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APRM – AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM

A Catalyst for Good Governance

The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)
  What is it?
  How does it Operate?
                                           This special report was compiled by Kaye Whiteman and Theo Salman

In June 2005 Ghana and Rwanda became the first two countries to undergo the first stage of review under the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). Ghana was, in fact, the first country to submit itself voluntarily to this novel form of peer review, agreed at the 38th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African Unity in Durban, South Africa, on July 8, 2002. So what is the APRM, how and under what conditions does it operate?  Set out below is a summary of the process. 

The APRM 
African Peer Review Mechanism - is a creation of NEPAD, the New Partnership for Africa's Development. It is a self-monitoring process under which participating African countries agree to submit their governance and other practices to the scrutiny and review of other participating countries, so that flaws in their operations are highlighted and discussed and possible solutions suggested. 

The Purpose of the APRM  
The APRM is mandated to ensure that the policies and processes of political, economic and corporate governance of African countries conform to the values voluntarily agreed by members. The purpose of the APRM is to ensure that members adopt policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration, through the sharing of experiences and the reinforcement of best practices.

Participation
All members of the AU are entitled to participate in the review process, provided they undertake to abide by the rules and recommendations and submit to and facilitate periodic reviews. When acceding to the peer review process, each participating country is expected to clearly define a Programme of Action by which to implement the declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance, as well as agree to periodic reviews. 

The Panel of Eminent Persons 
The APRM is directed and managed by a Panel of seven Eminent Persons selected from the five regions of the African Continent. The panel's function is to oversee the review processes and, in particular, to ensure its integrity. The Panel is made up of persons of high moral standards with demonstrated commitment to the ideals of Pan-Africanism, who have distinguished themselves in careers considered relevant to the work of the APRM.  

Candidates for appointment to the Panel are nominated by participating countries from a shortlist compiled by a Committee of Ministers, and appointed by the Heads of State.  With the exception of the Chairman who is to serve for five years, Members of the Panel are to serve for four years and retire by rotation. The Chairman is appointed by the Heads of State from among the members and must be a person with proven leadership in government, public administration, development, or the private sector. 

The Current Panel of Seven Eminent Persons are:
Dr Graca Machel, Dr Chris Stals (Southern Africa); Professor Bethuel Kiplagat (East Africa); Professor Adebayo Adedeji, Dr Marie Angelique Savanne, (West Africa); Ms Dorothy Njeuma (Central Africa) and Mr Mourad Medelci (Northern Africa).     [back]

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