Chapter 6

Objective: Provide strategies to UNCTs for integrating NHRI support into the UN planning cycle for country programming

Executive Summary

This chapter describes how UNCTs can integrate their work in establishing and strengthening NHRIs into each phase of the UN planning cycle, having regard to the stage of development and maturity of the NHRI, whether there is a NHRI in place, and whether it has ICC accreditation status.

UNCTs work within the UN planning cycle for country programming and development assistance, which generally includes a Common Country Assessment (CCA), a UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), a Country Programme (CP) and a Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP). In some circumstances, initiatives set out in the CPAP will require the development of a Project Document.

Each step is linked: the CCA allows the UN to identify outputs that are strategically important in the country context. These outputs are set out in the UNDAF, which in turn form the basis for initiatives set out in the CP and CPAP. The CPAP is the basis for designing individual project documents.

The UN has developed comprehensive guidelines for the CCA and UNDAF, the 2009 “Guidelines for UN Country teams on preparing a CCA and UNDAF” (the “Guidelines”). Since the country programming cycle forms the template for development assistance in the country over the planning period- usually five years – it is important the UNCTs consider the need to establish and strengthen NHRIs throughout the process. It is equally important that UNCTs involve NHRIs fully in each step.