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COI Synthesis Reports

Court-standard Country of Origin Information reports synthesising open-source intelligence, NGO field reports, and diplomatic disclosures.

Overview

Scope of analysis

COI synthesis reports organise thousands of open-source intelligence pieces, NGO field reports, government cables, diplomatic disclosures, and local news sources into objective, court-standard evidence. Reports address the specific legal questions posed by instructing representatives—without advocacy or subjective commentary.

Process

Evidentiary process

  1. Define the evidentiary questions against the claim framework and tribunal directions

  2. Triangulate primary and secondary sources across UNHCR, HRW, US State Department, local media, and regional judicial rulings

  3. Map findings to burden of proof and relevant Country Guidance

  4. Document source hierarchy, currency, and any material conflicts in the evidence base

  5. Deliver a fully cited report suitable for First-tier and Upper Tribunal use

When instructed

Typical instruction contexts

  • When generalised country materials fail to address localised risk profiles
  • When solicitors require independent synthesis for asylum appeal bundles
  • When opposing materials omit recent field reporting or regional case law
  • When internal relocation or state protection arguments require structured COI analysis
Standards

Tribunal & CPR alignment

All reports are prepared in accordance with CPR Part 35 / Practice Direction 35 duties, the Ikarian Reefer standards, and Tribunal guidelines on expert evidence. Experts owe their duty to the tribunal, not the instructing party.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is a Country of Origin Information (COI) expert report?
A COI expert report is an independent, fully cited synthesis of objective country evidence addressing specified legal questions in asylum or human rights proceedings. It is not advocacy; it catalogues and evaluates open-source and institutional sources against tribunal standards.
How do COI reports differ from Home Office CPINs?
CPINs are generalised policy and information notes. Independent COI reports can address case-specific risk factors, source currency gaps, and localised conditions that a CPIN may not cover in sufficient depth.