HRIA Step 2: Political Contextual Analysis

Content

• An analysis of the actual political situation and the expected developments in the areas of politics, economy, culture and external relations. This contextual understanding is an essential element of HRIA and is complementary to the analysis of the human rights situation.
• Knowledge of the political environment is a precondition for the definition of objectives. The nature of the subject of the objectives (for example the government or local political bodies) will influence the strategic choices.
• Analysis of the social structure, the position and capacity of civil society organisations and NGOs.
• The analysis includes the relations of the organisation with the government and political bodies - what is the access to power structures.

Implementation

• As a starting point, one can use information available at governmental level and through national and international non-governmental organisations. This should be complemented by situation-specific information (for example related to a specific project).