Human Rights Capacity Building Programme for Public Administration

The program offers an online Human Rights course for civil servants with modules from 15 Public Administration entities. It includes initial and final webinars featuring the Ombudsman and three civil society associations, respectively. Graduates propose initiatives to implement Human Rights, fostering a "Network of Ambassadors for the Promotion of Human Rights in Public Administration." A Best Practices Guide will highlight implemented projects.

Innovation Summary

Innovation Overview

At the core of the Human Rights Building Programme for Public Administration is the notion that a Democratic Public Administration must guarantee that Human Rights are acknowledged and upheld. The initiative consists thus of two main components that work together to increase impact by fostering awareness, strengthening skills, and activating knowledge through practical methodologies.

I. A free online course designed to promote human rights and increase awareness among public administration, emphasizing the importance of integrating human rights into work practices. The 30-hour course is led by the National Administration Institute (INA) and it starts with an open reflection webinar.

15 partner entities from the Public Administration contribute to the 4 modules:
1) Human Rights, Dignity, and Citizenship;
2) Human Rights, Diversity, and Equality;
3) Human Rights, Goods, and Public Services;
4) Human Rights and Access to New Forms of Administration.

The specific objectives include to: a) Understand the connection between the Democratic Rule of Law, the separation of powers, and the guarantee of Rights and the multilevel nature of Human and Fundamental Rights; b) Acknowledge the role of the State and the framework of public policies for the promotion of Human and Fundamental Rights; c) Recognize public sector workers as active agents in the promotion of Human and Fundamental Rights in the Public Administration; d) Provide a solid and interdisciplinary framework in the field of Human Rights, both domestically and internationally; e) Promote theoretical and practical methodological outlooks of the concept of Human Rights with critical, intercultural, and transformative perspectives; f) Collect, select, and understand legal information that enables decision-making; g) Critically identify situations of inequality and threats to Human and Fundamental Rights in the access to public services.

Courses are held via Zoom, and learning resources can be found on "Moodle." Module tests and consistent attendance and involvement are part of the evaluation criteria.
Three civil society associations participate in a two-hour sharing and dissemination webinar that wraps off the course.(https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlXjlzdi61JgxFeObVPFfY6sktU62fIRQ)

II. Participants who successfully finish the course are invited to integrate the "Network of Ambassadors for the Promotion of Human Rights in the Public Administration" and submit projects aimed at innovating the implementation of human rights in their organizations. Driven by Public Administration professionals, this approach strives to generate outcomes and value in the field of human rights while simultaneously enhancing the transfer of learning to the professional setting. It fosters applied knowledge in the workplace, with the goal of transforming services.
These projects may be features in a Best Practices Guide for the Public Administration if implemented successfully.

Innovation Description

What Makes Your Project Innovative?

1. Online and free program, accessible to all Portuguese public servants, regardless of geographical location.
2. Engagement of 15 Public Administration entities and civil society associations fostering collaboration between Public Administration entities and third-sector associations.
3. An innovative pedagogical approach combines training modules with webinars and establishes an ambassador network to efficiently implement projects across diverse organizations.
4. Innovative training in Portugal with the objective of equipping public sector professionals with instruments for safeguarding and ensuring rights, as well as enhancing the resilience and agility of public institutions in times of crisis. Recognizing the significance of this topic, INA has proposed the addition of the area of citizenship and participation as a strategic professional training area within the Public Administration. For further details see: Despacho n.º 2786/2022 | DR (diariodarepublica.pt)

What is the current status of your innovation?

Four editions have been held. A fifth is being prepared.
The course is in line with the UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and the Charter on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights covering both basic and sector-specific protection instruments, covering subjects such as equality, racism, prejudice, discrimination, inclusion, inter/multiculturalism, and the integration of refugees, asylum seekers, and recipients of international protection. It hence contributes to advance democratic literacy.
Considering safeguarding Human Rights a fundamental responsibility of the State, the program emphasises the role of public officials as key agents.
INA, the coordinating entity, assembled a team consisting of two senior specialists and one administrative assistant, assisted by the communication department. INA's training management system is used to handle registration. Additionally, six value propositions are being developed within the scope of the Ambassador Network

Innovation Development

Collaborations & Partnerships

The programme results from the cooperation among 15 Public Administration entities and the involvement of civil society organisations, bridging the gap between political democracy and social democracy. Preparatory and follow-up meetings provided feedback between stakeholders throughout the entire process. Alongside participation and expertise, collaboration also encompasses the promotion of the program and its outcomes.

Users, Stakeholders & Beneficiaries

The online free program is accessible to civil servants, spanning across the country and government sectors. In addition to directly capacitate participants, the Network extends its reach within organizations, moreover during project development when the diversity of ideas and practical implementation measures significantly enriches this initiative. Also, it provides organizing entities with the chance to collaborate and facilitates the sharing and construction of knowledge and best practices.

Innovation Reflections

Results, Outcomes & Impacts

The program has awarded 81 conclusion certificates in the first three editions (1st–25; 2nd–26; 3rd–30), demonstrating a consistent trend.
The average participant satisfaction rating was c. 6 (1st – 5,9; 2nd – 6,2; 3rd – 5,8), with 1 being highly dissatisfied and 7 being very satisfied.
The Ambassadors Network is currently developing projects within diverse organisations of the Public Administration, with the support and guidance of INA, such as the Inspectorate-General of Internal Administration, the High Commission for Migration, the Coimbra Prison, the Municipality of Cascais, the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, and the Regional Government of the Azores / Regional Directorate of Communities.

Challenges and Failures

Although fruitful, achieving alignment among numerous stakeholders poses a challenge, requiring a delicate balance of stakeholder expectations to ensure a unified vision for the program. Handling the extensive scope of themes and managing the diverse aspects of the program introduces challenges in maintaining coherence and effectiveness.
Paramount to success is effective communication among stakeholders. Additionally, adjusting program aspects in response to feedback is essential for continuous improvement, requiring a careful approach that avoids hindering collaboration and disrupting the program's purpose.

Conditions for Success

The prevailing global situation characterized by conflicts, migratory crises and various challenges, underscores the imperative to acquire knowledge and cultivate skills in this field. Following 4 editions, the program continues to garner substantial interest, evidenced by swift registration fill-ups. Two additional editions are scheduled for 2024. Regarding the political framework, sustainability is guaranteed. The program is formulated in adherence to public policy and legislative directives, with its execution supervised by the government member's office responsible for INA. It is also critical the interest and motivation of stakeholders, given that the program's alignment heavily hinges on the collaboration of all parties involved.

Replication

The program can be replicated with controlled operational costs in various national and international settings.
The expansion of the network is not limited to its members alone, as the implementation of projects also encompasses the organization to which they are affiliated.
In an era where the legitimacy of the political representation is under scrutiny and fundamental rights challenged, the cross-cutting nature of training becomes even more pivotal. The initiative aligns with the following Sustainable Development Goals: No. 4 "Quality Education"; No. 5 "Gender Equality"; No. 10 "Reduced Inequalities"; and No. 16 "Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions."

Lessons Learned

Importance of analysis and assessment based on continuous feedback and evolving circumstances, ensuring that the training program remains responsive to the needs and preferences of participants. For instance, a notable improvement was observed when transitioning from full-day sessions (of the first editions) to a more focused training in the mornings. The adjustment catered to the attention span and engagement levels but also contributed to more effective learning outcomes. Furthermore, the assessment methodology replaced the traditional final exam (from the first editions) for modular assessments, allowing for a more comprehensive evaluation by breaking down the assessment into manageable parts aligned with the course content.

Anything Else?

The Human Rights Building Programme for Public Administration was honored to be recognized by the National Commission for Human Rights as one of Portugal's five commitments for the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These commitments were presented at a high-level UN event in Geneva by the Secretary of State for Equality and Migrations. Additionally, the program received the Good Practice Certificate from the European Public Sector Award 2023-24, acknowledging its excellence in the public sector since 2009, granted by the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA).