Multilateral Aid Review summary - Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

OHCHR works with governments and across the UN system to protect and promote human rights. It plays an active role in fragile states and works to integrate human rights into MDG programmes. OHCHR is part of the UN Secretariat and receives a contribution from the assessed budget. DFID currently provides £2.5m in annual voluntary funding to OHCHR.

	comment
Contribution to UK development objectives	Satisfactory
	+	OHCHR is the only multilateral focused exclusively on the promotion and protection of human rights. OHCHR plays an important role at the country level, particularly in conflict-affected countries, and in mainstreaming human rights in the UN system.
	+	OHCHR has been critical in fragile states, supporting human rights monitoring and wider peacebuilding objectives.  This is a DFID and HMG priority.
	_	OHCHR has a challenging and highly sensitive mandate which means that some of its work needs to be conducted directly with States below the radar.  Nevertheless OHCHR has acknowledged that it needs to do more on results management.
	+	Engagement in fragile states is a demonstrated strength for OHCHR, with strong policies consistently implemented.
	_	Gender policies are in place but implementation needs to be strengthened.
Organisational strengths	Weak
	_	OHCHR needs to mainstream Results Based Management (RBM) at all levels in the organisation.
	+	OHCHR has a good record working in partnership with others, including with civil society groups and those directly affected by conflict and violence.  Its record on beneficiary voice is good.
	_	Secretariat financial processes over which OHCHR has limited control constrains scope for improvement.
	+	It has appropriate financial oversight instruments in place.
	_	Project evaluation and control could be clearer.
	+	OHCHR has formal processes that allow for a good degree of transparency at the inter-Governmental and strategic level.
	_	Needs to improve processes for systematic recording of results, use of evaluations and lessons learnt.
Capacity for positive change	Likely
	+	Despite governance constraints, a number of recent reforms in OHCHR have already provided improvements in delivery and strategic management.
	+	Prospects for further improvements are good.
	_	Political constraints in the UN system will limit scope and pace of reforms in some areas.