Promoting broader participation in the APRM process is key to success
By Carolyn Knapp, 12 May 2005

The recent Third Committee on Human Development and Civil Society (CHDCS), discussed ways to rectify the most common criticism of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process -- that is, the top-down approach taken by governments and the general lack of adequate consultation with domestic constituencies. With 24 countries acceded and 4 countries currently being reviewed (Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and Mauritius), the Committee agreed that the peer review will fail to achieve its ambitious aim of engendering participatory democracy without adequate mechanisms to enhance participation.

The meeting also expressed concerned about the low level of knowledge that exists among African citizens about the APRM process. As such, they expressed the need for more awareness-raising campaigns and popularization through media.

There are five main levels or entry points for public participation in the APRM process, each requiring proactive strategies on behalf of the government to fully incorporate the voices of stakeholders:

• inclusion of civil society in the institutional structures that are overseeing the APRM process;
• broad participation in drafting the Programme of Action (PoA);
• broad consultations during the country review stage;
• final review of the report when tabled by the Heads of States Forum; and
• monitoring and evaluation of the reforms recommended by the PoA.

It was agreed that civil society must in turn plan and reinforce its responses to the openings that the APRM offers. The best strategic approach for CSOs is to constructively engage the government and public through sound research, advocacy, civic education, dissemination and sensitization, and monitoring and evaluation of the APRM at every stage of the process.

For more on this topic, feel free to contact Kojo Busia at 35439.