APRM to build momentum despite lengthy processes

 The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) held a two-day forum in the historic Africa Hall at the Economic Commission for Africa from May 17-18 2013.

The forum was to discuss key issues around the APRM’s future and what it would have achieved 10 years down the line.

In a press release issued May 19, 2013, it said, participants focused on the broad overview of governance in Africa and some of the achievements, as well as non achievements of the APRM.

According to the organizers, “it is a time to celebrate, but also to review the impact of this novel instrument on governance in Africa. While we, as Africans, can pride ourselves on the gains made thus far and in such a short time span, it is also important to ensure that the APRM does not lose momentum given that the consolidation of institutions and processes are lengthy.”

Meanwhile, Civil society representatives say, “there are some signs that in certain quarters its voice has been ineffectual and that recommendations flowing out of the review missions and which have been captured in the National Programmes of Action (NPOAs) have been ignored or dismissed.”

The release further noted that, a working group showcased an APRM monitoring tool established in 2010 aimed at holding state actors to account on an evidence based approach. They also discussed some of the missing linkages in the process, specifically looking at gender and intergenerational interactions and how diversity could be better managed in the APRM process.

The theme for the forum was: Reviewing a decade of peer learning and projecting a future of governance in Africa.

By Dorcas Appiah