APRM Programme

The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is an innovative and challenging initiative in the field of African governance. The high profile nature of the APRM has attracted significant interest from civil society organisations (CSOs). Despite this, the APRM remains an area in which little serious and in-depth research or advocacy has been attempted from civil society. As part of its efforts to enhance democratic and accountable governance in Africa, EISA has been engaging in national APRM processes since 2004 in Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique and Malawi.

The major focus at present is to capacitate and empower civil society to engage with national governments and the official APRM structures on a continuous and mutually-beneficial basis. The programme has emphasized constructive engagement between the three major stakeholders in national APRM processes: government, private enterprise and civil society.

This is achieved through information dissemination, consultancy work, publications and the development of an APRM toolkit designed to assist interested stakeholders in understanding and engaging in the APRM process. The APRM remains a relatively new initiative on the continent, and whilst significant progress has been made in some states, EISA continues to expand its own understanding and engagement in the APRM process through direct engagement with the APRM structures and as a supporting agency and partner for various regional networks of CSOs seeking to do the same.