Preparation

Once a country has acceded to the APRM, it is informed by the APR Secretariat when its country review mission will take place. This is based on the availability of a member of the APR Panel of Eminent Persons to chair the country review visit, as well as to make earlier visits to the country prior to and during its self-assessment process to assist the country in implementing this phase of the APRM. The APR Panel can under normal circumstances review between four and six countries on an annual basis.

Although a country may only receive an official country review visit at a later date, there is no prescription on the country making preparations to conduct a governance self-assessment in advance. A number of APRM signatories have already commissioned background governance studies, engaged with government and civil society forums and initiated other legitimate activities in preparation to conduct their country self-assessment and prepare a Programme of Action (POA). Additionally a country's preparations may include establishing the official structures which it will use to conduct its self-assessment and which will liaise with the APR Panel and Secretariat. Under normal circumstances, the APR Panel will send a team to visit a country just before or at the commencement of a country's self-assessment process to advise the various stakeholders on possible flaws and potential improvements that might be necessary.