A/HRC/20/34 IV. Technical cooperation: current trends, challenges and synergies with other United Nations agencies, the work of the Human Rights Council and international treaty bodies and the special procedures A. Synergies with the Human Rights Council, the treaty bodies and special procedures 18. The Board expressed its appreciation for the continued efforts of OHCHR to increase synergies in the delivery of its technical cooperation with United Nations partners and with the work of the Human Rights Council and international human rights mechanisms. 19. The Board underscored the critical importance of linking the treaty bodies, special procedures and the work of the Human Rights Council to, in particular with regard to the universal periodic review, technical cooperation. In this context, the Board stressed the potential of the technical cooperation programme to help in the implementation of the recommendations made by treaty bodies and special procedures, and at universal periodic review sessions, at the country level. 20. The Board strongly supports the holistic approach of OHCHR to support the implementation of the recommendations of all United Nations human rights mechanisms at the country level in an integrated way, in particular in the framework of the Office’s priority to strengthen human rights mechanisms and the progressive development of human rights law. 21. The Board noted that, in recent years, great progress had been made in incorporating the recommendations made by the above-mentioned mechanisms into OHCHR planning and programming at all levels, in accordance with its mandate, objectives and priorities. 22. More specifically with regard to the universal periodic review, the Board welcomes the positive developments of that process and emphasizes the importance for establishing credibility for the review through the implementation of its recommendations. 23. With regard to the funding mechanisms of the universal periodic review, the Board is of the view that the Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights and the Voluntary Fund for Financial and Technical Assistance should not be competing funds, but rather complement each other. To date, the former has, to some extent, been used for universal periodic review follow-up activities and the implementation of review recommendations at the country and regional levels, noting that contributions and pledges to the latter fund remained modest. 24. The Board is prepared to play a role in ensuring that the experience of the Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights is taken into account in the administration of the Universal Periodic Review Voluntary Fund for Financial and Technical Assistance. B. Synergies within the United Nations, including in the area of development assistance 25. It is increasingly recognized that the strengthening of democratic society, the rule of law and respect for human rights are an investment for development. There is a common understanding that building and strengthening national human rights capacities contribute 6