A/HRC/43/68 recommendations emanating from the universal periodic review process and in engaging with the United Nations human rights mechanisms. Those efforts are critical in the development of programmatic tools, including the new iterations of sustainable development cooperation frameworks. The Board noted in particular how human rights indicators are effectively being used as an analytical tool to identify those who would potentially be left behind in a crisis situation. 12. In the fifth and sixth components of its recommendations for good technical cooperation, the Board noted that technical cooperation efforts should be aimed at supporting the implementation of and follow-up to recommendations by human rights mechanisms. That is a critically important core element of human rights integration across the work of all United Nations programmes on the ground. The Board regards those two components as particularly critical in the current efforts for updating the United Nations programmatic tools to better support States in the profound transformations envisaged in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Board therefore welcomes the United Nations guidance for the new sustainable development cooperation frameworks and the clear statement therein of the Organization’s commitment to its normative role and to leaving no one behind in implementing the 2030 Agenda, including by taking a human rights-based approach to development, gender equality and the empowerment of women. 13. Together with the recommendations of the treaty bodies and the special procedures mandate holders, which are an integral part of the universal periodic review process, recommendations emanating from the universal periodic review mechanism represent a great asset for bolstering national human rights institutions and national capacities. They create a conducive environment for addressing the root causes of inequalities and other human rights challenges and, as such, they play an important role in the work of the United Nations on early warning and prevention. The work of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to link their recommendations with specific targets of the Sustainable Development Goals is one such example. The third cycle of the universal periodic review is providing an opportunity to strengthen engagement with all States on the implementation of and follow-up to the recommendations of international human rights mechanisms through cooperative efforts and the sharing of best practices among States and other stakeholders. 14. To facilitate that work, OHCHR has invested in efforts to provide better access to information on and to distinguish different types of recommendations, such as the National Recommendations Tracking Database, which the Board views as a key instrument to better supporting States in practical terms. The OHCHR treaty body capacity-building programme continues to support States in implementing treaty obligations. The Office has enhanced its capacity to better assist States in that regard through its regional presences, and the Board has observed at its sessions held in various regions how the programme and the work of OHCHR is critical, including in supporting permanent government structures with a mandate to coordinate and prepare reports to and engage with the international and regional human rights mechanisms and coordinate and track national follow-up and implementation efforts. 15. The Board discussed the draft guidelines on the use of the Voluntary Fund for the implementation of recommendations arising in the context of the universal periodic review. Their purpose is to provide guidance on the use of the Fund, in particular in the light of developments at the national and international levels, including an increased focus on the creation and/or strengthening of national capacities for coordination and implementation, the streamlining of reporting and implementation, pursuing the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals and assisting in the strategic choice of the implementation of specific thematic recommendations and policy directions, as outlined by the SecretaryGeneral in his report on strengthening United Nations action in the field of human rights through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity (A/72/351). 16. The draft guidelines included criteria for the evaluation of project proposals, the underlying principles of which are the channelling of resources to support the most pressing thematic human rights issues in the State and the building of national capacities for implementation that are efficient and sustainable. The criteria include the promotion and 4