A/HRC/7/50 page 6 Table 2 Number of subsidized projects for the period January to December 2007 Region Africa Asia Latin America and the Caribbean Eastern Europe Western European and Other States Total Number of projects July 2006 to December 2007 Number of projects 2008 12 20 24 19 90 25 25 29 29 83 Amount in United States dollars awarded for 2008 1 205 000 853 500 992 500 1 215 000 4 316 700 165 191 8 582 700 13. The Board expressed appreciation of the efforts undertaken by the secretariat since its previous session to organize assessment visits to projects in the field. From January to December 2007, 56 projects in 19 countries had been visited and monitored by OHCHR staff, United Nations Human Rights Field Presences and Board members. 2. Policy decisions 14. The Board recommended that in cases where awards are received from national or international courts as a result of successful litigation, legal fees paid by the Fund need not be returned to it, in accordance with the conditions under which the grant was made. However, it encourages organizations to use any such awards for the continued protection of victims of torture. It also encourages organizations to keep it informed as to how they intend to use any such future awards. The Board has requested that the secretariat undertake an assessment of best practices of other donors in this respect. 15. The Board also discussed the possibility of strengthening the capacity of grantees and has requested the secretariat to identify organizations providing good services but facing difficulties in fulfilling the requirements of the Fund. At its next session, the Board will consider options presented by the secretariat on ways to assist these organizations to meet the requirements of the Fund. II. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE OFFICE OF INTERNAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES 16. The Board was pleased to note that 13 out of the 16 recommendations initially made by the Office of Internal Oversight Services in its review of the functioning of the Fund3 are now considered as implemented. The Board noted that the remaining three recommendations dealing 3 Ibid.