ORIGIN & OVERVIEW
WHAT IS APRM?
APRM is an acronym for the African Peer Review Mechanism. The mechanism was put in place by Heads of States and Governments (HSG) as members of the African Union (AU) in order to monitor the implementation of the critical objectives of NEPAD.
NEPAD
NEPAD stands for New Partnership for Africa’s Development. It is an integrated strategic framework for the socio-economic development of Africa that was adopted by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 2001. Wishing to lay focus on the inter-linkages among economic growth, socio-economic development and political rule, and emphasizing the importance of good governance in all these aspects, African leaders proclaimed the Declaration in Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance at the inaugural HSG meeting of the AU in 2002. This NEPAD declaration was of particular importance because it acknowledged many similar but un-integrated declarations and frameworks for Africa’s way forward that had been made for two decades. The NEPAD declaration integrated them and made good governance its central plank. This NEPAD declaration placed new emphasis on certain preconditions for Africa’s progress. They included the rule of law; human rights; regular elections; fighting corruption; ensuring transparency in monetary, financial and budgetary matters; providing an independent and effective accounting, auditing and banking system; making corporate governance responsible and accountable, providing peace and security, ensuring human and physical development, and promoting gender equality.
THE NEPAD-APRM CONNECTION
In order to enforce these commitments, the HSG in that 2002 meeting had already formulated a monitoring mechanism that would encourage compliance with standards of governance and help to gauge progress achieved. That mechanism is the African Peer Review. It was formally launched by the HSG in 2003 when its Memorandum of Understanding (the MOU) was adopted.
