SECTION II: STAREGY DEVELOPMENT METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH 2. From inception to materialisation The guiding principal that informed the development of this strategy was that it should be developed and owned by the key stakeholders hence the participatory approach towards its development. The process brought together stakeholders under the different clusters of thematic areas within and outside the ZHRC for a visioning discussion on the framework of the strategy as well as agree on key interventions that will inform activities towards the achievement of the strategy goals. Step 1 Step 2 •Project team set up; desk top review; strategy devlopment framework. Step 3 •Stakeholder •consultations •Drafting of •strategy and •validation Figure 1: Strategy development steps 2.1. Step 1 Desk top Review A strategic plan implementation team comprising select members from the Commission was set up to oversee the development and implementation of the election strategy. A desktop review was undertaken to inform the planning workshop and the development of a strategic planning framework. A framework was subsequently developed through the use of scoping discussions, and interviews to test assumptions while developing the approaches to the strategic planning process. Key questions were also formulated to understand the current operating environment of ZHRC and to take stock of its efforts pertaining to human rights electoral oversight. (A list of the resources consulted are attached as Annex 1). 2.2. Step 2: Strategic planning working session A strategic planning working session was held on the 13th and 14th of November 2017 (see Annex 2 for list of participants). Other than the ZHRC participants the working session brought together participants drawn from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and from Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) that work closely with the ZHRC. This enabled a participatory review of issues, priorities, intended actions, past performances and emerging trends that will define the strategy. Cumulatively this resulted in the following:      A situational analysis of the current status and the political environment to inform the development of the strategy Defined the strategic direction of the strategy Developed the goal as well as the strategic objectives of the strategy Define the activities of achieving the strategic objectives Develop a work plan for implementing the identified activities. 2.3. Step 3: Validation workshop A validation workshop for purposes of presenting the draft strategic plan to key stakeholders and providing a platform for stakeholders to provide inputs and exchange experiences and knowledge on implementation of the strategy and ultimately validate the strategy. This process also provided for the identification and proposal of focused, strategic and feasible interventions to support and strengthen implementation, as well as coordination of activities. 9|Page