
2.
In 2011, DOCO, on behalf of the UNDG-HRM, conducted a survey of UNCTs views,
challenges and needs as regards human rights mainstreaming. The survey was sent to all
Resident Coordinators and UNCTs. A total of 123 UNCTs completed it, which corresponds
to 71 per cent of all UNCTs worldwide. The survey results pointed out that the biggest
challenges that UNCTs face in effective human rights mainstreaming were:
 Poor understanding among government counterparts on HRBA;
 Insufficient understanding among UN staff on how to translate HRBA into practice
and programmes, including the systematic integration into UNDAF monitoring and
evaluation frameworks;
 A lack of financial resources to invest in human rights mainstreaming activities;
 A need for continued and regular training and follow-up in order to ensure impacts.
3.
While the UNDG-HRM has been in place since 2009, the funding situation did not
permit operational activities before 2013. However, by early 2013, some US$ 5.4 million had
been deposited with the UNDG-HRM Trust Fund, with an amount of approximately US$
150,000 set aside for HRBA capacity development activities in the 2013 work-plan.
However, in the lack of a concrete proposal for the use of this amount, the funds were
allocated to other activities.
OHCHR MDGs Section – November 2013
4.
Subsequently, in mid-2013, the UNDG-HRM requested its agency focal points to
develop a strategy for strengthening the systematic support on HRBA. This paper aims at
providing the base for further discussions in this regard.
STRATEGY
Guiding principles

UNDG-HRM skills-development activities in the field of HRBA needs to be based on
thorough lessons learned, experiences and assessment of needs and be complementary
to ongoing activities of the UNDG-HRM and other resources available in the wider
UN system;

The HRBA skills-development activities supported by Trust Fund resources will be
based on criteria similar to the ones elaborated for the Human Rights Advisor
deployments and for the consideration of country specific human rights
mainstreaming projects;

In order to ensure follow-up and sustainability, continuous assessment and evaluation
of impacts of training activities will be conducted;

The support from UNDG-HRM needs be focused, responsive to the needs among the
targeted audiences and decided upon in terms of priorities and availability of funding;
Over the next three years, the UNDG-HRM aims at supporting the following capacity
development activities:
Key activities 2014 and 2015

Conduct a lessons learned and experiences exercise to inform the future HRBA
capacity development efforts, thereby creating a thorough evidence base of the
activities and approaches;
OHCHR MDGs Section – November 2013

Develop a framework for the evaluation of HRBA performance impacts as a
complement to existing guidance on UNDAF normative programming principles1;

Develop HRBA sectoral guidance, tailored to also fit the arrangements foreseen under
the Standard Operating Procedures for countries wishing to adopt the Delivering as
One approach;

Develop a systematic approach to capturing good practice, examples and national or
regional tools and materials produced (HuriTALK and HRBA portal);

Strengthen RCs and UNCT leaders’ knowledge on human rights and HRBA as part of
the Internal Review Panel report and its follow-up action plan2;

Conduct HRBA country or regional level capacity development activities for UNDAF
roll-out countries, (including through the deployment of Human Rights Advisers);

Revisit the current pool and expand the number of certified HRBA resource persons
for country- and sub-regional skills- and capacity development efforts in the field of
HRBA.

Establish and roll-out the use of seed-funding to support country level activities by
certified HRBA resource persons. Criteria for accessing these funds would take into
account the UNDG-HRM priorities, in particular UNDAF roll-out countries, be more
simple than full-fledged project proposals and encourage cost-sharing arrangements
with targeted UNCTs.

Make available, on a twice per basis, standard and self-sponsored HRBA trainings for
UN programme officers and other UN staff;

Establish a system through which newly recruited Regional and UNCT coordination
officers are introduced to the HRBA;
1
2
Note UNICEF’s proposal for HRBA indicators
Links with the up-date of the Guidance Note on human rights for Resident Coordinators, and the development of a learning strategy
OHCHR MDGs Section – November 2013

Develop an on-line course on HRBA targeting all UN staff, based on the current
Common Learning Package;
Key activities 2016

Review and update the strategy, including the elements below:

Conduct HRBA country or regional level capacity development activities for UNDAF
roll-out countries, (including through the deployment of Human Rights Advisers);

Further expand the number of certified HRBA resource persons for country- and subregional level skills-or capacity development initiatives;

Evaluate and continue, if recommended, the system of seed-funding for UNCT skillsdevelopment activities.

Further develop HRBA sectoral guidance;

Conduct HRBA country or regional level capacity development activities on
implementing HRBA in programming;

Develop a HRBA capacity development structure within the UN system;

Collect good practice, examples and national or regional tools and materials produced
(HuriTALK and HRBA portal);
Implementation
Activities are carried out in the context of the UNDG-HRM strategy and funding the actual
implementation is done through interested Agencies, Programmes and Funds. In line with the
working methods of the UNDG-HRM, members of the Multi-Donor Trust Fund need to
submit proposals for the consideration and endorsement of the UNDG-HRM i.e. through its
OHCHR MDGs Section – November 2013
Resource Management Committee and the proposal template. Based on the developed criteria
and availability of funds the UNDG-HRM will then decide upon commissioning the
implementation/work to one or several lead agencies according to the submitted proposal.
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