Final evaluation of AID grant nos. LAC-0591-G-SS-6065-00 and LAC-0591-G-SS-6066-00 to the Interamerican Institute of Human Rights

Activities include training, TA, research, conferences, and information dissemination. The evaluation covers the period 8/86-2/92. The Institute has made great progress since 1988 and is well positioned to respond to the challenges of the 1990"s. The Executive Director and her excellent staff have improved administrative procedures and practices, built a senior management team, and melded projects into a more coherent program. The Institute now enters its second decade as a human rights organization of enormous moral suasion in both governmental and nongovernmental circles, unsurpassed in its ability to provide highly professional consultant services and in the volume of services it provides and the countries its programs include. Vital to the Institute"s ability to respond to political demands while maintaining impartiality is the diplomacy of the Executive Director and staff. Major organizational changes have been made to integrate the election assistance program into the Institute"s structure, consolidate administration and finance under a new director of administration, and create an education unit. The new structure also reflects the Institute"s attempt to balance functional and client needs. While the reorganization has solidified the program base and started to integrate programs across functions, some additional fine-tuning needs to be done. High demands on staff time have resulted in frequent travel and contribute to the episodic, sometimes frantic, nature of their work. Too often authority is not clearly delegated in the absence of the individual in charge, resulting in a lack of workload coordination and an inability of units to make necessary decisions. At the management level, creation of an Executive Committee and regular meetings with staff in the work units have improved internal communications. An administrative procedures manual has been prepared and circulated to all staff. The Institute has also prepared an excellent manual to standardize and communicate personnel policies. Personnel turnover has been very low. There are few non-Costa Ricans on the staff, but this is in spite of the Institute"s effort to recruit foreigners. A modern computer-based accounting system is being installed, and the Institute is also updating its management information system. Although the Institute"s financial base still rests almost entirely on grants, it has widely diversified its funding. The number of donors has increased from 11 in 1987 to 29 today. The Institute has been successful in focusing education activities and linking them to the Institute"s vision. Since 1985, the Institute has trained 1,221 individuals in courses held in 18 countries. The interdisciplinary course is the most highly valued activity. The course has been strengthened by adding relevant and focused subject matter, increasing opportunities for informal discussion, and including films. Follow-up continues to be a concern, but a bulletin is being used to maintain a network among graduates. Education is also integral to the election assistance program of the Institute"s Center for Electoral Assistance and Promotion (CAPEL). Activities include training for pollwatchers, political party representatives, and other election functionaries; civic education campaigns to motivate participation in elections; and courses and seminars on topics related to elections. The Institute"s NGO Unit organizes specialized conferences, regional seminars, training workshops, courses, and TA assignments. The Institute also established a Women"s Program in 1989. So far, the program has organized courses and workshops and prepared a five-year research and education plan. However, the area of women and human rights still lacks institutionalization and legitimacy in Latin America. The Institute has produced a prolific number of high-quality publications for use in teaching and promoting the legal, judicial, social, and political bases of human rights. The publications are widely read and have had a strong positive impact on improving the depth and breadth of discussion on human rights issues.