A/HRC/37/79 with the work and guiding role of the Office through the United Nations humanitarian protection cluster, which it leads and which is unique among all the presences the Board has visited. The Board felt that such examples could contribute to the methodologies of mainstreaming human rights into humanitarian work in difficult situations and also that the potential of that function could be developed further in many other situations in other regions. The Board was also concerned about the environmental challenges in the region, which have crucial human rights implications, and very much hopes that the entire United Nations team pays attention to them through their cooperation programmes. 30. The Board is struck by the operational challenges that the Office faces and by the challenges that lie ahead, despite the important achievements of recent years. To sustain and build on the progress made so far requires not only support from headquarters but also from the entire United Nations system. The Board shares the concerns expressed by all the actors with whom it met regarding the situation in Gaza, where sustainable progress on human rights is undermined by the Israeli blockade (including restrictions on the movements of United Nations staff members and those of civil society organizations), by the need for reconciliation between Palestinian factions and by the overall worsening humanitarian situation. III. Technical cooperation A. Technical cooperation and the priority areas of work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 31. Since 2012, the Board has brought to the attention of the Human Rights Council a number of components for effective technical cooperation by OHCHR that have become evident in its experience of overseeing the management of the Voluntary Fund. The Board has already written in previous reports on the importance of (a) anchoring technical cooperation to the universality and indivisibility of all human rights, including both protection and promotion aspects; (b) building and strengthening national frameworks and institutions in the field of human rights through technical cooperation and advisory services; (c) partnerships with United Nations entities on the ground; (d) technical cooperation programmes ensuring the broadest possible participation of all elements of national societies; (e) effective technical cooperation reflecting national development objectives; and (f) technical cooperation programmes to support the implementation of recommendations by the human rights mechanisms and follow-up thereon. 32. The acknowledgement of the Human Rights Council of the usefulness of the views and guidance provided by the Board through the elaboration of those components is very much welcomed and seen by all Board members as an encouragement to continue elaborating on the components through its annual updates to the Human Rights Council. In the present report, the Board elaborates on its view that, to be effective, technical cooperation in the field of human rights should be anchored in and build on the programmatic priorities and focus of the work of OHCHR through its programmatic cycle, with the aim of optimizing the effective use of all types of resources available. 33. That component of technical cooperation is necessary to ensure the most effective use of the expertise and financial resources available. The level of resources, both of personnel and funding, available for technical cooperation in the field of human rights is woefully inadequate relative to the needs of people and the demands of States. It is imperative, therefore, that the resources that are available are used to best effect. That requires good analysis of needs, good strategizing of objectives and priorities and good coordination of delivery of technical assistance. The OHCHR multi-year strategic programming process is the most comprehensive regular process for identifying human rights strategies and priorities for human rights technical cooperation. It is based on solid data and evidence and is undertaken through a broad consultative process. For those reasons it provides the best platform on which to plan and undertake other forms of technical cooperation for human rights. Through its field sessions, the Board has observed how coordination provides enhanced and more robust results and has been able to obtain 10