THE AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHNISM (APRM) Presentation at the 4 th Pan-African Conference of Ministers of Public Service Stellenbosch,, South Africa 6 May 2003 Smunda S Mokoena NEPAD Secretariat 1
PRESENTATION OUTLINE Primary Objectives of NEPAD Principles Underpinning NEPAD Primary Purpose and Principles of the APRM Conditions for Sustainable Approved Documents on APRM Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Base Document Memorandum of Understanding on APRM APRM Organisation and Processes Objectives, Standards, Criteria and Indicators for the APRM Outline of the MOU on Technical Assessments and the Country Review Visit Some of the Relevant Objectives for Public Service Latest Developments 2
Primary Objectives of NEPAD To accelerate the eradication of poverty in Africa and inequality between Africa and the developed world; To place African countries, both individually and collectively, on a path of sustainable growth and development; To halt the marginalisation of Africa in the globalisation process; and To accelerate the empowerment of women. 3
Principles Underpinning NEPAD African ownership and leadership; Anchoring the development of the continent on the resources and resourcefulness of the African people; Accelerating and deepening of regional and continental economic integration; Creating conditions that make the African countries preferred destination by both domestic and foreign investors; New partnership among Africans, and between Africans and the international community, especially the industrialised world; and Comprehensive, holistic and integrated development programme for Africa. 4
Primary Purpose and Principles of the APRM The APRM is an instrument voluntarily acceded to by Member States of the African Union as an African self-monitoring mechanism. It is a mutually agreed instrument for self-monitoring by participating Member States. The primary purpose of the APRM is to foster the adoption of policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated sub-regional and continental integration through sharing of experiences and reinforcement of successful and best practice. Core Guiding Principles: Every review exercise carried out under the authority of the Mechanism must be technically competent, credible and free of political manipulation. 5
Conditions for Sustainable Peace and Security; Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance; Regional Integration; and Capable States and Governments that have capacity to govern and to deliver public goods. 6
Approved Documents on APRM Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance; The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Base Document; Memorandum of Understanding on APRM; APRM Organisation and Processes; Objectives, Standards, Criteria and Indicators; and Outline of the MOU on Technical Assessments and the Country Review Visit. 7
Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance Approved by the HSGIC and endorsed by the Durban AU Summit in July 2002 as policy document; List Prioritised Codes and Standards; Identifies Four Areas of Focus: Democracy and Political Governance; Economic Governance; Corporate Governance; and Socio-economic Development 8
African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Base Document Approved by the HSGIC and endorsed by the Durban AU Summit in July 2002 as policy document; Addresses: Leadership and Management Structure; Periodicity and Types of Peer Review (Base, Periodic, Requested or Pending Crisis); and APRM Process and Stages 9
Memorandum of Understanding on APRM Approved by HSGIC on 9 March 2003 as an accession instrument; It specifies commitments, undertakings and obligations to participating Member States; It commits participating Member States to, among others: contribute to funding the APRM, facilitate the development of the national Programme of Action, sharing best practices, support each other in capacity building and exercise of constructive peer dialogue and persuasion. 10
APRM Organisation and Processes Approved by HSGIC on 9 March 2003 as an operative guideline; Details the APRM organisation and processes in more detail; Organisational Components: APR Forum (Participating Heads of State and Government); APR Panel (Panel of Eminent Persons) APR Secretariat; APR Team (Country Review Team); APR Partner Institutions. Stages of the APR Process: Stage 1: Information Gathering and Draft Programme of Action Stage 2: Country Review Visit Stage 3: Preparation of APR Team s Report Stage 4: Consideration of the APR Team s Country Review Report Stage 5: Implementation and Public Release of the APRM Report 11
Objectives, Standards, Criteria and Indicators for the APRM Approved by HSGIC on 9 March 2003 as an operative guideline; It builds on the base documents to provide clear guidance to the APRM organs and the participating countries on the objectives, standards, criteria and indicators that need to be addressed in the process of implementing the APRM; Key Objectives prioritised in the NEPAD Framework Document and the Declaration; Codes and Standards are AU decisions and internationally recognised; Indicative Criteria are issues to be addressed and reference points; Examples of Indicators are articulated; The document covers all the focus areas of the APRM: democracy and political governance, economic governance, corporate governance and socioeconomic development and it serves as a guideline for further development. 12
Outline of the MOU on Technical Assessments and the Country Review Visit Approved by HSGIC on 9 March 2003 as an operative guideline; It is intended to provide a template for the drafting of the memorandum of understanding and the finalisation of the specific rights, commitments and obligations a participating country will make to the APRM and vice versa. This takes place after the country has formally acceded to the APRM; As such, it is designed to complement the Accord by providing the specific arrangements necessary for successful participation of the country in the implementation of the APRM at country level, especially in the areas of Technical Assessments and Country Review Visit. 13
Some of the Relevant Objectives for Public Service Democracy and Political Governance (9 Objectives): Ensure accountable, efficient and effective public office holders and civil servants; Fighting Corruption in the political sphere; Economic Governance (5 Objectives): Implement transparent, predictable and credible government economic policies; Promote sound public finance management; Fight Corruption and money laundering; 14
Some of the Relevant Objectives for Public Service (cont.) Corporate Governance (5 Objectives): Provide an enabling environment and effective regulatory framework for economic activities; Promote the adoption of codes of good ethics in achieving the objectives of the organisation; Ensure that corporations treat their stakeholders in a fair manner; and Socio-economic Development (6 Objectives): Promote self-reliance in development and build capacity for self-sustaining development; Strengthen policies, delivery mechanisms and outputs in key social development areas. 15
Latest Developments Twelve Countries have signed the MOU on APRM to-date; Chairperson of the HSGIC to invite all other Member States of the AU to consider signing the MOU; Nominations for the Panel of Eminent Persons (APR Panel) have been received and in the process of being finalised. Chairperson to finalise after consulting the signatories to the MOU on APRM in the five African regions; Recruitment of Facilitation Managers (Contract) for the APR Secretariat is in progress at the NEPAD Secretariat; 7 th Summit of the HSGIC scheduled for late May 2003. Appointment of APR Panel is expected to be finalised. 16
Thank You 17