Country Support Missions

Country Support Missions (also referred to as Technical Assessment Missions) are convened by the APR Secretariat as and where necessary for each country undertaking the APRM process. Whilst there is no clear formula or guidelines for when a CSM must take place, each country has in practice thus far received at least one and on occasions more than one CSM prior to the launch of a country's self-assessment phase of the APRM (Stage 1). During CSM visits, a team constituted by the Secretariat visits the country to assess the preparations and procedures being established in order to conduct a self-assessment review.

During such missions, CSM's sometimes meet with civil society organizations to discuss the concerns, issues and suggestions of these important stakeholders in the preparations for a self-assessment. During CSM's it is therefore possible for civil society stakeholders to engage directly with the APR Secretariat and APR Panel staff who are part of the mission and have their voices heard by these key persons.

As the main focus of CSM's is on supporting national processes, engaging with the CSM members at this stage should deal mainly with issues such as:

• the proposed implementation of national processes;
• the composition of national APR structures, councils or other bodies;
• civil society access to and engagement with the national APR Focal point and government; and
• other logistical, structural and organizational issues.

For further information see:

• Stages of the APR Process, Country Support Missions
• Resources, Country Support Mission communiqués
• Countries, Kenyan Self-Assessment process
• Countries, Rwanda Self-Assessment process