Research
Lessons from Electoral Management and Processes in West Africa (2014)
This paper is based on case studies from six West African countries (Republic of Benin, Cape Verde, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone). It points out key historical and material forces that helped frame and shape the electoral management and processes of these countries. These are: the state as a site for zero-sum politics; the progressive violation of the principle of isolation of administration from politics; and the combination of political and legal influences that help foster a culture of impunity.
(by Adele Jinadu, SAIIA)
Pan-Africanism, the African Peer Review Mechanism and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance: What Does the Future Hold? (2014)
Since Africa's independence 50 years ago, its democratisation momentum has been marked by both progress and reversals. With Africa's independence in the late 1950s/ early 1960s and up to the late 1980s/early 1990s, the democracy project was not at the top of the national, regional or continental agendas of nation-building, or regional and continental integration. The democracy project became a cornerstone of nation formation, state-building and continental integration agendas much more so in the period late 1980s/early 1990s to date, especially with the transformation of the Organisation for African Unity (OAU) into the African Union (AU). Significantly, it was during the AU era that both the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) became key aspects of African integration anchored to the twin doctrines of pan-Africanism and African Renaissance.(by Khabele Matlosa, SAIIA)
Funding African Governance Institutions and Processes: Insights and Lessons (2014)
This paper examines the financing of selected governance institutions in Africa, looking at national, continental and international levels and at the institutions and processes that assess, improve or incentivise governance. Specifically, anti-corruption commissions and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) structures are reviewed as institutions at the national and continental level respectively. In terms of governance processes, assessments at three levels are analysed: at the national level with UN Development Programme (UNDP) country-led governance assessments; at the continental level with the APRM self-assessment; and at the international level with the Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) framework. Governance improvement processes in a national, continental and international framework include constitutional reform, APRM National Programmes of Action (NPoAs), and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). As processes that indirectly incentivise governance improvements, the EU's Governance Incentive Tranche and the US Millennium Challenge Account are also examined. The latter, offering funding as a reward for good governance, presents a particularly interesting aspect of financing governance institutions. The APRM, as the premier African governance institution, is used throughout this paper as a point of reference.(by Angela Reitmaier, SAIIA)
Red Flags Ignored: Governance Values and Practices in Africa (2014)
Values are essential to set up normative standards that are indicative of the qualities of governance. This paper describes and analyses trends of governance values and practices in Africa using secondary data. In this regard, it is vital to consolidate action on the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the African Governance Platform to facilitate information flows, co-ordination and evaluation of the implementation of common normative rules and standards that promote governance values on the continent. The role of political leadership is paramount, as Africa's greatest deficit is its dearth of moral leadership that adheres to ideal governance values and shows real commitment towards social transformation. (by Gedion G Jalata, SAIIA)
APRM and the Media: Getting the Story Right (2014)
The Road Ahead for the African Governance Architecture: An Overview of Current Challenges and Possible Solutions (2014)
Following a range of previous commitments to improve the status of governance in Africa, in 2011 the African Union (AU) established the African Governance Architecture (AGA) as the flagship initiative of its ‘shared values’ agenda. The AGA was designed to be a framework to co-ordinate the existing initiatives of different actors in the realm of governance, thereby prompting an integrated continental approach. Two years into its creation, this promising initiative now faces a number of challenges.This paper focuses on two such challenges and puts forward tentative policy recommendations. Firstly, there are currently weak synergies between the AGA and the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA).Secondly, there is a need to define the role of the African Peer Review Mechanism within the nascent AGA. (by Nicola Tissi and Faten Aggad-Clerx, SAIIA)
The African Peer Review Mechanism: Development Lessons from Africa’s Remarkable Governance Assessment System (2014)
This case study outlines the achievements, benefits and best practices of the APRM in its first 10 years of existence. It argues that the APRM offers many useful insights and important lessons related to intra-African SSC, knowledge exchange, capacity development and development effectiveness.
(by Steven Gruzd, SAIIA)
It’s Time for the National Programme of Action (2013)
(by Roseline Achieng, SAIIA)
Implementing the APRM: Views from Civil Society - The Lesotho Report (2011)
What has changed in Lesotho’s governance since it underwent the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) country review in 2009? To answer this question, the APRM Monitoring Project (AMP) – run jointly by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) and the Africa Governance, Monitoring and Advocacy Project (AfriMAP) - presents “Implementing the APRM: Views from Civil Society - The Lesotho Report.” This report represents the views of researchers and civil society organisations that have analysed the country’s APRM profile and tracked the implementation of its National Programme of Action (NPoA). The report finds that although some progress has been achieved, results have been mixed and the APRM has not been streamlined into the country’s planning processe. (by SAIIA, AFRIMAP)
Implementing the APRM: Views from civil society, South Africa Report (2011)
The African Peer Review Mechanism at Country Level: Views from Kenya (2011)
(by Angela Reitmaier, SAIIA)
Unconstitutional Changes of Government: The Democrat's Dilemma in Africa (2011)
(by Kathryn Sturman, SAIIA)
Aligning NPOA with Other Frameworks for National Development: A Formula to Revitalise Forward looking, Broad-based and Participatory Development in Africa? (2009)
(By Roseline Achieng, SAIIA)
Common African Political Governance Issues: Lessons from Six Early APRM Reports (2008)
(by Yarik Turianskyi, SAIIA)
Do think tanks benefit from APRM work? Kenya’s experience (2008)
(by Rosemary Atieno, Mohamud Jama and Joseph Onjala)
The African Peer Review Mechanism: Lessons from the Pioneers (2008)
The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is an innovative approach to improving African governance. It offers important opportunities for public dialogue.
Planning an Effective Peer Review - A Guidebook for National Focal Points (2007)
This guide attempts to help the national focal point plan an effective country review as a part of the APRM process (by Ross Herbert)
Ideas for Improving the APRM Questionnaire (2006)
A concept paper to guide possible revision of the APRM Questionnaire. Identifies key issues and principles that could make the APRM exercise more efficient and effective. (by R.Herbert and T.Corrigan)
SAIIA APRM Lessons Learnt Conference Report (2006)
September 2006, Avianto, Johannesburg, South Africa (by Ross Herbert)
Peer Review -- Who Owns the Process? (2003)
Published in the special edition of the eAfrica magazine dedicated to the APRM (by Ross Herbert)