APRM Peer Learning Workshop: Lessons Learned and Best Practices

Opening statement By Abdoulie Janneh

UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary,

Economic Commission for Africa
Addis Ababa, February 20, 2007

Chairperson

Excellencies the National Focal Points of the APRM

Executive Director of the APRM Secretariat

UNDP and other Development Partners

Distinguished Participants

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is a great honor for me to welcome you to Addis Ababa and to deliver this opening statement on behalf of Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, Executive Secretary of ECA, who because of prior unavoidable commitments, could not be here with you to participate in this very important workshop.

Allow me, Chairperson, to express my delight and appreciation for ECA's collaboration with the continental APRM Secretariat and the South African Institute for International Affairs (SAIIA) in convening this important workshop.

I would like to express ECA's gratitude to the UNDP for their continued partnership with us in support to the APRM. Let me also take this opportunity to salute our development partners, DFID and GTZ, who have shown keen interests in this uniquely African initiative and have demonstrated their commitment through the support for this workshop and a similar version that was held earlier last year in Abuja, Nigeria. ECA greatly values such collaboration and partnerships and look forward to strengthening them further in the years to come.

Peer Learning and Sharing

Distinguished participants ,

As you would recall, the Sixth African Governance Forum (AGF-VI) held in Kigali, Rwanda, in May 2006, focused on the Challenges and Opportunities of Implementing the APRM. Among the major recommendations from that meeting was the need for peer learning and sharing of best practices as key to the successful implementation of the process. There was a general recognition by participants that despite the novelty of the APRM process, there was a growing body of experiences that have been marshaled so far from the first few countries, and that there was a need for systematic documentation of such experiences, knowledge sharing and peer learning to accelerate the implementation of the APRM.

The AGF (VI) also noted that the National Focal Points constitute the critical link between government and all other stakeholders in the APRM process. The Focal Points must therefore have a deeper understanding and appreciation of the challenges facing the implementation of the APRM in the country. Indeed, the progress and success of the work the National Governing Council or the National Commission depends, to a large extent, on the knowledge, the integrity and the commitment of the National Focal Point.

The strategic partners of the APRM -- ADB, UNDP and ECA -- were requested at the AGF-VI to provide the technical support that will foster peer learning among the APRM participating countries. It is in this context that ECA, as a strategic partner to the APRM, has collaborated with SAIIA and the APRM Secretariat to provide a highly interactive forum for discussion and exchange of lessons learned and best practices on the technical, organizational, methodological, research, communication, planning and budgetary challenges as well as best practices associated with the implementation of the APRM.

APRM can be challenging but also rewarding

Distinguished participants,

There is no gain in saying that implementing the APRM is a daunting challenge. As a unique African initiative, it entails complex and lengthy processes; it involves all governance institutions including government agencies, civil society, private sector, trade unions, academia, the press, and all other relevant stakeholders. It exposes government Africa's governance institutions and their management to public scrutiny by citizens and other actors. It examines sensitive policy on political, economic and social issues with the aim of finding solutions to meet citizens' aspirations and their human development needs.

And yet, in spite these challenges, the APRM has tremendous rewards and potential to improve the quality of governance and create the environment for peace, security and stability conducive to the promotion of sustainable development. It can contribute to finding solutions to problems that have been marginalized or neglected for a long time.

It can deepen trust and reinforce citizens' confidence in the effectiveness and fairness of their governance system. These rewards will strengthen democratic institutions and thereby boost the image of the nation and the continent at large and attract investors for development.

To be successful, however, the process must be candid, open, fair, participatory, rigorous and exemplary.

ECA's Contributions to the APRM Process

Distinguished participants,

Permit me to elaborate, at this juncture, on some of the areas in which the ECA is making a significant contribution towards the successful implementation of the APRM process.

ECA has and will continue to contribute to the preparation of background Reports, Country Self-Assessment Reports, and the formulation of the Country Programs of Action. Indeed, the Commission took part in the preparation of Country Profiles, Background Papers, Issues Papers, and Final Country Review Report for Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, and South Africa that were presented to the APRM Panel and the Heads of State Forum. ECA also participated actively in the Algeria's Country Review Mission that ended on December 4 th 2006, and stands ready to send a team of experts to a follow-up mission scheduled for March 2-12 th 2007.

In 2006 ECA participated in Country Support Missions to Benin, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Mozambique and Lesotho. The Commission has responded directly to request for technical support from the Republic of Congo and the Republic of Tanzania who are at different stages of the process. ECA also facilitated a meeting among the three pioneering countries – Ghana, Rwanda and Kenya – that reviewed progress in the Implementation of the APRM National Plan of Action and explored methodologies for the design of and Monitoring and Evaluation system to track progress.

Since the inception of APRM, ECA has established an information database on participating countries to support the country review process. The database draws on our work in governance, economic performance, poverty assessments, trade competitiveness, gender, and other MDG-related indicators. In the same vein, ECA has constructed an African Governance Experts database, which will assist the APRM Secretariat in identifying competent independent African experts in all areas of governance for the Country Review Missions.

ECA will continue to remain actively involved in the peer review process and is committed to ensuring its success. To respond systematically to the growing demand of technical support, we have established, since August 2006, a Support Unit dedicated to supporting the APRM Secretariat. In this new framework, ECA has put in place a three-year strategic business plan to engage the APRM process at national and continental levels.

In partnership with the other two Strategic Partners – ADB and UNDP – ECA will form a Joint APRM Support Team (JAST) that will provide assistance to participating APRM countries in order to accelerate the process of review. An MOU has been signed among the partners to this effect.

Furthermore, ECA will facilitate an APRM Peer Learning Group – through workshops, seminars, and e-mail network - whereby countries will exchange information, experiences, and lessons to accelerate the review process.

Conclusion: Expectations from this Workshop

Chairperson, Distinguished participants ,

In conclusion, let me just say that this workshop marks a milestone in the enhanced partnership among the strategic partners, civil society organizations and the APRM Secretariat in our collective efforts to scale-up strategic support to APRM participating countries in order to accelerate the implementation of the APRM on the continent.

A unique feature of the APRM is that it requires the effective participation of all stakeholders at the national, regional and, indeed, the continental levels.

It also provides opportunities for African countries to learn from each other, avoid costly mistakes and reap the benefits of the process and its outcomes.

It is my fervent hope and belief that this workshop will greatly enhance the information, knowledge and skills of APRM National Focal Points who play such a critical role in the implementation of the APRM process.

I thank you for your kind attention.