In the News
On 30 June 2009, at the APRM Forum on the margins of the AU Summit in Sirte, Libya, the presidents of three more countries – Mali, Mozambique and Lesotho – are expected to be reviewed by their peers, bringing to 12 the total number of countries ‘peer reviewed’ to date. The others are Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, Benin, Uganda, Nigeria and Burkina Faso. Cape Verde may be the 30th country to accede, but the suspension of Mauritania for a coup continues. Time will tell whether there will be more clarity on the process of replacing the members of the APRM Panel of Eminent Persons. Download the Draft Agenda.
Kenya recently announced plans to undergo its second APR review, between 4 and 14 July 2009, led by APRM Panel Member Dr Graça Machel. A new National Governing Council was inaugurated in June 2009. With rising economic inequality, a challenging political landscape and growing concern over the health of Kenya’s ruling coalition government – the review comes at an opportune time. It also demonstrates some political will to openly assess Kenya’s most pressing policy challenges. However, the design of the upcoming review veers significantly from that of Kenya’s first peer review process in 2005-2006. The review will focus solely on democracy and political governance, rather than a holistic assessment of the entire set of governance challenges, while the self-assessment component of peer review is dispensed with entirely. What does this mission hope to accomplish? Does this point to a complete re-design of the peer review mechanism, or is this a one-off for Kenya? Is it the face of future second reviews? And what is the role of civil society, other than to briefly meet the mission members? See http://www.nepadkenya.org/
In Uganda, a revised APRM Programme of Action was published in May. The National Governing Council said that it would raise the issue of the re-introduction of presidential terms limits with President Yoweri Museveni. Read more
Integrating Governance into University Education: Workshop for African Academics
On 20-21 May 2009, SAIIA's Governance and APRM Programme hosted a workshop in Johannesburg entitled 'Integrating Governance into University Education: Workshop for African Academics'. Lecturers and professors from eight African countries attended, to explore how teaching, learning, research and publishing on governance issues can be strengthened on the continent. Click here for the workshop report.
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The African Peer Review Mechanism: Lessons from the Pioneers
Now availble to download for free.
 The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is an innovative approach to improving African governance. It offers important opportunities for public dialogue but has proved politically and logistically challenging. The first in-depth study of the APRM, this ground-breaking book analyses the evolving peer review process in the first five countries.
The product of a five-year research and training programme, it combines in-depth analysis of the APRM rules with an insightful evaluation of the political and social dynamics. Drawing on extensive interviews across the continent, it offers sounds recommendations to strengthen the process and deepen public participation. An invaluable resource for civil society and governments, this volume includes an interactive APRM Toolkit CD-ROM with the official APRM guidelines, final country reports, survey instruments, academic papers, video testimonials and a comprehensive collection of the governance codes and standards embraced by the APRM.
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| Strategies for Effective Policy Advocacy: Demanding Good Governance in Africa |
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This research report by George Katito and Faten Aggad was launched at a workshop held at the Villa Sterne in Pretoria on 17 June 2009, entitled The Implications of the Global Economic Recession on Civil Society Advocacy, Aid and Policy Implementation.
The researchers discussed their findings – mainly from Zambia and South Africa – on how civil society organisations can be more effective in influencing policy debates, especially in the context of the current global economic recession.
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| Integrating Governance in University Education |
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On 20-21 May 2009, SAIIA convened a workshop with academics from universities in eight Anglophone African countries to explore practical ways to enhance research and teaching on governance at tertiary level. Download the full report, which includes the keynote address by Professor Kwesi Kwaa Prah.
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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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