7.5.3 Funding

The State is required to provide adequate funding that should, at a minimum, include:

a) the allocation of funds for adequate accommodation, at least its head office;

b) salaries and benefits awarded to its staff comparable to public service salaries and conditions;

c) remuneration of Commissioners (where appropriate); and

d) the establishment of communications systems including telephone and internet.

Adequate funding should, to a reasonable degree, ensure the gradual and progressive realisation of the improvement of the organisation’s operations and the fulfillment of their mandate.

Financial systems should be such that the NHRI has complete financial autonomy. This should be a separate budget line over which it has absolute management and control.

The UNCTs can work with the government to provide a general idea of what a NHRI will cost, having regard to successful examples in the region and UN expertise. Basic infrastructure costs and human resources costs are foreseeable and can be planned for. It is important to ensure that there are funds earmarked for programme spending beyond fixed operating expenses, since planned activities will only be developed at the time of the strategic planning in the Establishment Phase. While the specific activities are not yet known, a draft budget can be developed based on consultations with regional NHRIs and other associations with NHRI expertise.

In many developing countries, the UN can provide tangible evidence of its support by providing concrete and specific start up finding and, in some instances, core funding, depending on the country context.