African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Annual Report 2011

1 2011 APRM Annual Report
Annual Report
African Peer Review Mechanism
Africa’s Self-Assessment for Improved Governance

2011 APRM Annual Report
Frequently-asked questions 2
Abbreviations and acronyms 3
Foreword by Professor Amos Sawyer, 4
Chairperson of APRM Panel
Introduction by the Chief Executive Officer 5
of the APRM Secretariat
I. Activities undertaken in 2011 7
A. Forum of Heads of State and Government 7
1. 14th Summit of the APRM Forum 7
1.1 Peer Review of Ethiopia
1.2 Progress Report on Implementation
of the Nigeria NPoA
of the Lesotho NPoA
2. 15th Summit of the APRM Forum 9
of the Benin NPoA
of the Burkina Faso NPoA
B. Overview of Assessments: 12
Update on Country Review Processes
1. Central Africa 12
1.1 Cameroon
1.2 Republic of Congo
1.3 Gabon
1.4 São Tome and Principe
2. East Africa 13
2.1 Djibouti
2.2 Ethiopia
2.3 Kenya
2.4 Rwanda
2.5 Tanzania
2.6 Uganda
3. North Africa 15
3.1 Algeria
3.2 Egypt
3.3 Mauritania
3.4 Sudan
4. Southern Africa 16
4.1 Angola
4.2 Lesotho
4.3 Malawi
4.4 Mauritius
4.5 Mozambique
4.6 South Africa
4.7 Zambia
5. West Africa 17
5.1 Benin
5.2 Burkina Faso
5.3 Ghana
5.4 Liberia
5.5 Mali
5.6 Nigeria
5.7 Senegal
5.8 Sierra Leone
5.9 Togo
C. Partnership development 20
and participation in meetings
1. APRM Strategic Partners’
collaborative activities
2. Conferences, Workshops and
Other Meetings
II. Financial Report 24
1. Member Countries’ Contributions
2. Contributions from Partners
III. Management of the APRM 28
1. The APR Forum
2. The APR Panel
3. The APRM Secretariat
4. The National APRM Focal Points
IV. Conclusions and 32
2012 perspectives
contents

What is Good Governance?
Good Governance involves making decisions and
implementing them in a manner that is participatory,
consensus-oriented, accountable, transparent,
effective and efficient, equitable, inclusive and guided
by the rule of law.
Good Governance ensures that corruption is
eradicated, the views of minorities and the most
vulnerable social groups are taken into account in
decision-making and policies are implemented in a
manner that promotes sustainable development.
What are the objectives of the APRM?
The objectives of the APRM are primarily 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 economic integration through experience
sharing and reinforcement of successful and best
practices, including identification of deficiencies and
assessment of needs for capacity building.
How do countries become members of the
APRM process?
Membership of the APRM is open to all the 54 Member
Countries of the African Union. However, membership
of the APRM is acquired on a voluntary basis. At
present, thirty (30) of the 54 member countries of the
African Union are members of the APRM.
The process of accession usually starts with a country
expressing its desire to become member of the APRM.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is then
signed between the country and the APR Forum, a
body comprising Heads of State and Government, at
any of the bi-annual AU/APRM Summits.
How is an APRM Review conducted?
An APRM Review Mission is only one part of the
overall Peer Review Process, as illustrated in Box
1. A typical Review Mission may last for two and a
half or three weeks, excluding the preparatory team
meetings and writing of the Country Review Report.
The Country Review Team meets with all national
stakeholders, comprising Government Departments,
Civil Society Organizations, such as Religious
Organizations, Academia, Minorities and Trade Unions,
as well as Members of the Judiciary, Parliament and
Political Parties, Local Government Representatives,
Women’s Organizations, Youth Groups, the Private
Sector, including Informal Sector Federations and/
or Operators, Chambers of Commerce, Commercial
Banks, Insurance Companies, SME Federations and
Professional Bodies such as Chartered Accountants,
the Legal Profession, etc.
The first week of a Review Mission is usually spent in
the capital city while the second week and possibly
part of the third week are spent in the regions or
provinces. Since individual country reviews present
differences as a result of country specificities, review
programmes are subject to variance.
Is the APRM an assessment of the Executive
Branch of Government?
The APRM is used by member countries to self-
monitor all aspects of their governance and socio-
economic development. The exercise is not limited to
the Executive. It includes the legislative and judicial
branches of government as well as an assessment
of the Private Sector, Civil Society and the Media
in the areas of governance and socio-economic
development. The overall review process provides a
national space for dialogue on governance and socio-
economic indicators in the Member State and the
opportunity to build national consensus on the way
forward. The National Programme of Action (NPoA)
prepared at the end of the review process actualizes
the road map agreed upon by all the stakeholders.
How are Civil Society Organizations
(CSOs) involved?
Civil Society Organizations are involved in all stages
of the process which may include participation in one
or more of the following structures or activities:
Frequently-asked questions

• The Advance/Support Mission meetings that
which provide the space to learn about the
process and interact with the APRM delegation;
• The National Commissions/Governing Councils
that provide strategic policy direction to the
process at country level;
• The Technical Review Teams that coordinate
the technical production of a Country Self-
Assessment Report (CSAR) and the National
Programme of Action (NPoA) document;
• The Country Review Team comprising
independent African experts engaged in the four
thematic areas;
• Workshops for evaluating and strengthening the
APRM; and
• Country Review Missions that provide the
opportunity for meetings between Civil Society
Organizations and the APRM Country Review Team.
What happens after the Peer Review?
The National Programme of Action (NPoA) is
implemented after the peer review of a Member
State at a Summit of the APRM Heads of State and
Government (APR Forum).The NPoA addresses short-
term, medium-term and long-term goals that are
monitored systematically. The monitoring body can
be the National Commission/Governing Council, or a
smaller representative body including state and non-
state actors. This body monitors the implementation
of the NPoA and prepares a six-monthly progress
report for the APR Panel of Eminent Persons (APR
Panel) and an annual progress report for the APR
Forum. After two to four years, the reviewed Member
State is eligible for a subsequent review.
AfDB African Development Bank
AGF African Governance Forum
ALD Activities of Limited Duration
APR African Peer Review
APRM African Peer Review Mechanism
AU African Union
CFR Commander of the Order of the
Federal Republic
CRM Country Review Mission
CSM Country Support Mission
CRT Country Review Team
CSAR Country Self Assessment Report
CSOs Civil Society Organizations
DBSA Development Bank of
Southern Africa
EFCC Economic and Financial
Crime Commission
ICPC Independent Corrupt Practices
and Other Related Offences
Commission
MNI Member of National Institute
MoU Memorandum of Understanding
NC/NGC National Commission /
National Governing Council
NGC National Governing Council
NEPAD New Partnership for Africa’s
Development
NGO Non-Governmental Organizations
NPoA National Programme of Action
PoA Programme of Action
PR Proportional Representation
PRC Permanent Representatives
Committee
REC Regional Economic Community
SME Small and Medium Enterprises
UNDP United Nations
Development Programme
UNECA United Nations Economic
Commission for Africa
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

Foreword by Professor
Amos Sawyer, Chairperson
of the APR Panel
T
he year 2011 was yet another eventful reference
point in the annals of the APRM. It was an
eventful year during which the APRM process
was further invigorated. Its outstanding landmarks
included the Peer Review of Ethiopia, Implementation
of National Programmes of Action (NPoA) by Member
Countries, Preparation of Operating Procedures for the
APRM, Country Review Missions, Support and Follow-up
Missions to Member Countries and various initiatives
taken to streamline and fast-track the APRM Process.
Led by the Chairperson of the APRM Panel, Prof.
Mohamed Séghir Babès, four (4) members of the
Reconstituted Panel (following the resignation of Vice-
Chairperson Domitilla Mukantaganzwa) collaborated
with the Heads of State and Government Participating
in the APRM, the APRM Secretariat and Focal Points
of the Mechanism to carry out the year’s Work Plan
according to schedule.
As elaborated hereafter, three Country Review Missions
were accomplished and the Mechanism successfully
conducted Support and Follow-up Missions in the
Member Countries. Panel Meetings were held on
schedule and initiatives taken by the APR Panel
culminated in the Revision of the APRM Master
Questionnaire, the principal guide to the Country
Review Processes designed to streamline and fast-
track the APRM process. An APRM Retreat organized
with Representatives from the African Union (AU) and
the Strategic Partners of the APRM (UNECA, UNDP
and AfDB) came up with practical recommendations
for enhanced partnerships aimed at carrying the
Mechanism to new heights.
The Outreach, Experience Sharing and Advocacy
Programmes were reinforced through the APRM’s
participation in continental meetings where thematic
issues of prime concern to the Mechanism were
discussed. Cooperation with partner organizations
and AU institutions was boosted and the Mechanism’s
Communication Strategy was revamped to enhance
the visibility of the APRM on the African continent
and beyond.
It is noteworthy that these achievements were the
result of efforts deployed by a reduced APR Panel and
dedicated staff members of a skeleton Secretariat.
In the financial sphere, the Mechanism acknowledges
the substantial efforts made by Member Countries and
Partner Institutions to sustain the Mechanism with
their financial contributions. The Mechanism is grateful
to all the Member Countries and institutions for their
financial support. It also appeals to the Member
Countries that have not paid up their Contribution
Arrears to do so to enable the Mechanism to acquire
the resources needed for the implementation of the
outstanding activities.
It is anticipated that the APRM Panel and Focal Points
will come up with consensual Operating Procedures
for the APRM and that the Revised Questionnaire
and Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation (MR&E)
Framework Documents will be finalized and validated
by the stakeholders in early 2012 so as to pave the way
for their presentation to the APR Forum of Heads of
State and Government. As observed previously, these
initiatives will mark a new phase in the APRM, where
the truly unique process involving all Africans will
reflect the impact of the reviews on the governance-
related challenges of tomorrow.
We fervently hope that the coming year will usher
in a new Host Country Agreement to improve staff
working conditions at the APR Secretariat, as well as
more Members to strengthen the Panel and facilitate
its work. The APRM has prospects and we remain
optimistic that the various structures, partners and
stakeholders will intensify their efforts to strengthen
the continental Mechanism by providing it with
increased support at all levels.
Professor Amos Sawyer
Chairperson of the APR Panel (January 2012 - present)

I
t is my pleasure to welcome readers and APRM
Stakeholders to the 2011 Annual Report. The year
2011 was indeed another memorable reference
point as the APRM recorded a number of sterling
achievements in its mission of promoting good
governance and socio-economic development in
Africa. In the year 2011:
• Review Missions were accomplished in Zambia
and Sierra Leone, and the first ever second
review mission was conducted in Kenya;
• Liberia acceded to the APRM, thereby bringing the
membership of the Mechanism to 30 countries;
• A Draft Revised APRM Questionnaire was
elaborated at a Validation Workshop on “The
Revised Questionnaire and Development of a
Monitoring and Reporting Framework for the
APRM”. The Workshop, which was held from 16th to
17th March 2011 in Johannesburg, brought together
more than one hundred high-level stakeholders,
including APR Panel Members, Member Countries’
Focal Points, the Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD
and Representatives of the Strategic Partners and
Civil Society Organizations;
• The APRM advocacy and outreach programmes
recorded steady progress and the Mechanism
achieved greater visibility through the publication
of the APRM Newsletter and The Voice of APRM/
La Voix du MAEP, the In-house Information
Bulletin. The Voice of APRM, a radio programme,
was also developed to broadcast news in brief
from the APRM.
• The APRM Website was revamped and it is now
available at the following addresses:
(http://aprm-au.org and http://maep-ua.org);
• The Mozambique Country Review Report was
launched (March 2011);
• An APRM Report on Best Practices emanating
from the Review exercise undertaken in 13
Countries was published and circulated in June
2011, during the 15th APRM Forum Summit held in
Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
• An APRM Exhibition was organized on the
margins of the 15th Summit of the APR Forum in
Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Promotional materials,
media preparations, Newsletters, and Press
Releases were made available at the APRM Stand.
Interviews with prominent APRM stakeholders
were also organized at the Exhibition; and
• The 1st Panel Retreat with APRM Strategic Partners
and Stakeholders took place in October 2011. The
deliberations focused on the challenges facing
the APRM, as well as the transition of the APRM
as an Autonomous Organ within the AU System.
The recommendations from the Retreat are being
implemented to strengthen the Mechanism and
pave the way for its smooth functioning.
These are just some of the events that took place during
this eventful year. The APRM has profited immensely
from these achievements, and the Mechanism looks
forward to an even more promising year 2012, in which
more countries are expected to accede to the APRM and
enjoy the fruits of good governance.
Mr Assefa Shifa
Chief Executive Officer of the APRM Secretariat
Introduction by the
Chief Executive Officer
of the APRM Secretariat

I. Activities Undertaken in 2011
A. FORUM OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT
The APR Forum is the Committee of Participating Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the
African Union that have voluntarily acceded to the African Peer Review Mechanism. The APR Forum has the
ultimate responsibility for oversight of the organization and processes of the APRM, for mutual learning and
capacity building, and for exercising the constructive peer dialogue and peer pressure required to make the APRM
effective, credible and technically sound. In this perspective, one of the most important missions of the APR Forum
is to hold Summits to consider, adopt and take ownership of Country Review Reports submitted by
the APRM Panel.
Two Summits of the APR Forum were held in 2011: the first one in January in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the
second, in June in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
1. 14th Summit of the APR Forum: Peer
Review of Ethiopia and Progress Report on
implementation of NPOAs
The 14th Summit of the APR Forum was held on
29 January 2011 at the African Union Commission
Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The
Summit was chaired by H. E. Meles Zenawi, Prime
Minister of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia.
In his welcome address, H.E. Meles Zenawi,
Chairperson of the APR Forum, expressed his
pleasure in hosting the distinguished gathering
in Ethiopia. He indicated that the Meeting
would proceed with the peer review of Ethiopia
and consider the Progress Reports of Nigeria,
Lesotho, South Africa and the Draft Operating
Procedures for the APRM prepared by the
Committee of Focal Points.
1.1. The Peer Review of Ethiopia
His Excellency Armando E. Guebuza, President
of the Republic of Mozambique, chaired the
Session on the peer review of the Federal
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The Session
focussed on the Country Review Report of
Ethiopia covering Democracy and Political
Governance, Economic Governance and
Management, Corporate Governance and
Socio-economic Development, as presented by
Barrister Akere Muna, Lead Panel Member for
the Ethiopia Review Process. Barrister Muna
highlighted the key strengths of Ethiopia,
including the fact that it was a Symbol of
African Resistance to Colonialism, as well as its
recent high economic growth rate.
The APRM Report highlighted a number of
commendable practices including Ethiopia’s
hosting of the Headquarters of the African
Union, the overhauling and development
of road networks through the ten-year
Road Sector Development Programme,
assertiveness on self-reliant planning, the pro-
poor expenditure pattern which ensures that,
on average, 90% of the Government Capital
Budget is allocated to enhance pro-poor
growth and social development sectors such
as Agriculture, Food Security, Roads, Irrigation,
Education, Water and Sanitation. The Session
also noted, as commendable, the establishment
of the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange and its
approach to microfinance, access to markets
and the strong governmental macro-economic
policy, which have yielded broad-based
economic growth. The peer review highlighted
some challenges, to which the Ethiopian
Government responded, in an appendix to the
Country Review Report. It was observed that
the task ahead consisted in implementing the
National Programme of Action (NPOA).
Forum’s observations
The APR Forum congratulated H. E. Prime Minister
Meles Zenawi, the Government and the People
of Ethiopia on the peer review. The Heads of
State and Government further advised that every
country be reviewed on the basis of the strategic
options it has adopted as well as the political and
economic situation of that particular country.

1.2. Progress Report on Implementation of the
Nigeria NPoA
Initially, the APRM Progress Reports on the
National Programme of Action (NPoA) of the
reviewed countries were to be submitted to the
Secretariat six months after the Heads of State
and Government of the participating member
countries have peer-reviewed the Country Review
Reports. However, this period was later amended
to one year and Member Countries have since
been reporting on their progress annually.
At the 14th Summit of the APR Forum that
was chaired by H. E. Meles Zenawi, the
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
H. E. Goodluck Jonathan, presented the first
Progress Report of Nigeria. H.E. Goodluck
Jonathan gave the following highlights over
the period under consideration:
• Nigeria set up a 14-member Inter-
Ministerial Committee on the
Domestication of APRM Standards and
Codes on 18 June 2009, to ensure that the
country’s National Programme of Action
(NPoA) was speedily implemented;
• Nigeria contained the minor and major
conflicts ranging from ethno-religious
conflicts, communal clashes between
residents of some communities in different
parts of the country, conflicts over new
administrative boundaries and political
elections, and militants’ activities in the
oil-rich Niger Delta Region, as well as post-
election violence in Jos Plateau.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Mechanisms such as Mediation, Arbitration
and Early Neutral Evaluation were
established to reduce the workload of
Nigeria’s Conventional Courts, decongest
the Court dockets and limit the excessive
costs and undue delay incurred in obtaining
access to justice;
• The Child Rights Act, which was passed
into law in 2003, has been adopted by
23 States, including the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT);
• In response to the global economic crisis,
the Central Bank adjusted the Monetary
Policy Rate (MPR) downward from 9.75%
to 8% and 6% in April and July 2009
respectively within the period under
review. The economic growth in 2009
also improved to 6.9% against 5.99%
recorded in 2008. The Nigerian Economy
reform process mandated the Bureau of
Public Enterprises (BPE) to effectuate the
privatization and commercialization of
public enterprises. Educational institutions
were also allocated more funds.
• The Nigerian Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) strengthened
anti-money laundering policies
throughout year 2009 by investigating
and prosecuting suspects. The EFCC also
remains committed to fighting corruption
in Nigeria.
• With regard to regional integration,
especially within the West Africa Sub-
region, Nigeria has dismantled all the road
blocks along the border towns to facilitate
movement of eligible goods and services.
With the introduction of harmonized
ECOWAS Passports, citizens of ECOWAS
Member States can now move around
without hindrance.
• H.E. Goodluck Jonathan informed the
Forum that the Federal Ministry in
charge of the Niger Delta Affairs was
created by the Federal Government in
September 2008 in order to demonstrate
the Government’s commitment to the
development of the region.
The Forum commended the Nigerian Government
for building a strong national economy and
encouraged the Government to intensify the socio-
economic development programmes underway for
the benefit of the entire population of Nigeria.
Lesotho NPoA
At the 14th Summit of the APR Forum, the Right
Honourable Pakalitha Bethuel Mosisili, Prime
Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, presented his
country’s first Progress Report on the National
Programme of Action to the Forum. The highlights
of the Progress Report were as follows:
• Despite the shortage of resources required for
implementation of the NPoA, the Government
of the Kingdom of Lesotho strengthened the
anti-corruption agency and implemented public
financial management reforms through the
introduction of the new Integrated Financial
Management Information System (IFMIS); the

relevant legislation for the protection of the
rights of women and the youth was drafted
and a Service Delivery Office was established
to spearhead the enhancement of service
delivery across the public service;
• Capacity for implementation was enhanced
with support from the public as it became
necessary to improve financial management
systems that would also enhance transparency
and accountability; the capacity for
macroeconomic planning and for building
robust monitoring and evaluation systems was
significantly enhanced;
• Following the Government’s instruction to
revamp the National Development Plan (NDP),
a unit was established within the Ministry of
Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) to
lead the process, and government ministries
were sensitized about the process. The
Government continued to implement the
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and the
country’s Growth Strategy.
• Prime Minister Pakalitha Bethuel Mosisili also
informed the Forum that Lesotho established
the Commercial Court and the completion of
the draft bill for the New Companies Act, which
resulted in the speedy resolution of commercial
disputes, thus improving the climate for doing
business in the country. In addition, Lesotho
established the Lesotho Business Council, a
forum where the Government and the Private
Sector plan together and discuss all relevant
business issues.
• The Education Bill, which provided for compulsory
education, was enacted and this brought about
some improvement in the already existing
policies regarding free Primary Education For
All; significant achievements were also made,
particularly in terms of mainstreaming gender
and HIV/AIDS in the country’s programmes and
legislative frameworks.
The Forum congratulated the Right
HonourablePakalitha Bethuel Mosisili, the
Government and People of Lesotho, on their first
Progress Report. The Forum also commended
the achievements made within the period under
consideration and looked forward to Lesotho’s
Second Progress Report.
2. 15th Summit of the APR Forum: Progress
Reports on Implementation of the NPoA of
Benin and Burkina Faso.
The 15th Summit of the Committee of Heads of
State and Government Participating in the African
Peer Review Mechanism (APR Forum) was held
on 29 June 2011 at Sipopo Conference Centre in
Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The Forum considered
Progress Reports on the implementation of the
National Programmes of Actions presented by
Benin and Burkina Faso at a session chaired by
H.E. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia and
Chairperson of the APR Forum.
On the margins of the 15th Summit, the APRM
Secretariat participated in an exhibition where
APRM reports and reviews were highlighted
through books, video and other media. APRM staff
answered APRM-related questions from members
of the public.
Benin NPoA
Benin’s Country Review Report was considered
by the Heads of State and Government of the
participating Member Countries in January 2008.
Benin presented its First NPoA Progress Report in
January 2009. The country presented its Second
Progress Report in June 2011 at the 15th Summit of
the APR Forum in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The
highlights of the Report presented by His Excellency
President Thomas Boni Yayi were as follows:
• Benin continued to promote democracy and the
rule of law through political dialogue and the
enactment of laws regulating political life in Benin.
These included the decree on the implementation
of a statute on the Opposition, the decree on the
financing of political parties, and particularly the
creation and installation of the National Standing
Committee for Consultation and a Government/
Trade Union collective bargaining.
• The Government of Benin has created a political
class comprising community leaders and elders,
former Presidents of the Republic who are still
alive, royalty and dignitaries from various religious
communities, with responsibility to resolve conflicts
and reach a political consensus on issues of prime
concern in building a democratic State. Civil
Society Organisations, the High Commissioner for
Collaborative Governance and the Board of the
Ombudsman of the Republic, equally contribute,
through their advocacy, mediation or conciliation, to
the preservation of peace and democracy in Benin.

• Despite the adverse effects of the global financial
crisis, Benin has continued to implement its
fiscal consolidation and the SME promotion
policy in particular by organising a forum on the
private sector and taking measures to streamline
procedures on taxation in certain development
areas, to promote a more effective taxation in the
service of economic growth and the well-being of
the people.
• At the social level, in 2009, apart from various
measures taken to facilitate people’s access to
school and health care (especially for children
under the age of five and pregnant women), the
year 2009 was marked by the construction and
equipment of socio-medical centres.
• The Government of Benin introduced a social
dialogue policy through a permanent dialogue
process organized at national level with all
socio-occupational groups on the major issues of
national interest.
• However, President Boni Yayi pointed out that
corruption, poverty and the global economic
crisis were impacting heavily on the socio-
economic development of the country.ations

The Forum congratulated the Government of
Benin on the quality of the country’s Second
Progress Report. It particularly commended the
Benin Government for the ongoing democratic
process and consensus building, Benin’s peaceful
coexistence with neighbouring countries and the
provision for the welfare of the citizenry.
2.2.Progress Report on Implementation of the
Burkina Faso NPoA
President Blaise Compaoré presented the
Second Progress Report on the implementation
of Burkina Faso’s NPoA at the 15th Summit
of the APR Forum that was held in Malabo,
Equatorial Guinea, in June 2011. He highlighted
the following aspects among the significant
achievements recorded in the process:
• Burkina Faso addressed the issue of
politicization of Civil Service administration by
publishing operating manuals for civil servants
to ensure transparency in recruitment and
public service delivery.
• The Government of Burkina Faso adopted on 26
May 2010, a Plan of Action to operationalise the
National Policy on Justice, and was in the final
stages of formulating a National Policy on Human
Rights, with an accompanying Plan of Action.
• With regard to the assumption of Decision-
Making Functions, Burkina Faso was improving
the social and legal status of women and public
sensitisation activities were envisaged with a
view to addressing the socio-cultural aspects of
gender discrimination.
• The Government of Burkina Faso established a
National Youth Council and 13 Regional Youth
Councils to ensure proper consultation between
the Government and the Youth. The Government
was also addressing the youth unemployment
problem by providing more funds to the Small and
Medium Enterprises (SMES) to support the Youth.
• To enhance economic competitiveness, the
Government of Burkina Faso took measures to
promote private investment in the country’s
telecommunications sector. It also extended
assistance to 4256 entrepreneurs and chief
executives in 2010 as part of the private sector
support programme.
• The Government intensified awareness
campaigns in the framework of the fight against
HIV/AIDS and the prevalence rate dropped to 1. 2
per cent in 2010.
• In the area of decentralization, the Government
succeeded in decentralizing to the communes
(districts) responsibility for public service delivery
in the following areas: health; pre-primary and
primary education; literacy, culture, youth, sports
and recreation programs, potable water supply
and sanitation.
The Forum congratulated the Government of
Burkina Faso on the quality of its Report and
commended Burkina Faso for recording a low HIV/
AIDS prevalence rate. The Forum took note of the
impact of climate change in the Sahelian region
and advised the Government of Burkina Faso to
take appropriate measures to combat the scourge
in the country.

B. OVERVIEW OF ASSESSMENTS: UPDATE ON COUNTRY REVIEW PROCESSES
The 2011-2013 Work Plan is the third three-year schedule completed by the APRM, following the 2008-2010
Plan developed in 2007and the 2009-2011 Plan developed in 2009. Throughout 2011, the APR Panel and the
APRM Secretariat fielded various Missions to promote APRM activities in the Member States. These included:
• A Follow-up Mission to Sierra Leone (12-14 April 2011);
• A Support Mission to Djibouti (21-24 February 2011); and
• A Follow-up Mission to Gabon (21-22 October 2011) for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU).
As at December 2011, fourteen (14) APRM Member Countries had been peer-reviewed. Ethiopia was peer-reviewed
at the 14th Summit of the APR Forum Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2011. Sierra Leone and
Zambia hosted APRM Country Review Missions in 2011, and were due for peer review at the 16th Summit of the
APR Forum Summit scheduled for January 2012 in Ethiopia while Kenya was to undergo its second peer review at
the same Summit Meeting.
This section reports on APRM progress in each member country and sub-region. The thirty member countries
represent all five sub-regions, and over 75 per cent of Africa’s population.
There are four (4) APRM Member States from Central Africa: Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Gabon and São Tome
and Principe.
1. Central Africa
1.1. Cameroon
Cameroon acceded to the APRM on 3 April 2003.
Despite the fact that Cameroon is one of the pioneer
countries that joined the APRM, its review process has
been very slow. The country has to establish its national
APRM structures that will supervise the preparation
of the Country Self-Assessment Report (CSAR). An
Advance Mission to Cameroon is planned for 2012.
1.2 Republic of Congo
The Republic of Congo acceded to the APRM in
2003. Efforts are being made to reinvigorate the
APRM process in the country. The APRM National
Commission has been constituted and it is awaiting
the date of its launch. An Advance Mission to the
Republic of Congo is planned for 2012.

There are six (6) APRM Member States from East Africa: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
2. East Africa
2.1. Djibouti
Djibouti acceded to the APRM in June 2007. In 2011,
Djibouti embarked on the APRM Self-assessment
exercise, which is expected to be completed in 2012. A
Support Mission to Djibouti took place in February 2011.
It was led by Barrister Julienne Ondziel-Gnelenga, Lead
Panel Member in charge of the Djibouti Review Process.
Djibouti is committed to completing its Country Self-
Assessment Report and submitting it by June 2012, to
pave the way for a review mission in August 2012 and
the peer review in January 2013.
2.2. Ethiopia
Ethiopia was peer-reviewed at the 14th APR
Forum of Heads of State and Government in Addis
Ababa on 29 January 2011. At the peer review, the
highlights of the Review Report on Ethiopia were
presented by Barrister Akere Muna, Lead Panel
Member in charge of the Ethiopia Review Process.
The Country Review Report is being finalized
for publication, and the Report is expected to be
launched in 2012.
1.3. Gabon
A Follow-up Mission for the signing of the Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) for Technical Assessments
and Country Review Visits by the Lead Panel Member
and the President of Gabon was conducted from 20
to 21 October 2011. The MoU was signed on 21 October
2011. Professor Mohamed Séghir Babès, the Lead Panel
Member in charge of the Gabon Review Process, was
represented during the Mission by Barrister Akere
Tabeng Muna. A Road map was discussed during the
Mission and Gabon is expected to host an APRM Review
Mission in 2012.
1.4. SAO tome & principe
São Tome & Principe acceded to the APRM in
2007. Efforts are being made to invigorate the
APRM process in the country.

2.3. Kenya
Kenya is the first Member State to have received a
second APRM Country Review Mission, which took place
from 16 to 31 July 2011. The Second Review of Kenya was
led by Professor Amos Sawyer, Lead Panel Member in
charge of the Kenya Review Process, accompanied by a
team of African experts.
The Country Review Mission (CRM) was officially
launched on 18 July 2011 by President Kibaki and the
Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Raila Odinga. The
CRM also held meetings with other government officials,
including the Vice-President, the Speaker of Parliament,
several Cabinet Ministers and other senior government
officials to discuss progress in the implementation
of Agenda 4 of the Kenya National Dialogue and
Reconciliation (KNDR) framework. The Country Review
Team (CRT) also consulted with a diverse range of
stakeholders, including the National Governing Council,
which oversees the implementation of the APRM in
the country, and several Civil Society Organisations
(CSOs), including Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization
(MYWO, the National Women’s Organisation), the Kenya
Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Youth Groups, Uraia
(Kenya’s National Civic Education Programme), the
Kenya Land Alliance (KLA), Disabled Groups and the Law
Society of Kenya (LSK), among others.
The CRT visited several counties and cities. It held
consultative forums with stakeholders in Nairobi,
Narok, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kakamega, Kisumu, Kitui,
Garissa, Kitale, Mombasa, Isiolo, Meru and Nyeri.
The Country Review Report is ready for tabling at a
Summit of the APR Forum in 2012.
2.4. Rwanda
Rwanda was peer-reviewed at the 5th Summit of
the APR Forum that was held in Banjul, The Gambia,
in June 2006. The Country presented its Second
Annual Progress Report on the Implementation of the
NPoA in January 2009. A Second Review Mission to
Rwanda is planned for 2013.
2.5. Tanzania
Tanzania acceded to the APRM in 2004. It
submitted a revised Country Self-Assessment
Report (CSAR) in September 2011. A Country
Review Mission is scheduled for the first quarter
of 2012
2.6. Uganda
Uganda was the seventh country peer-reviewed at the Summit of the APR
Forum held in June 2008 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. President Yoweri
Museveni presented the 1st Progress Report on the Implementation of the
NPoA in January 2010. The Second Consolidated Report covering 2010-2011
is scheduled to be presented at a Summit of the APR Forum in 2012.

3. North Africa
3.1. Algeria
Algeria was peer-reviewed at the 7th Summit
of the APR Forum held in Accra, Ghana, in
July 2007. Algeria presented its First Annual
Progress Report on the Implementation of the
National Programme of Action (NPoA) at the
10th Forum held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in
January 2009. The country’s Second Progress
Report is expected to be presented at a Summit
of the APR Forum in 2012.
3.2. Egypt
Egypt acceded to the APRM in 2003. Efforts are being made
to reinvigorate the APRM process in the country. An Advance
Mission to Egypt is planned for 2012.
3.3. Mauritania
Mauritania acceded to the APRM in 2008. Efforts
are being made to invigorate the APRM process
in the country.
3.4. Sudan
Sudan acceded to the APRM in 2003 and received an
Advance Mission in October 2009. A Country Support
Mission to the country is planned for 2012.
There are four (4) APRM Member States from North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Mauritania and Sudan.

4. Southern Africa
4.1.Angola
Angola hosted a NEPAD/APRM Conference in
2007. Efforts are being made to invigorate the
APRM process in the country. An Advance Mission
to Angola is planned for 2012.
4.2. Lesotho
Lesotho was peer-reviewed at the 11th Summit of the APR
Forum held in Sirte, Libya, in June 2009. The country’s First
Annual Progress Report on the Implementation of the NPoA was
presented at the 14th Summit of the APR Forum held in Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2011. The country has now embarked
on a nationwide APRM popularization programme and it is
finalising its Second Annual Progress Report for 2011-2012.
4.3. Malawi
Although Malawi acceded to the APRM in July
2004, it has not yet established the functional
APRM structures to steer the preparation of the
APRM Country Self-Assessment Report (CSAR).
The process got stalled partly because of the
2009 elections. There is a need to reinvigorate
the APRM process in the country. An Advance
Mission to Malawi is planned for 2012.
4.4. Mauritius
Mauritius was peer-reviewed at the 13th Summit of APR
Forum of Heads of State and Government in Kampala,
Uganda, on 24 July 2010. The Country Review Report is to be
launched in 2012. The country is currently implementing its
National Programme of Action (NPoA).
.
Seven (7) APRM Member States of the APRM are from Southern Africa: Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius,
Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia.
4.5. Mozambique
Mozambique is the 11th country peer-reviewed at the 11th Summit of the APR
Forum held in Sirte, Libya, in June 2009. The Country Review Report was
launched in Maputo on 26 May 2011. The country is currently working on its
Progress Report

5. West Africa
Nine Member States of the APRM are from West Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria,
Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
4.6. South Africa
South Africa was the fourth APRM Member State peer-
reviewed at the 7th Summit of the APR Forum held
in Accra, Ghana, on 1st July 2007. At the 15th Summit
held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in June 2011, South
Africa presented its Consolidated Second Progress
Report covering the period from January 2009 to
September 2010.
4.7. Zambia
The Country Review Mission (CRM) to Zambia
took place from 7 to 25 February 2011. It was led
by Professor Amos Sawyer, Lead Panel Member in
charge of the Zambia Review Process. The CRM was
launched through an audience with His Excellency
President Rupiah Banda. CRM consultations
commenced in the capital city and the CRT visited
the North-western (Kolwezi), Copperbelt (Ndola),
Western (Mongu), Southern (Livingstone), Laupula
(Kasama), Northern (Mansa) Central (Kabwe) and
Eastern (Chipata) regions. Zambia is ready for its
peer review in 2012.
5.1. Benin
Benin was peer-reviewed at the 8th APR Forum
held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2008.
Benin presented its Second Progress Report on the
Implementation of the NPoA at the 15th APRM Summit
held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in June 2011.
The country has embarked on a training campaign
for APRM Focal Points at the district level in order
to promote a broad-based participatory approach
and follow-up to the implementation of its National
Programme of Action (NPOA).
5.2. Burkina Faso
The peer review of Burkina Faso took place at the
First Extraordinary Session of the APR Forum held
on 29 October 2008 in Cotonou, Benin. In June 2011,
Burkina Faso presented its Second Progress Report
on the Implementation of the National Programme of
Action (NPoA) at the 15th APRM Summit in Malabo,
Equatorial Guinea. The country has commenced
the second phase of implementation of its NPoA
recommendations and reforms, and it is expected to
present its Third Progress Report in July 2012.

5.3. Ghana
Ghana was the first country to complete its
peer review in June 2005. The country has
regularly submitted Annual Progress Reports on
the Implementation of its National Programme
of Action (NPoA). A Second Review Mission to
Ghana is scheduled for 2013.
5.4. Liberia
Liberia acceded to the APRM in January 2011 at the 14th
Summit of the APR Forum held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. An
Advance Mission to the country is planned for 2012.
5.5. Mali
Mali was the 10th country peer-reviewed by the
APR Forum at the Summit held in Sirte, Libya,
in June 2009. The Country Review Report was
officially launched in September 2010 and the
implementation of the NPoA started thereafter.
Mali is yet to present its First Progress Report
on the Implementation of the NPoA.
5.6. Nigeria
Nigeria hosted its Country Review Mission in 2008. The Peer
Review of Nigeria began at the Ninth Summit of the APR
Forum held in Sharm-El Sheikh, Egypt, on 29 June 2008
and was concluded at the First Extraordinary Session of the
APR Forum held on 29 October 2008 in Cotonou, Benin.
Nigeria implemented its National Programme of Action
(NPoA) and presented its First Annual Progress Report at
the 14th Summit of the APR Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
in January 2011. The country submitted its Second Progress
Report to the Panel in December 2011. The Report is expected
to be presented at the 16th Summit of the APR Forum in Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2012.
5.7. Senegal
Senegal acceded to the APRM in 2004. Efforts are being
made to invigorate the APRM process in the country.

5.8. Sierra Leone
The Follow-up Mission to Sierra Leone took place from 12
to 14 April 2011. Barrister Akere Muna, Lead Panel Member
for the Sierra Leone Review Process, led the Mission whose
goals included:
• Introducing the new Lead Panel Member for
Sierra Leone to H.E. Ernest Bai Koroma, President
of Sierra Leone, and to other leaders and
stakeholders;
• Deliberating with the Minister of Political & Public
Affairs, the Focal Point, as well as the National
Governing Council (NGC), on a date for the Review
Mission; and
• Reaching an Agreement on the Draft Programme
of the Review Mission.
The Mission Team met with the President of Sierra Leone,
as well as APRM stakeholders, including the Media and
Civil Society. During the Mission, it was agreed that the
requisite conditions had been fully met to allow for the
fielding of the APRM Country Review Mission to Sierra
Leone the following month.
The Sierra Leone Country Review Mission (CRM) took
place from 21 May to 6 June 2011. The CRM was led
by Barrister Akere Muna, The CRM comprised African
experts, selected by virtue of their competence
and experience in Governance and Socio-economic
Development in the various fields covered by the APRM.
The CRM held three meetings with President Ernest
Bai Koroma. The meetings respectively took place
at the start of the Mission, at the Official Launch
of the Review Mission and at a Pre-Cabinet Session
with the President and Ministers at the end of the
Review Mission. Meetings were also held with people
from all levels of government, including Ministers,
the Secretary to the Cabinet, Permanent Secretaries,
Departmental/Divisional Heads, Resident Ministers or
their Deputies representing the Administration in the
Eastern, Southern and Northern regions, as well as the
Mayor and the Deputy Mayor of Freetown.
In the course of the Mission, the CRM held fruitful
discussions with representatives of state institutions
including the Anti-Corruption Commission, Statistics-
Sierra Leone, the Human Rights Commission,
the National Commission for Democracy, the
Ombudsman, the National Commission for Social
Action (NaCSA), the Auditor-General, the Political
Parties Registration Commission and the National
Electoral Commission.
The CRM also interacted with Civil Society and Private
Sector representatives, including the Sierra Leone
Labour Congress, the Inter-Religious Council, Women’s
Groups, Youth Organizations, the Sierra Leone
Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, the
Sierra Leone Indigenous Business Association and
other members of the Private Sector.
The Country Review Report is to be tabled and discussed
at the peer review session of the 16th Summit of the APR
Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2012.
5.9. Togo
Togo acceded to the APRM in June 2008 at the APRM
Forum held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. A Focal Point has
been appointed and members of the APRM National
Commission have been identified. A sensitization
campaign is underway across the country for the
purposes of greater awareness and broad-based
participation in the APRM. An Advance Mission to the
country is scheduled for 2012.

1. APRM/ Strategic Partners’
collaborative activities
The APR Panel held a meeting with the three
Strategic Partners of the APRM (UNDP, ECA and
AfDB) in Addis Ababa on 28 January 2011. At the
meeting, the APR Panel reiterated their desire to
see relations with Strategic Partners reinvigorated.
The Strategic Partners reaffirmed their
commitment to continue supporting the APRM
as mandated by the Forum. They also agreed to
promote synergy between APRM and other African
Institutions implementing governance–related
programmes such as the Coalition for Dialogue
on Africa (CODA), African Governance Forum
(AGF) and African Governance Report (AGR). The
Strategic Partners also welcomed the proposal
to develop a good working arrangement with the
APRM Focal Points and contribute to the capacity
building process within the APRM Secretariat.
UNDP, AfDB and ECA took active part in the
Zambia Review Mission from 7 to 25 February
2011 and made pertinent inputs to the review
of the country. They also participated in the
Country Support Mission to Djibouti that was
led by Barrister Julienne Gnelenga from 21 to 24
February 2011.
The Strategic Partners participated in the Sierra
Leone Review Mission from 16 May to 7 June 2011
and made important contributions to the Country
Review Report. Sierra Leone was peer-reviewed
in January 2012. Led by Professor Amos Sawyer,
the Strategic Partners joined other Consultants to
participate in the Second Review Mission to Kenya
from 16 to 31 July 2011.
In 2011, the APRM Secretariat finalised the revision
of the APRM Questionnaire and developed a Draft
Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation (MR&E)
Framework through the Project on Streamlining
and Fast-tracking the APRM Process. One of
the first outputs of the Project was a Validation
Workshop that was held on 16 and 17 March 2011
in Johannesburg, South Africa. The APR Panel,
Focal Points and representatives from about
20 APRM Member States, Strategic Partners,
Experts in the four thematic areas and Civil
Society members carefully examined and made
suggestions for the improvement of the draft
documents. Experts exchanged experiences and
shared best practices and information about
ongoing and planned activities geared towards
improving the quality of documents presented
to them. Participants in the Validation Workshop
made recommendations aimed at simplifying and
administering the Questionnaire and working out
the ideal methodology for conducting the APRM
self-assessment process.
The Revised Questionnaire was tabled at the
15th Summit of the APR Forum held in Malabo,
Equatorial Guinea. The Summit concluded its
deliberations by requesting the Focal Points to
review the Revised Questionnaire and submit their
recommendations thereon for consideration at the
next Summit in January 2012.
2. Conferences, Workshops and Meetings
In 2011, the continental Mechanism remarkably
participated in a number of conferences,
meetings and workshops to implement its
advocacy programme, disseminate information,
share experience and promote partnership with
other institutions.
C. PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND PARTICIPATION IN MEETINGS
At its 6th Summit held in Abuja on 9 March 2003, the Heads of State and Government decided that the APRM
should have Strategic Partners to conduct technical assessments on countries to be reviewed. The APRM has
identified the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA),the African Development Bank (AfDB)
and the United Nations Development Programme Regional Bureau for Africa (UNDP RBA) to conduct technical
assessments on Democracy and Political Governance, Economic Governance and Management, Corporate
Governance and Socio-economic development.
The Strategic Partners have also been actively participating in APRM Country Support Missions and Country
Review Missions. They have been instrumental in supporting the implementation of National Programmes of
Action (NPoA) in the reviewed countries as well. As the APRM process moves on to Second Review Missions and
Monitoring of the NPoA, more support will be required from these institutions and other stakeholders.

2.1. Africa/ European Union Partnership
From 11 to 14 February 20111, the Secretariat
participated in a high-level meeting on Partnership
between the European Union Commission and Africa.
The Meeting discussed the rationale of the
Governance Incentive Tranche (GIT) and its
usefulness to Africa to the extent that it is Africa-
owned, and recommended that:
• The key principle of ownership of the
partnership put the APRM at the centre of
governance in Africa and EU support to Africa
should be built around it;
• The AUC Department of Political Affairs
should be involved in the study process;
• Other processes to be supported through the
GIT should be aligned to the instruments and
processes (support for the ratification of the
Charter should be accelerated through the
APRM Country Review Missions).
As a follow-up to the above meeting, the
Secretariat took part in a meeting on
Strengthening Africa-EU partnership, which was
organised from 21 to 23 April 2011 by the African
Governance Institute (AGI).
The meeting reached a consensus that the APRM
should be considered as the main reference
instrument for EU support to governance in Africa.
The African party insisted that the partnership
should be based on the African countries’
development ownership rather than focusing on
financial incentives.
In addition, it was recommended that other processes
to be supported through the GIT should be aligned
with the instruments and processes (Support for
the ratification of the Charter should be accelerated
through the APRM Country Review Missions).
It was stressed at the meeting that CSOs interested in
or working on the APRM should endeavour to establish
formal working relations between the APRM and the
organisation concerned with a view to certifying any
information published on the Mechanism.
2.2. Forum on Public-Private Partnership
to improve Governance
From 23 to 24 March 2011, the Secretariat
participated in a meeting organised by the
Commonwealth Business Foundation on “Improving
Governance Through Public-Private Partnership”.
The Meeting decided that the African initiatives
aimed at fighting corruption should be emulated
from the APRM assessments. The theme “Defining
African benchmarks for tackling corruption” was
considered too ambitious as the APRM has not
established benchmarks for measuring national
progress in tackling corruption. Further meetings
will be organized to discuss African benchmarks
to be used by the APRM and AfDB in measuring
national progress in fighting corruption in Africa.
2.3. Chief Executive Officer of APRM Secretariat
before Pan-African Parliamentarians
One of the striking events of the Fourth Ordinary
Session of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP)
was the presentation given on 19 May 2011 by
Mr. Assefa Shifa, Chief Executive Officer of the
Secretariat of the African Peer Review Mechanism
(APRM). In a comprehensive presentation, he gave
the continental parliamentarians an assessment
and a full overview of activities of the Mechanism.
He placed the APRM in its socio-historical context
before informing the audience about the progress
achieved since its creation in 2003.
The CEO encouraged countries that have not yet
acceded to the APRM to do so. He stressed the fact
that the APRM is not a punitive measure; it is an
instrument for advancing good governance and
people-centred Socio-Economic Development”. Mr.
Assefa Shifa disclosed that the APR Panel Members
have embarked on advocacy campaigns to better
explain these issues to the various stakeholders and
promote accession by new members. He specifically
stated that the Pan-African Parliament could play
a decisive role at this level, particularly through
sensitization activities. The Chief Executive Officer
of the APRM Secretariat further suggested that
special PAP Sessions be devoted to the discussion
of Review Reports adopted by the Forum of Heads
of State and Government, as stipulated by the
APRM Base Documents.
The Honourable Dr. Moussa Idriss Ndélé, President
of PAP, expressed the hope that relations between
PAP and APRM would be developed further in a
spirit of collaboration and experience sharing.
2.4. Sensitization Workshop for APRM Francophone
Countries and Experience sharing with the Pioneers
From 25 to 27 May 2011, the Secretariat
participated in a Sensitization and Experience
Sharing Workshop organised by UNDP and ECA –
the Strategic Partners of the APRM. The Meeting
decided that such workshops should be organised
frequently to deepen the countries’ understanding
of the APRM process. The Focal Points present
decided to use the momentum to start their
national processes.

Meanwhile, countries participating in the
workshop presented their draft road map on
the implementation of the national process that
could be used by the APRM Panel/Secretariat to
encourage countries to launch the process as soon
as possible.
Furthermore, the Strategic Partners agreed to
continue organizing such workshops as they
stimulate countries and allow for experience
sharing between new countries and the pioneers.
Stakeholders from the civil society attended the
workshop. However, the appropriate strategy to
be adopted to convince the leadership to start the
process is yet to be determined.
As it did in West Africa, the Secretariat took part in the
workshop organised by ECA to sensitise stakeholders
in the Central Africa Region on the APRM.
The main recommendations of the workshop
were that such workshops should be organised
frequently to deepen the countries’ understanding
of the APRM process. In addition, invited countries
that are not members of the APRM (Guinea, Chad,
Côte d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea) were urged
to use the momentum to convince their respective
Governments to accede to the APRM process.
2.5. AU Meeting on the Launching of the African
Governance Architecture Platform
From 27 to 28 May 2011, the Secretariat took
part in a meeting organised by the African
Union Commission to launch the African
Governance Platform.
The Meeting decided that the Platform should be
built on the existing initiatives, especially around
the APRM, as it is more comprehensive and is
increasingly gaining credibility.
2.6. AMCOD Meeting on Decentralisation and
Local Governance
From 24 to 26 May 2011, the APRM attended the All
Africa Ministerial Conference on Decentralization
and Local Development (AMCOD) held in Maputo,
Mozambique. The GIZ/AMMCOD resolved to work
with APRM on governance issues in Africa.
As a follow-up to the AMCOD in May 2011, the
Secretariat participated in the Second Annual
Conference on Decentralisation and Local
Governance organised by AMCOD from 8 to 10
August 2011.
The Meeting recommended the establishment
of partnership with other organisations such
as the APRM, CAMPS and UNDP. It also decided
to institutionalise Africa Decentralisation Day
on August 10. For institutional strengthening, it
was recommended that AMCOD embark on the
preparation of a Charter with Standards to be
ratified by Member States.
2.7. NEPAD Decade Week in New York
An APRM Delegation led by Professor Amos Sawyer
participated in the NEPAD 10th Year Anniversary events
held from 7 to 10 October 2011 at the UN Headquarters
in New York.
The APRM’s participation in the NEPAD Decade
Programme was highly desirable not only for the
continental Mechanism but also for Africa as a whole,
considering that good governance is currently high on
the continent’s agenda.
The lessons learnt from the events marking the NEPAD
Decade can also reflect on the 10th Anniversary of the
APRM, which we are currently working on from the
perspective of “APRM :The Journey So Far”.
During the event, APRM was given high visibility
through presentations on “Innovation in transforming
the Continent’s Governance: The APRM Experience”
and “Improving Governance in Africa through APRM:
Progress and Challenges”, which were made before
an array of African Ambassadors and Permanent
Representatives to the UN.
Professor Sawyer made interventions as a High-level
Panellist on NEPAD and the MDGs. He featured prominently
at a Commemorative Public Lecture at Columbia University
and gave media briefings on the APRM.
It is gratifying to note the international community’s
keen interest in and endorsement of the APRM, as
attested by the recommendation that “APRM must
continue to function as envisaged, as it has tremendous

potential to advance good governance and socio-
economic development in Africa, and the international
community actively encourages the continuation of the
peer review process over the coming years”.
Indeed, our participation in the NEPAD event has
enhanced the visibility of the APRM. The Secretariat
also held official meetings with the Under-Secretary
General of the United Nations and Special Adviser
on Africa (UNOSAA) and discussed modalities for
collaboration between the two offices in enhancing
APRM’s outreach and visibility, including ways of
ensuring coordinated support from the UN Agencies.
2.8. Workshop of the Panel of the Wise on
Strengthening Political Governance for Peace,
Security and Stability in Africa
From 5 to 6 December 2011, the Secretariat
attended a Workshop on Strengthening Political
Governance, Security and Stability in Africa.
The participants commended the work of the
APRM especially in highlighting Standards and
Codes used in reviewing African governance and
writing credible country review reports, which are
publicised, despite the challenges.
Participants pointed out that APRM Standards and
Codes were enough to guide governance in Africa,
but lack of implementation was the main problem.
The Meeting added that APRM reports had
enough information about governance but African
institutions were not utilising them.
It was recommended that APRM reports be made
available to all African stakeholders to enable them
to utilize information therein. It was also decided
that AU, African RECs and Institutions work hand in
hand with the APRM to make use of its reports. The
participants further agreed to consult the APRM
Secretariat, especially during their assessment
of country reports. It was also proposed that a
think-tank be set up to discuss issues identified in
reviewed countries’ reports and bring them up for
further discussion at higher levels.
2.9. Africa Forum for Civil Society and
Governance Assessment
From 10 to 12 November 2011, the Africa Forum
gathered over 100 participants – Civil Society,
Research Institutes and UNDP Representatives
from more than 30 countries across Africa.
The Africa Forum aimed to connect key actors
who wish to advance the civil society’s role in
Africa in demanding that governments live up to
their obligations and that people have a say in
how they are governed. The Forum demonstrated,
with specific tools and country experiences, how a
more effective involvement of the Civil Society in
governance assessments, both as producers and
users of governance data, can promote democratic
governance through increased accountability and
more inclusive participation.
The Forum also critically reflected on African
experiences in conducting civil society
assessments, and formulated recommendations
on how to make them more relevant and valid
locally. Finally, a selection of social accountability
tools that make use of new technologies and social
media were introduced to participants, with a
‘reality check’ from field practitioners on how best
to use them.
On the APRM, the Forum critically reviewed the
experience of pioneer countries with regard to the
institutionalization of the APRM and learned from
positive initiatives which have sought to establish
national monitoring systems in the post-review
phase, including the voices of the Civil Society, and
with effective feedback loops into policy-making.

II. FINANCIAL REPORT
The APRM Base Document states that funding for the Mechanism comes from assessed contributions from
participating Member States. The document adds that it is essential that the APRM “does not rely on external
partners for funding, although such partnerships could be welcome if they were managed in a way that clearly
respects African ownership of the APRM and all of its processes”. In addition, “Support from external partners
should be sought mainly for the implementation of the National Programme of Action and capacity building to
improve performance”.
This chapter provides details on the general status of financial contributions to the APRM in 2011.
The Financial Statement includes Member States’ contributions from the inception in 2003 up to 31 December 2011.
1. Member States’ Contributions
Table 1: Contribution to APRM through DBSA and UNDP as of 31 December 2011
Country Date of
Accession
Contribution - Previous
Years(2003 to 2010)
Contribution - Current Year
(2011)
Overall
contributions
Through DBSA Through TRUST
FUND held by
UNDP
Through
DBSA
Through TRUST
FUND held by
UNDP
DBSA+UNDP
aprm COUNTRY CONTRIBUTIONS *
1 Algeria 09-Mar-03 1,500,000 1,000,000 - - 2,500,000
2 Angola 08-Jul-04 400,000 - - - 400,000
3 Benin 31-Mar-04 640,000 - - - 640,000
4 Burkina Faso 09-Mar-03 700,000 - 100,000 - 800,000
5 Cameroon 03-Apr-03 620,000 - 4,250 - 624,250
6 Congo 09-Mar-03 - - - - -
7 Djibouti 01-Jul-07 - - 200,000 - 200,000
8 Egypt 09-Mar-04 1,300,000 - - - 1,300,000
9 Ethiopia 09-Mar-03 300,000 - 100,000 - 400,000
10 Gabon 14-Apr-03 200,000 - 625,000 - 825,000
11 Ghana 09-Mar-03 700,000 - - - 700,000
12 Kenya 09-Mar-03 600,000 - 200,000 - 800,000
13 Lesotho 08-Jul-04 500,000 100,000 100,000 - 700,000
14 Liberia 29/01/2011 - - - - -
15 Malawi 08-Jul-04 200,000 100,000 - - 300,000
16 Mali 28-May-03 800,000 - - - 800,000

1. Member States’ Contributions
Table 1: Contribution to APRM through DBSA and UNDP as of 31 December 2011
Country Date of
Accession
Contribution - Previous
Years(2003 to 2010)
(2011)
Overall
contributions
Through DBSA Through TRUST
FUND held by
UNDP
Through
DBSA
Through TRUST
FUND held by
UNDP
DBSA+UNDP
aprm COUNTRY CONTRIBUTIONS * (continued)
17 Mauritania 30-Jan-08 - - - - -
18 Mauritius 09-Mar-03 - 100,000 - - 100,000
19 Mozambique 09-Mar-04 700,000 - 100,000 - 800,000
20 Nigeria 09-Mar-03 3,350,000 - 1,000,000 - 4,350,000
21 Rwanda 09-Mar-03 400,000 - - - 400,000
22 São Tome &
Principe
28-Jan-07 - - - - -
23 Senegal 09-Mar-04 100,000 100,000 - - 200,000
24 Sierra Leone 08-Jul-04 100,000 - - - 100,000
25 South Africa 09-Mar-03 6,626,914 - 1,460,000 - 8,086,914
26 Sudan 22-Jan-06 - - 100,000 - 100,000
27 Tanzania 08-Jul-04 100,000 - - - 100,000
28 Togo 29-Jun-08 202,000 - - - 202,000
29 Uganda 09-Mar-03 300,000 - - - 300,000
30 Zambia 22-Jan-06 500,000 - 100,000 - 600,000
Sub-Total 20,838,914 1,400,000 4,089,250 - 26,328,164
African Non- APRM Member State
31 Libya N/A 100,000 - - - 100,000
Sub-Total 100,000 - - - 100,000
Overall Total 20,938,914 1,400,000 4,089,250 26,428,164
*Country Contributions
Funds totalling $4,089,250 were received from Member States through the APRM Bank Account managed by the
Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).

2. Partners’ contributions
Table 2: Partners’ contributions
Partners Date of
Accession
Contribution - Previous Years
(2003 to 2010)
(2011)
Overall
contributions
Through DBSA Through
TRUST FUND
held by UNDP
Through
DBSA
Through
TRUST FUND
held by UNDP
DBSA+UNDP
Bilateral
Partners
1 Canada N/A - 5,692,169 - - 5,692,169
2 DFID (UK Gov.) N/A - 2,000,000 - - 2,000,000
3 European Union N/A - 2,141,901 - - 2,141,901
4 Germany (GTZ) N/A 441,387 - - - 441,387
5 Italy N/A 300,000 - - - 300,000
6 Spain N/A - 390,419 - - 390,419
7 Switzerland N/A - 896,241 - - 896,241
Sub-Total 741,387 11,120,730 - - 11,862,117
Multilateral
Partners
8 AfDB N/A 200,000 - - - 200,000
9 UNDP N/A - 2,750,000 - - 2,750,000
Sub-Total 200,000 2,750,000 - - 2,950,000
Private
Partner
10 W Kellogg
Foundation
N/A 315,426 - - - 315,426
Sub-Total 315,426 - - - 315,426
Overall Total 1,256,813 13,870,730 - 15,127,543

III. MANAGEMENT OF THE APRM
The APRM Base Document approved by the Heads of State and Government and Implementation Committee and
endorsed by the African Union Summit in Durban (South Africa) in July 2002 envisaged the APRM Forum, the
APR Panel of Eminent Persons and the APRM Secretariat as the main organisational components of the APRM
management process. The role of National Focal Points is also important for the achievement of missions assigned
to the APRM.
1. The APRM Forum
The APRM Forum is a Committee of Participating Heads of States and Government of the Member States
of the African Union that have voluntarily acceded to the APRM. This authority is the highest decision-
making body in the APRM. Therefore, the APRM Forum has ultimate responsibility for oversight of the APRM
organization and processes, for mutual learning and capacity building, and for exercising the constructive
peer dialogue and persuasion required to make the APRM effective, credible and acceptable.
Mandate of the APRM Forum
- Appoint the APR Panel and its Chairperson;
- Consider, adopt and take ownership of Country Review Reports submitted by the APR Panel;
- Communicate the recommendations of the APR Forum to the Head of State or Government of the
reviewed country immediately after the review meeting;
- Exercise constructive peer dialogue and persuasion (through offering assistance or applying appropriate
measures) to effect changes in country practices where recommended;
- Persuade development partners to support recommendations approved by the APR Forum by providing
technical and financial assistance;
- Transmit APRM Reports to the appropriate African Union (AU) structures in a timely manner;
- Make public, through the APR Secretariat, Country Review Reports and Press Releases pertaining thereto;
- Establish and approve rules of procedure for the APR Forum and approve those for the APR Panel;
- Approve a Code of Conduct for all components of the APRM organisation;
- Ensure that the APR process is fully funded by the participating countries (including non-governmental
partners).
The Forum was chaired by H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
from 2003 to 2007. Since 2007, H.E. Meles Zenawi, of The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, has been
serving as its Chairperson.

2. THE APR PANEL
The APR Panel exercises oversight of the APRM process with a view to ensuring the independence,
professionalism and credibility of the process. It also oversees the selection of the APR Teams and appoints
them to conduct country reviews. Other missions of the Panel are as outlined below.
Mandate of the APR Panel
- Recommend appropriate African institutions or individuals to conduct technical assessments;
- Meet when required to review and make objective assessments of the recommendations on the Country
Review Reports submitted to it by the APR Secretariat;
- Consider recommendations contained in the Country Review Reports and make recommendations to the
APR Forum;
- Submit to the APR Forum all Country Review Reports with recommendations on measures that could be
taken to assist the country to improve its governance and socio-economic development performance.
- Develop its own rules of procedures, submit them to the APR Forum for approval and approve those for
the APRM Secretariat and the APR Teams.
The Members of the Panel meet approximately four times a year, including ahead of each of the two annual
Summits of the APR Forum. This goal was significantly exceeded in 2011, since the Panel met seven times, as
summarised in the table below.
Panel Meeting No. Date Venue
46 15-17 January 2011 Johannesburg, South Africa
47 26-27 January 2011 (on the margins of
the 14th APR Forum Meetings)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
48 15 March 2011 Johannesburg, South Africa
49 15-16 May 2011 Johannesburg, South Africa
50 26-27 June 2011 (on the margins of the 15th APR
Forum Meetings)
Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
51 27 October 2011 Johannesburg, South Africa
52 8 December 2011 Johannesburg, South Africa

III. MANAGEMENT OF THE APRM
According to the Base Document, the APRM is directed and managed by a Panel of between 5 and 7 Eminent
Persons. The following Members served in 2011:
Prof. Mohamed Séghir Babès served as Chairperson of the
apr Panel (July 2010 - January 2012). He hails from Algeria.
He led the APRM reviews of Burkina Faso and Mauritius in
2008. In 2005, Professor Babès was appointed as Chairman of
the National Economic and Social Council of Algeria. Prior to
that, he served as Minister of Health and Population, Work and
Social Affairs and Veteran Affairs in the Algerian Government.
Barrister Julienne Ondziel Gnelenga is a national of the
Republic of Congo. She is a Commissioner at the African
Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. From 1998 to2001,
she also served as Special Rapporteur on Women’s Rights
in Africa (SRRWA). A lawyer by training, Barrister Gnelenga
serves as the Central Africa representative at the ECOSOCC
General Assembly. She is also a Member of the Board of the
Association for the Prevention of Torture.
Barrister Akere Tabeng Muna is founder and former
President of Transparency International Cameroon. He is also
Vice-Chair on the Transparency International Board. Barrister
Muna is a lawyer by training and President of the Pan-African
Lawyers Union. He was the former President of the Cameroon
Bar Association. In September 2008, Barrister Muna was
unanimously elected President of the First Permanent General
Assembly of ECOSOCC.
Professor Amos Sawyer was the President of the Interim
Government of National Unity in Liberia from November
1990 to March 1994. He has served as Associate Director
and Research Scholar at the Workshop on Political Theory
and Policy Analysis in the Department of Political Science
at Indiana University in the United States of America. He is
currently Chairman of the Governance Commission of Liberia.
In 2005, he wrote the book entitled “Beyond Plunder: Toward
Democratic Governance in Liberia.”
The Eminent Persons are “Africans who have distinguished themselves in careers that are relevant to the work of
APRM”. The Constitution of the APRM also stipulates that Members of the Panel must be persons of high moral
stature and demonstrate commitment to the ideals of Pan-Africanism.

3. The Aprm Secretariat
In 2011, the APRM Secretariat completed its
regular missions with remarkable determination
and commitment. The Secretariat achieved its
key objectives through its staff and consultants
comprising fifteen experienced persons from
different African countries and the Diaspora. The
Secretariat provided technical, coordinating and
administrative support services to the APRM. Its
activities were also focused on the preparation
and organisation of the Panel Meetings as well
as Summits of the APRM Forum. In this regard,
it planned and organised Country Review Visits,
shared experience and best practices and
addressed constraints in the implementation
of the National Programmes of Action, etc. In
the latter case, the APRM Secretariat focused
on improving the APRM Questionnaire and
developing a Monitoring, Reporting and
Evaluation (MR&E) Framework through the
Project on Streamlining and Fast-tracking the
APRM Process. The major part of the funding for
the Project was provided through a grant from
the African Development Bank (AfDB).
To strengthen the strategic positioning of the
APRM on the continental and international scene,
the Secretariat, led by its Communication Expert,
held the first Press Conference in the history of
the APRM Panel on 29 January 2011 and actively
took part in the AU Exhibition in Addis Ababa on
the margins of the 16th African Union Summit,
from 30 to 31 January 2011.
The Missions of the APRM Secretariat include:
- Maintain extensive database and information
on the four APRM areas of focus as well as
political and economic developments in all
participating countries;
- Prepare background documents for the
APR Teams;
- Facilitate technical assistance to participating
countries;
- Propose performance indicators and track the
performance of each participating country;
- Liaise with participating countries and
partner institutions to follow the progress of
technical assessments;
- Plan and organise Country Review Missions
(CRM);
- Recommend the composition of CRM Teams
to the APR Panel and recruit the experts
required for research and analysis;
- Liaise with interested external partners and
assist participating countries to mobilise
resources for capacity building;
- Organise regional workshops in the various
APRM areas of focus and convene workshops to
share experiences and best practices and address
constraints experienced in the implementation of
National Programmes of Action;
- Liaise with the institutions issuing the
Standards and Codes listed in the Declaration
on Democracy, Political, Economic and
Corporate Governance (AHG/235(XXXVIII)
Annex 2; and
- Ensure full documentation of the APRM
processes at country, sub-regional and
continental levels to facilitate learning.
4. The National APRM Focal Points
The National APRM Focal Points are Ministers
or high-level government officials reporting
directly to their respective Heads of State
or Government. The APRM Focal Point is
established soon after a country accedes to the
Mechanism and is subsequently responsible
for managing the process until the APRM is
launched through a Country Mission. Thereafter,
a National Commission or Governing Council
takes over the management. The Focal Point,
however, remains responsible for updating the
Head of State or Government on the national
progress, facilitating the self-assessment process
and liaising with the APRM Panel throughout the
exercise. It has been a practice for Focal Points
and Panel Members to meet before Summits of
the APR Forum to discuss the key issues to be
tabled at the Forum as well as to share country
experiences in implementing the Mechanism.
In addition to this traditional encounter on the
margins of Summits of the APR Forum Summit,
the APR Panel and the Focal Points met on

several occasions in 2011 to reflect on the Draft
Operating Procedures for the APRM.
Iv. Conclusion And 2012 Perspectives
The outputs achieved by the APRM in 2011 include:
• three Review Missions
• two Follow-up Missions
• one Support Mission
• one Workshop on Streamlining and Fast-
tracking the APRM Process
• one Panel Retreat with Strategic Partners and
the African Union Commission; and
• seven APR Panel Meetings.
These achievements made by a reduced number of
members of the APR Panel and a lean Secretariat
are remarkable.
The interim Host Country Agreement signed with
the Government of South Africa expired in 2011 and
the APR Panel undertook a series of consultations
with the Government of South Africa and the
AU Commission in April 2011 on the future of the
APRM. The consultations culminated in a Special
Retreat with the APR Panel that was held on 28
October 2011 in South Africa. The AU Legal Counsel,
the Office of the Deputy Chairperson of the AU
Commission and the Strategic Partners of the APRM
were represented at the Retreat. The participants
came up with recommendations on the interim
arrangements pertaining to the organizational
architecture of the continental Secretariat as well as
the modalities for the integration of an autonomous
APRM into the structures, systems and processes of
the AU in 2012.
Building on the experiences and knowledge
amassed so far, the Secretariat will aggressively
embark on an experience sharing and advocacy
workshops drive in 2012 as part of the learning
process, considering the novelty of the Mechanism.
The Secretariat will be making a significant
investment over the coming years in raising its
profile and influence at a continental level. Indeed,
the APRM 10th Anniversary will be an opportunity
to raise public awareness and develop a deeper
understanding of the Mechanism as an African
instrument for promoting good governance.
The main initiative will take several forms:
Advocacy to countries that have not yet acceded
to the APRM to engage them on the Mechanism.
The Secretariat will take full advantage of regularly
scheduled meetings of the AU and Regional
Economic Communities [SADC, COMESA, ECOWAS,
etc.] to engage countries, partners and the society
at large on the APRM process through workshops
and periodic APRM publications.
In addition, the APRM will continue to strengthen its
relations with the Pan-African Parliament, the African
Commission on Human Peoples’ Rights, the Peace
and Security Council and the Economic, Social and
Cultural Council of the African Union (ECOSOC-AU)
where, normally, the Final Country Review Report
should be tabled formally and publicly.
The Secretariat will facilitate peer learning
amongst countries that are implementing their
National Programmes of Action and those
progressing thereto [by compiling best practices
on how to draw up and implement a National
Programme of Action in the context of other
National Plans of Action]. It also plans to organise
and attend workshops where issues of common
concern or best practices for African countries can
be discussed.

African Peer Mechanism Secretariat
P.O. Box 1234, Halfway House, Midrand 1685, South Africa
International Bus. Gateway, Cnr Challenger & Columbia Ave;
Gateway Park B; Second Floor
Midridge Park; Midrand; Halfway House
Tel: +27 (0) 11 256 3401 Fax: +27 (0)11 256 3456
www.aprm-international.org

African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Annual Report 2011

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