A/HRC/44/18 29. In 2020, the Secretary-General will issue practical guidance on how to maximize the use of the universal periodic review to achieve an impact at the country level for all United Nations officials at headquarters, in missions and in country teams, outlining the universal periodic review as an entry point for engagement with Member States. The guidance should assist United Nations entities in taking action on human rights in line with their mandates and in support of specific Sustainable Development Goal targets and indicators. 30. Since the start of the third cycle of the universal periodic review, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has sent letters to ministers for foreign affairs, after the adoption of the relevant outcome document by the Human Rights Council, containing advice, flagging areas needing particular attention during the 4.5 years until the next cycle and offering support from OHCHR and the United Nations system as a whole under the leadership of resident coordinators. 31. During the reporting period, the voluntary fund for participation in the universal periodic review continued to facilitate the participation of representatives of developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, in the relevant session of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review. Assistance was also provided to enable requesting States to participate in the adoption of their outcome document by the Human Rights Council during its plenary sessions. In that regard, the secretariat followed up with delegations through a more proactive approach that included sending targeted correspondence, to ensure that all States entitled to assistance under the fund could avail themselves of the opportunity. 32. Since the launching of the universal periodic review process and in recognition of the inherent challenge of ensuring that participation is indeed universal, the needs and constraints of least developed countries have been considered. Ensuring the informed, regular and full participation of States with limited resources and no representation in Geneva, in addition to the participation of all other States, requires regular outreach activities. 33. During the reporting period, the secretariat continued to help States not only to participate in the universal periodic review but also to understand the review as a full process, in particular at the national level, focusing on the implementation of recommendations made during the previous cycles. The activities supported by the fund, including the joint workshop with the International Organization of la Francophonie and the seminar with IPU to promote the role of parliaments and parliamentary human rights committees in the universal periodic review process in, inter alia, translating international commitments into national policies and laws, and the briefings organized by OHCHR, from May 2017, during the sessions of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review for members of delegations participating in the review of their countries, contribute to that understanding. These workshops and briefings allow Member States to share best practices regarding their national implementation and follow-up processes. Also during the reporting period, the secretariat encouraged States to nominate a senior representative from the national mechanism for reporting and follow-up as a member of the delegation benefiting from the travel assistance under the fund. 34. The voluntary fund for participation in the universal periodic review is instrumental in ensuring the presence of many delegation members. It allows those members to participate in and contribute to the presentation of national reports describing the implementation of previous recommendations at the national level, which further feeds into an interactive dialogue that is universal, independent, impartial and non-politicized, the quality of which contributes anew to recommendations that are constructive, specific, action-oriented and implementable, taking into account national capacities. OHCHR will continue this strategic use of the fund, which contributes to the increasing understanding of the review as a full process, in particular at the national level, focusing on the implementation of recommendations. 8