NARRATIVE REPORT 2009 - The ICHRP

More documents

Recommendations

Info

International Council on Human Rights Policy - Narrative Report 2009 The evaluation team set out to assess the influence of four of the Council’s recent projects: on peace agreements [128], terrorism [129], corruption [131A], and climate change [136]. The team focused particularly on evidence of influence on government policies. 6 The evaluators’ report may be obtained from the Council. In summary, the evaluators found that the research of the Council is generally of high quality; that its work is appreciated by those who know about it; and that it has influence in a range of ways; but that a relatively small circle of people are aware of the Council’s work; that a direct influence on government policies is rarely discernible; that the Council needs to produce short policy-focused products in addition to its reports; and that the organisation should considerably reinforce its communications’ capacity and expertise. The Council’s Board considered the evaluation in February 2010, and found that many of its findings match or complement their own assessment. The Board expects to integrate the evaluation into its own broader review, and to report back to DFID, and Finland, in mid-year when it will have finalised the strategic plan for 2011-13 in consultation with the Council’s new Executive Director. Financial management Following a very difficult year in 2008, management of the organisation’s finances was of particular concern to the Board and the Secretariat in 2009, especially in light of the difficult external environment. Towards the end of 2008 new arrangements for the Council’s finances were put in place and agreed with the Board. Sabrina Lambat, who took over responsibility for the ICHRP’s accounts in extremis during the year, was appointed formally to the post of Accountant. It was agreed that she would be supported by the Council’s finance adviser, Peter Blanchard, who agreed to take on a more explicit oversight responsibility. Mr Marc Bétemps was reappointed auditor. These arrangements proved to be sound. When the accounts were audited at the beginning of 2010, they were found to be up to date and well managed; and, having started the year in an extremely exposed position, following a very substantial loss in 2008, the Secretariat had rebalanced income and expenditure and cut costs by CHF400’000 (relative to 2008) without deeply harming the research programme. (Indeed, research fees and consultancies doubled in 2009 relative to 2008.) Income did not rise, which remains a cause of concern; and in the longer term it remains essential to restore the reserve which was lost in 2008. Nevertheless, the Council had reconstructed its tradition of precise accounting, and had put itself in a position from which it can start to rebuild its finances – even if, being obliged to live off current income, its situation remains extremely vulnerable. It will be essential to make at least a small surplus in 2010. Office As part of its effort to cut costs, in 2009 the Council sharply reduced the office area it occupied in the Villa du Montfleury, where the Council has been located since it was established in Switzerland in 1998. The Villa du Montfleury has been an excellent facility and a fine venue for meetings. During 2009, however, the staff and Board agreed that it was an appropriate time for the Council to move closer to 6 The Council does not measure its impact by this criteria alone. The Board considers that the Council’s work should be relevant to a wide range of potential audiences and that the Council approach is not designed to influence specific governments on specific policies. 28
International Council on Human Rights Policy - Narrative Report 2009 the city. Accordingly the Council gave notice on its offices in the Villa in September and at the end of March 2010 will move to new offices on the third floor of 17 rue Ferdinand Hodler, 1207 Geneva. (Phone numbers will remain unchanged.) Realizing Rights Scott Jerbi, Policy Co-ordinator of Realizing Rights-The Ethical Globalization Initiative, worked from the Council's Secretariat through 2009. He reports to Mary Robinson, EGI’s Director, based in New York. This arrangement will cease in the course of 2010, when Realizing Rights closes its activities. 29
Page 2 and 3: International Council on Human Righ
Page 52: International Council on Human Righ

NARRATIVE REPORT 2009 - The ICHRP

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?