The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is a mutually agreed instrument voluntarily acceded to by the member states of the African Union (AU) as a self-monitoring mechanism. The APRM was launched on 9 March 2003 by the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC) in Abuja, Nigeria (NEPAD/HSGIC/03-2003/APRM/MOU (9 March 2003), Assembly Decision 198 (XI), Decision 527 (XXIII) and Decision Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1-4(XI);
The APRM is an African-owned and African-led platform for self-assessment, peer-learning, and experience-sharing in democracy and good governance, in full respect for democratic principles, human rights, rule of law, the acceleration of political, social and economic integration in Africa;
APRM Staff with CEO Amb. Marie Antoinette Rose-Quatre
The mandate of the APRM is to ensure that policies and practices of participating Member States conform to the agreed political, economic and corporate governance values, codes and standards contained in the African Union Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance. As a voluntary self-monitoring instrument, APRM fosters the adoption of policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated regional and continental economic integration through sharing of experiences and best practices, including identifying deficiencies and assessing the needs for capacity building.
Expanded Mandate
In 2018, during the 28th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU, the APR Forum of Heads of State and Government decided to extend the APRM's mandate. This expansion includes the tracking and oversight of key governance initiatives across the continent.
Furthermore, the AU Assembly expanded the APRM's responsibilities to encompass monitoring the implementation of the African Union's Agenda 2063
Organisation
African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)
Established
9 March 2003
Parent
African Union
Total Member States
44
Chief Executive
Ambassador Marie Antoinette Rose Quarte
APR Forum Chairperson (2024-2026)
H.E Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of Agenda 2030. This broadened mandate aims to enhance the APRM's role in promoting governance, development, and accountability in African nations.
Tracking governance-related aspects of Agenda 2063 and UN SDGs 2030
Biennial Africa Governance Report completed in AGR2019, AGR2021, AGR2023 on UCG. AGR2025 (tbc)
Member countries within the APRM undertake self-monitoring in all aspects of their governance and socio-economic development. African Union (AU) stakeholders participate in the self-assessment of all branches of government – executive, legislative and judicial – as well as the private sector, civil society and the media. The APRM Review Process gives member states a space for national dialogue on governance and socio-economic indicators and an opportunity to build consensus on the way forward.[citation needed]
Four types of country reviews
1. Base Review – carried out immediately after a country becomes a member of the APRM
2. Periodic Review every four years
3. Targeted Review – requested by the member country itself outside the framework of mandated reviews
4. A Review commissioned by the APR Forum when there are early signs of pending political and economic crisis.
Five Thematic Areas
1. Democracy and Political Governance (DPG)
2. Economic Governance and Management (EGM)
3. Corporate Governance (CG)
4. Broad-based Sustainable Socio-economic Development (SED)
5. State Resilience to Shocks and Disasters
The APRM Principles that underpin APRM reviews include
(i) national ownership and leadership;
(ii) inclusive participation;
(iii) technical competence and
(iv) freedom from political manipulation.
The five stages of a peer review
1. Consultation
The APR Secretariat and the Country under review consult on the process overview and terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The Country under review creates a Focal Point to liaise with the Secretariat and provide it with relevant laws, treaty ratifications, budgets and development plans. The Secretariat prepares a background assessment document. At the same time, the Country under review independently completes the APR Self-Assessment Questionnaire, gathers inputs from civil society and drafts a paper outlining the nation's issues and a National Programme of Action (NPoA) with clear steps and deadlines on how it plans to conform to APRM codes and standards, the African Union Charter, and UN obligations. The Country Review Team that is set up writes a report outlining issues to be focused on during the review mission.
2.THE REVIEW MISSION
Visits the Country under review and conducts broad-based consultations with government, officials, political parties, parliamentarians, and representatives of civil society organisations (e.g. media, academia, trade unions, professional bodies), and the private sector. The mission typically lasts two-and-a-half to three weeks.
3.DRAFT REPORT
The APR Country Review Team drafts a report on the Country under review.
4.THE PEER REVIEW
takes place at the level of the APR Forum, using the APR Panel's report on the team's findings as a basis. The APR Forum discusses these recommendations with the Reviewed Country's leadership.
5.FINAL REPORT
Within six months, after the peer review, the published Country Review Report must be tabled in sub-regional institutions (Pan-African Parliament, African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, AU Peace and Security Council, Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union [AU-ECOSOCC]). The report is then made publicly available.
The second generation review
The objective of the APRM Second Generation Review is to assess progress made in Governance and Socio-economic Development in Member States in the period since the Base Review. The specific objectives are to:
reinvigorate, rationalize and institutionalize the APRM in governance reforms within a Member States.
appraise to what extent the National Programme of Action (NPoA) is implemented and its continued relevance, on the basis of which a new NPOA with a few key actions will be proposed;
facilitate the development of a second NPOA with greater focus and based only on key actions; and
make the APRM Review process more relevant to citizens' needs, more cost-effective and in tune with the Agenda 2063 priorities and goals.
What happens after the country review
The National Programme of Action (NPoA) is divided into short-term, medium-term and long-term goals and is continuously monitored by the National Governance Commission/Governing Council, or a smaller body of state and non-state representatives. Progress Reports on implementation are presented annually to the APR Forum. The APR Secretariat follows up on commitments made, holds regional workshops to share best practices identified in the reviews, and offers technical support to fulfill APRM plans.[citation needed]
APRM Structures
APR FORUM
(Committee of Participating Heads of State and Government)
Highest decision-making authority.
APR PANEL
(Panel of Eminent Persons)
Oversees the review process to ensure its independence, professionalism and credibility, and reports to the Forum. The APR Panel is also responsible for selecting and appointing and the Review Teams.
COMMITTEE OF FOCAL POINTS
Committee of representatives of Heads of State and Government
Manages the budgetary process, resource mobilisation through Member States, Strategic and Development Partners, and the APRM Trust Fund and Audit.
National Governing Council (NGC)
The National Governance Commission/National Governing Council (NGC) is the body that oversees implementation of the APRM process at the Member State level. In addition to providing guidance in terms of policy direction, the NGC ensures professionalism, credibility and independence of the national APRM self-assessment and review processes. The NGC is composed of key stakeholder groups from government, civil society and the private sector, in line with the APRM principle of broad-based participation.
The APRM Secretariat is currently managed by H.E. Ambassador Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre, Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The continental structure works in collaboration with the National Focal Points and the National Commissions / National Governing Councils.
APRM SECRETARIAT
Provides technical, coordinating and administrative support services. It must have sufficient capacity for the analytical work that underpins the peer review process.
Membership of the APRM
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Map of the members
Membership of the APRM is voluntary and open to all African Union (AU) countries. Accession begins with an expression of interest in membership followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the country and the APR Forum.
As of 2024, the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) comprises 44 member states, with the Central African Republic (CAR) acceding during the 33rd APR Forum on February 6, 2024. Among these members, 26 countries have completed their first-generation peer reviews, 5 have undergone second-generation reviews, and 12 have participated in targeted peer reviews.
Algeria
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Chad
Côte d'Ivoire
Djibouti
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mozambique
Niger
Namibia
Nigeria
Republic of Congo
Rwanda
São Tomé and Príncipe
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
South Africa
Sudan
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Strategic Partners
The APRM has entered into special support agreements with partner institutions designated by the Forum as Strategic Partners. These are: African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), the African Development Bank (AfDB); Mo Ibrahim Foundation; United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA); Office of the Special Advisor on Africa (OSAA); United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Africa.
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