| ADR | Alternative Dispute Resolution / Alternate Dispute Resolution |
| APF | Asia-Pacific Forum for National Human Rights Institutions |
| APRI | Asia-Pacific Regional Development Initiative (or AP Regional Initiative) |
| APT | Association for the Prevention of Torture |
| AWID | Association for Women’s Rights in Development |
| CAT | Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment / Committee Against Torture |
| CCA | Common Country Assessment |
| CEDAW | Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women |
| CESCR | Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights |
| CRC | Convention on the Rights of the Child |
| CRPD | Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities |
| ECOWAS | Economic Community of West African States |
| ESCR | Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (or ESC rights) |
| HQ | Headquarters |
| HRBA | Human Rights-Based Approach |
| ICC | International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights |
| ICCPR | International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights |
| ICESCR | International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights |
| ICPED | International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance |
| IDP | Internally Displaced Person |
| IOI | International Ombudsman Institute |
| IR | Informal Resolution |
| IT | Information Technology |
| KM | Knowledge Management |
| MDG | Millennium Development Goal |
| NGO | Non-Governmental Organisation |
| NHRI | National Human Rights Institution |
| NI | National Institution |
| NIRM Section | National Institutions and Mechanisms Section |
| OHCHR | Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights |
| OP-CAT | Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture |
| PAF | Project Activity Framework |
| PDH | Human Rights Ombudsman (Procurador de los Derechos Humanos) |
| PRSP | Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper(s) |
| SAHRC | South African Human Rights Commission |
| SCA | Sub-Committee on Accreditation |
| SRSG | Special Representative of the UN Secretary General |
| SWOT | Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats Analysis |
| TA | Technical Assistance |
| UN | United Nations |
| UNCT | United Nations Country Team |
| UNDAF | United Nations Development Assistance Framework |
| UNDP | United Nations Development Programme |
| UNFPA | United Nations Population Fund |
| UNICEF | United Nations Children’s Fund |
| UPR | Universal Periodic Review |
| WG | Working Group |