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.

APRM in the News

APRM Secretariat seeks public input on reform drive. As part of its efforts to “streamline and fast-track the APRM”, the APRM Secretariat has issued a call for written submissions from the public with suggestions of how the APRM process could be made more efficient and inclusive, focusing on the areas of reforming the APRM Self-Assessment Questionnaire, monitoring and reporting, civil society engagement, and APRM methodology and processes. Its website noted: “The APRM now wishes to invite submissions from member countries, technical research institutions, think-thanks, civil society organisations, women’s organisations, rural populations, media, private sector representatives and all segments of society who have an interest in the APRM to provide any suggestions of improvements.” Submissions can be sent by 5 May 2010 to Peter Wandwasi peterw3@dbsa.org or Rosemary Khissa rosemaryk@dbsa.org or mailed to the APRM Secretariat, PO Box 1234 Halfway House, 1685, South Africa. They can also be dropped off at the APRM Secretariat, Corner New Road & 6th Avenue, International Business Gateway, Corner Challenger & Colombia Avenue, Gateway Park B, 1st Floor, Midridge Park Building, Halfway House, South Africa.

APRM luminary, Ghana’s Dr Francis Appiah, passes away. SAIIA was deeply saddened to learn that Dr Francis Appiah, Executive Secretary of the National APRM Governing Council of Ghana, had passed away suddenly on 22 April 2010. Dr Appiah was instrumental in driving Ghana’s APRM process, and in 2007 he received the German-Africa Award from Chancellor Angela Merkel. His boundless energy and unfailing commitment were an inspiration to many in the APRM community, and he will be sorely missed. We extend our condolences to his family, the Ghanaian Governing Council and Secretariat and the government and people of Ghana.

Kampala AU Summit dates announced. The African Union has announced the following dates for meetings forming part of the next AU Summit, to be held in Kampala, Uganda: (a) Permanent Representative Committee of Ambassadors (PRC): 19-20 July 2010; (b) 17th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council: 22-23 July 2010; (c) 5th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of States and Governments: 25-27 July 2010. The Summit’s theme will be “Maternal, Infant and Child Health and Development in Africa”. The meeting of APRM Focal Points with the APRM Panel is therefore expected to be on 23 July, with the APRM Forum on 24 July. The Citizens and Diaspora Organisations Directorate of the African Union Commission (CIDO) has said, “depending on availability of resources, a civil society pre-summit event will be held before the Summit itself. We will be communicating precise dates, if approved, in due course.”

New Study on APRM implementation: Partnership Africa Canada has published Reviewing Africa’s Peer Review Mechanism: A Seven Country Survey by Ghanaian political economist Adotey Bing-Pappoe. It assesses the progress made in some of the major countries that have begun to implement the APRM.

New Report on the APRM in SA: AfriMAP has published The APRM Process in South Africa by Nobuntu Mbelle, as part of their series of reports analysing various countries’ APRM experiences.