Independence of APRM Needed for Good Governance in Africa
Abuja, 29 October 2006
The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) has been described as a unique and important initiative of African leaders. But it should be driven by non-state actors, if it is to enthrone good governance in the continent.
Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Abdoulie Janne, said APRM is a comprehensive assessment of a nation’s governance system. It is to open institutions of governance, their management as well as leadership to public scrutiny. However, its structures would work better, and its credibility guaranteed, if it were independent and not attached to political pressures of governments, he added.
Mr. Janneh spoke on the process of improving governance in Africa at the second multi-stakeholder dialogue of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) today in Abuja, Nigeria. He cited political will as a major challenge towards APRM implementation.
”Only 25 countries out of the 53 NEPAD member states have acceded to the APRM programme,” Janneh said. The APRM is a self-monitoring instrument of the African Union (AU) under NEPAD. It is voluntarily acceded to by member states of the union.
On the technical side, Janneh said implementation of APRM is highly demanding and requires extensive expertise. He said time had been taken to adopt the process in the last five years and the need now was to also focus on the challenges currently experienced in its implementation. The capacities of NEPAD secretariat should be built in order to reduce the time it takes to conduct the exercise, he added.
UNECA is assisting the APRM process and this includes technical support and expertise for APRM country missions. For example, ECA working with the APRM secretariat has put in place a three-year strategic business plan to engage the APRM process at national and continental levels.
Also at the dialogue, Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, representing African Monitor, a South African NGO, said the demand for good governance is essential because it addresses the alleviation of poverty for citizens. Issues of youths and women, who formed the greatest part of society, should be promoted by APRM and supported by stakeholders such as the church, the archbishop noted.
Ms. Priscilla Achakpa, representing a Nigerian NGO, Women Environmental Programme, WEP, said non-state actors and women in particular should lead the APRM.
The APRM encourages participating states to conform to agreed practices and policies that will help NEPAD succeed. Its goal is to enthrone political, economic and corporate values.
Source: NEPAD