Governance Perspectives is a monthly update published by the Governance and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Programme at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). Governance Perspectives aims to contribute to a robust and informed debate on the nature of Africa's governance challenges and successes. We hope to keep civil society groups, researchers, governments and development partners informed about issues relating to governance, accountability and democracy. Each month, Governance Perspectives will feature SAIIA Occasional Papers as well as opinion articles, and links to interesting, relevant new material.
We hope that you will visit our website to subscribe in order to continue receiving this newsletter, and look forward to hearing your views. Steven Gruzd, programme head, APRM Programme, steven.gruzd@wits.ac.za
APRM in the News
Kenya is poised to receive its second round APRM review led by Dr Graça Machel from 16-30 November 2009. The mission was originally going to be launched in July, but was postponed without explanation at the eleventh hour. The second round review is likely to be vastly different from the base review conducted in 2005-6, in that it will concentrate on the “Democracy and Political Governance” section and does not appear to include a significant self-assessment component.
In a press release on 21 October 2009 entitled “Zambia: Where are we going with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)?”, the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) questions the integrity and credibility of the APRM process in Zambia.
The APRM Secretariat has issued a firm response to a September article by Kenyan journalist Jerry Okungu entitled “APRM at the Crossroads: Where is the African Union Leadership?” published in Uganda’s New Vision Online in September.
This year, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation declined to award its Achievement in African Leadership prize. Democratically elected former African presidents who have respected constitutional terms limits and left office over the last three years are eligible. The winner receives US$5million over 10 years and US$200,000 annually for life thereafter. An opinion article wonders why former Ghanaian President John Kufuor missed out.
The 2009 Ibrahim Index ranks the following as the ten best governed African countries: (1) Mauritius, (2) Cape Verde, (3) Seychelles, (4) Botswana, (5) South Africa, (6) Namibia, (7) Ghana, (8) Tunisia, (9) Lesotho and (10) São Tomé and Príncipe. Of these, four are small-island states, and five are not (yet) APRM members (Cape Verde, Seychelles, Botswana, Namibia and Tunisia).
The African Peer Review Mechanism: Lessons from the Pioneers
The African Peer Review Mechanism: Lessons from the Pioneers by Ross Herbert and Steven Gruzd (SAIIA, 2008) has now been translated into French . Le Mechanisme Africain d’Evaluation par les pairs : Leçons des pionners will be launched on 6 November 2009 at the African Governance Institute in Dakar, Senegal. The entire text (400+ pages) of both the English and French versions of the book are available online here.
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The China-Africa Toolkit
A Toolkit for African Policymakers
China’s rise to global prominence, founded on its economic achievements and its growing role in Africa, has inspired debate across the continent. While much of the discussion has focused on the implications of China’s presence in Africa, especially as it relates to traditional Western interests, very little attention has been given to the potential opportunities that it may present to enhance African development.
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SAIIA Occasional Paper, No.44, October 2009
China in Africa Project
China’s Role in Infrastructure Development in Botswana
by Anna Ying Chen
- English [.pdf]
Botswana, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, is often characterised as a major success story on the continent. Consistent economic growth, effective democratic institutions and strong forward planning contribute to the country’s overall reputation as a developmental state.
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The South African Journal of International Affairs seeks article submissions focused on Africa's (and South Africa's) international relations, and key governance and developmental challenges. African scholars are especially encouraged to make submissions. Articles should be 5000 to 8000 words long, employing endnotes for referencing. All submissions will be subject to a blind peer review, and articles must not be simultaneously under consideration for publication elsewhere. Please forward an abstract of the article to the Editor, Martha Bridgman, at sajia.editor@saiia.org.za or on CD in MS Word format via post to:
SAJIA,
PO Box 31596,
Braamfontein,
2017, South Africa.
Authors of successful abstracts will be notified with regard to submission of a full article.
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SAIIA’s online APRM Toolkit has been redesigned and updated with the latest information on the APRM, including several SAIIA Occasional Papers, relevant research reports, several academic papers on the APRM as well as the APR Country Review Reports of Algeria and Benin. We plan to update the APRM Toolkit on a monthly basis so please check back regularly. If you have written a paper on the APRM or governance matters in Africa and would like to share it, please email yarik.turianskyi@wits.ac.za with the subject line "APRM Toolkit'.
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If you would like to submit an original, unpublished, governance-related manuscript for possible inclusion in the SAIIA Occasional Paper series, please email steven.gruzd@wits.ac.za
Opinions expressed in papers and articles are those of their authors, and not SAIIA.
SAIIA gratefully acknowledges the Royal Netherlands Embassy in South Africa, which has generously supported the Governance & APRM Programme and this series.
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