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African Peer Review Mechanism a tool to monitor good governance
2008-04-02 10:22:26
By Lydia Shekhigenda
The first day I heard about the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), I could not get a clear meaning until I took part in a one day sensitization seminar.
I later came to find out that APRM was put in place by heads of African states and government as members of African Union (AU) in order to monitor the implementation of the critical objectives of New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
Tanzania Executive Secretary for APRM Professor Daudi Mukangara said APRM can be shortly defined as assessment of good governance because it incorporates both a country self assessment and an assessment by other people from African countries.
NEPAD as an integrated strategic framework for socio economic development lay focus on the inter linkages among economic growth, socio economic development and political rule, emphasizing the importance of good governance in all aspects.
African heads of states and government formulated a monitoring mechanism which would encourage compliance with the standards of governance and help to gauge progress achieved to enforce the above mentioned commitment.
APRM was formally launched in 2003 and within that same year adopted its memorandum of understanding.
African states voluntarily agreed to monitor progress in governance and good practices in four thematic areas namely economic governance and management, corporate, socio-economic, democracy and political governance respectively.
``These thematic areas incorporate the critical preconditions for progress highlighted by NEPAD’s declaration,`` he said.
Transparency and participation in the APR process requires preparation for the whole public as well as cooperation to secure information on governance in their country.
The extensive and public awareness Programmes are carried out before and during the actual assessment.
According to Prof. Mukangara members of the public will be encouraged to obtain and answer the questioners before they submit to the APRM secretariat.
``Information obtained this way will complement the knowledge generated through the standard techniques employed by Technical Assessment Teams, (TAT) he said.
TAT will compile reports and the national Secretariat will be responsible for preparation of a comprehensive report subjected to validation process including workshops, seminars and conferences which will involve stakeholders.
The country self assessment report will include plan of action for the future and it will be submitted to continental APRM secretariat at the end.
Where governance deficits will be found and the reviewed country is willing to find remedies, the participating APRM countries are obliged to provide any possible assistance and urge international partners to come to the assistance of the country if needed.
Representative of Tanzania Muslim Council Suleiman Lolilo participant of the sensitization seminar for leaders of the faith based organization said assessment of good governance was important for African countries due to most of them facing problems in good governance.
``This program will help countries to make assessment in various areas of economy, political and social spheres and set governing principals,`` said Lolilo
Religious institutions must play a role to educate people on the concept of good governance to enable them fully participate in the exercise.
Lolilo also had the view that the mechanism should not only end with a plan of action to the governance deficit but also reward countries which will perform well.
He said the move will help other countries with bad reports to learn and improve their performance.
Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) Secretary General Fr. Anthony Mkude said APRM is very important because it assesses governance which touches the African continent as a whole.
``This assessment is very important because it covers the whole African continent and our country as well in socio economic development and spiritually,`` said Fr. Mkude.
Fr. Mkude said life without assessment had no future saying it is the responsibility of everyone in the country to play his part in the whole process to assess good governance.
Giving Kenya`s experience on the APRM process NEPAD Chief Executive Officer Grace Ongile said the mechanism was implemented by involving various stake holders.
Kenya acceded to APRM in March 2003 in Abuja Nigeria but later the process fell into problem due to criteria used to select members of the national governing council.
``Tanzania is doing a lot to communicate with stakeholders to enable them own the whole process,`` said Ongile.
She said the country should not forget to involve permanent secretaries in the process but cautioned that the government should contribute more funds in the process to retain the African ownership.
``The country may be getting funds from donors but it should contribute more so that the system may be controlled by citizens instead of donors,`` Ongile said.
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