DECISION ON THE REPORTS OF 30th AND 31st FORUMS OF THE AFRICAN PEER
REVIEW MECHANISM (APRM)
The Assembly,
TAKES NOTE WITH APPRECIATION of the Report of the 30th and 31st Ordinary Sessions of the African Peer Review Forum of Heads of States and Government held on 25th March 2021 and 4 February 2022 respectively;
CONGRATULATES H.E Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, for his election as the new Chairperson of the African Peer Review (APR) Forum of Heads of State and Government, and H.E Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, for his election as the Incoming Chairperson of the APR Forum.
COMMENDS WITH APPRECIATION H.E. Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa and Outgoing Chairperson of the APR Forum for his sterling leadership of the APRM, including ensuring that the APRM continues to realise its mandate successfully amid COVID-19 pandemic.
RECALLS Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.765(XXXIII) in which the Assembly stressed the need for the APRM to be provided with adequate and sufficient human resources and budget allocations so as to execute its mandate without hindrance and enhance its functional autonomy;
SUPPORTS the decision of the APR Forum to establish the APRM Governance Support Programme which will finance accelerators in APRM Participating States in three (3) areas: (i) Implementation of National Plans of Actions (NPoAs) emanating from the Review processes; (ii) Implementation of the national reform agendas which promote good governance, the rule of law, human rights, democracy, transparent, accountable, capable institutions and transformative leadership; and (iii) undertaking of national governance assessments.
DECIDES that the APRM Governance Support Programme should be capitalised through outstanding contributions/arrears of APRM Participating States, voluntary contributions by Participating States and mobilisation of funds from domestic and international partners; REQUESTS the APRM Continental Secretariat to work in collaboration with the African Union Commission to develop all the necessary the legal instruments for the APRM Governance Support Programme and present them to the relevant AU Policy Organs for consideration and adoption before the operationalisation of the Programme.
ACKNOWLEDGES WITH DEEP APPRECIATION the adoption of the APRM Continental Secretariat organizational structure by the Executive Council and ultimately by the Assembly; STRESSES the need for the APRM to be provided with adequate budgetary allocations to implement the APRM Continental Secretariat organizational structure without any impediments.
COMMENDS the Chairperson of the African Union Commission H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat and the Chief Executive Officer of the APRM Continental Secretariat, Prof. Edward Maloka for their steadfast and stained efforts ensuring that the APRM organizational structure is approved by the AU Policy Organs and that the APRM realises its mandate;
FURTHER RECALLS Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.765(XXXIII) in which the Assembly requested the APRM to organise the African Migration Governance Conference in collaboration with the AU Commission and relevant stakeholders focusing on migration governance and sharing of best practices amongst AU Member States; REQUESTS the APRM in collaboration with African Union Commission and relevant stakeholders to expedite and finalise all preparations for the holding of the African Migration Governance Conference working closely with the Host Member State; DECIDES that the Conference should be held during the first half of 2022 and adequate financial resources should be provided towards the successful hosting of the African Migration Governance Conference by the AU Policy Organs.
WELCOMES WITH APPRECIATION the peer review Reports of the Republic of Liberia, Republic of Namibia, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Republic of South Africa; CONGRATULATES H.E. George Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia; H.E Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia, H.E Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and H.E Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, for their commitment to good governance as evidenced in the implementation of the APR process in their respective countries.
ENCOURAGES the Republic of Liberia, Republic of Namibia, Federal Republic Nigeria and Republic of South Africa to take into account observations of Members States on their country review reports as well as the recommendations contained in their reports for the development and implementation of the National Programme of Action and align the same to the AU Agenda 2063;
ACKNOWLEDGES WITH APPRECIATION the Progress Report of the Republic of Uganda on the implementation of its Second Country Review Report and the Progress Report of the Republic of Mauritius on the implementation of its First Country Review Report; COMMENDS H.E Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda and H.E Pravind Jugnauth, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius for their outstanding leadership and consistent efforts to improving governance in their countries and on the continent;
ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES WITH SATISFACTION the targeted reviews reports of the Republic of Zambia on Contribution of Tourism to the Economy and Contribution of Mineral Resources to the Economy; Republic of Sierra Leone on Health Governance and Covid-19 Response;
EXPRESSES gratitude to H.E Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, for their outstanding leadership in promoting good governance for national development.
URGES the Republic of Zambia and the Republic of Sierra Leone, to consider the recommendations of Member States on their targeted review reports including the recommendations contained in the reports on the development and implementation of their National Programme of Actions as a necessary step towards attaining sustainable and broad-based socio- economic development
EXPRESSES APPRECIATION to the APR Panel Members for their leadership in the conduct of the country reviews and targeted reviews; COMMENDS the APR Panel Members for ensuring that the reviews are undertaken with integrity, competency, independence and professionalism and in a credible manner free of political manipulation based on technically and culturally acceptable standards.
ENCOURAGES APRM Participating States that have not been peer reviewed to take the necessary measures to ensure that country reviews are undertaken, and their reports are presented to the APR Forum for peer review; FURTHER URGES the APRM Participating States that have been peer reviewed to implement their National Plans of Action and recommendations to inform institutional reform at national level and avert highlighted challenges in their peer reviewed reports; REQUESTS that the APRM in collaboration with the African Union Commission, other AU Organs and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) undertake Governance Gap Analysis as an assessment tool for APRM support to Participating Member States in political transition; TAKES NOTE WITH SATISFACTION the adoption by the APR Forum of the deepening the review proposals aimed at strengthening the APRM processes; ENDORSES the proposals and REQUESTS the APRM to ensure their implementation;
CONGRATULATES the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Burundi for their accession as a new APRM Participating Member States ; EXPRESSES APPRECIATION to H.E Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo and H.E Evariste Ndayishimiye President of the Republic of Burundi for their courageous decision in joining the APRM, the premier homegrown, African good governance mechanism; ENCOURAGES both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Burundi to undertake their First Country Reviews pursuant to the APRM legal instruments
ENCOURAGES all Member States of the AU that have not yet joined the APRM to accede to the APRM in line with the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063; REQUESTS the APRM to continue to follow-up with Member States that have not yet acceded to the APRM in order to expedite the Assembly Decision on Universal Accession by 2023;
WELCOMES WITH APPRECIATION the appointment by the 30th APR Forum of new APR Panel Member, Dr. Abdoulie Janneh from the Republic of the Gambia as a member of the APR Panel of Eminent Persons representing the West Africa Region; FURTHER WELCOMES WITH SATISFACTION the appointment as new Panel Members by the 31st APR Forum: Mr. Matthew Gowaseb from the Republic of Namibia, representing the Southern Africa Region, Honourable Lydia Wanyoto- Mutende from the Republic of Uganda representing the East Africa Region, Ambassador Ahmed Araita Ali from the Republic of Djibouti also representing the East Region;
EXPRESSES DEEP APPRECIATION to the retiring APR Panel Members, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Professor Fatma Zohra Karadja, Ambassador Omar Mona, Bishop Dinis Singulane and Ambassador Ombeni Yohana Sefue and the late Honourable Hope Kivengere for their exemplary performance during their tenure of office as Members of the APR Panel of Eminent Persons.
CONVEYS ITS SINCERE CONDOLENCES to the family of the late Honourable Hope Kivengere, Government and the people of the Republic of Uganda, for the untimely passing of Honourable Hope Kivengere, APR Panel Member, on 20 October 2021.
FURTHER WELCOMES WITH APPRECIATION the appointment by the APR Forum, Dr Ali Abdel Rhamane HAGGAR as Chairperson of the APR Panel of Eminent Persons for the year 2022 and Dr Abdoulie Janneh from the Republic of the Gambia as the Vice-Chairperson of the APR Panel and Incoming Chairperson of the APR Panel for the year 2023.
RECALLS Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.631(XXVIII) on the revitalisation of the
APRM; TAKES NOTE WITH GREAT SATISFACTION the APRM Continental Secretariat, Chief Executive Officer, Prof Edward Maloka’s Close Out Report on the revitalisation of the APRM (2016-2020); EXPRESSES GRATITUDE to the APR Forum and all structures of the APRM and the AU for working tirelessly in ensuring that the APRM is revitalised; URGES all structures of the APRM and the AU to safeguard and consolidate all gains achieved so far and ensure that the mechanism remains the premier home-grown, African good governance tool for the realisation of Agenda 2063;
RECALLS Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.758(XXXIII), on the adoption of the APRM Statute; WELCOMES WITH SATISFACTION decision by the APR Forum to align of the contract of the APRM Continental Secretariat, Chief Executive Officer, Prof Edward Maloka, with the APRM Statute by extending his tenure by one (1) year CONGRATULATES AND WISHES him the very best in carrying out his mandate and ASSURES him of the continued support.
ENDORSES the approval by the APR Forum of the APRM Continental Secretariat 2021 Annual Report; COMMENDS the APRM for the unprecedented successes realised in 2021; ENCOURAGES the APRM to broaden and deepen its efforts in implementing the APRM Strategic Plan (2020-2024) and in supporting the delivery of the AU Agenda 2063;
REITERATES that the APRM should be provided with sufficient financial and human resource provisions necessary for the delivery of the mandate of the APRM.
FURTHER RECALLS Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.765(XXXIII) in which the Assembly decided that the APRM should develop, in collaboration with AGA, the African Governance Report and present it to the 34th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, scheduled to take place in February 2021; COMMENDS APRM for developing the Africa Governance Report 2021: Africa’s Governance Futures for the Africa We Want, in collaboration with AGA, despite the COVID-19 pandemic challenges and making the report ready for presentation to the Assembly in February, 2021;
FURTHER COMMENDS H.E. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, Outgoing Chairperson of the APR Forum for his excellent presentation of the Africa Governance Report to the Assembly on behalf of the APRM;
ALSO RECALLS Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.765(XXXIII) in which the Assembly declared 9 March, 2023 as the founding day of the APRM which should be celebrated by the continent and the AU family; TAKES NOTE THAT the APRM will be celebrating 20 years since its establishment in 2003; DECIDES that the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of the APRM will be celebrated by the continent and the AU family throughout the year 2023 with year- long activities and events; APPEALS to the entire AU family to join the APRM as it commemorates this important anniversary; REQUESTS the APRM Secretariat in close collaboration with the African Union Commission to coordinate activities for an inclusive and participatory process of reflection on the last twenty (20) years of the APRM in its effort of promotion of good governance and democracy on the continent;
FURTHER RECALLS Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.765(XXXIII), in which the Assembly commended the APRM for implementing the expanded mandate that covers all Member States of the AU; WELCOMES WITH SATISFACTION cooperation between the APRM and Economic Community for Central African States (ECCAS) in fostering democracy and good governance; URGES other Regional Economic Communities to work closely with the APRM in fostering democracy and good governance on the continent;
RECALLS Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.720 (XXXII) in which the Assembly decided that the Africa Governance Report shall be developed by the APRM, in collaboration with the Africa Governance Architecture (AGA), and shall be presented to the Assembly every two (2) years for consideration by the Assembly at its ordinary sessions;
TAKES NOTE WITH APPRECIATION the presentation of the Second Africa Governance Report by H.E Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa and Chairperson of the African Peer Review Forum of Heads of States and Government;
WELCOMES the development of the Africa Governance Report 2021 under the theme, “African Governance Futures Scenarios 2063”, and COMMENDS the APRM, AGA, the Joint Task Force and the Institute for Futures Research at the University of Stellenbosch and other participating African Research Institutes and Experts for the commendable work done in developing the African Governance Futures Scenarios 2063;
AFFIRMS that the Africa Governance Report 2021- “African Governance Futures Scenarios 2063” inspires us to accelerate efforts towards the full realisation of Vision of the African Union (AU) of, “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens, representing a dynamic force in the international arena,” as well as the AU Agenda 2063 Aspirations and its Ten Year Implementation Plans (FTYIP).
URGES Member States to consider and examine the recommendations contained in the report with a view to enhancing good governance and the sharing of commendable practices at both the national and continental levels;
ENCOURAGES Member States to develop and conduct their own governance futures research and scenarios as a self-assessment tool towards the realisation of Agenda 2063’s Aspiration 3 for “An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law,” Aspiration 4 for “A peaceful and secure Africa” and Aspiration 6 for: People driven development relying on the potential of women and youth especially and caring for children;
REQUESTS the APRM, in collaboration with AGA, to conduct further future studies on governance and related issues as well as research and training on an ongoing basis in the spirit of the Report;
FURTHER REQUESTS the APRM, in collaboration with AGA, to officially launch and widely disseminate the Report, and for all AGA Platform members to incorporate the Report in their Annual Work Plans;
DECIDES that the APRM, in collaboration with AGA, should develop the Third Africa Governance Report with a focus on the nexus between Governance and the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR); and
AFFIRMS that the Africa Governance Report shall be developed by the APRM in collaboration with AGA and shall be presented to the Assembly every two (2) years for consideration by the Assembly at its ordinary sessions.
EXPRESSES GRATITUDE to the APR Forum and all structures of the APRM and the AU for working tirelessly in ensuring that the APRM realises its mandate;
DECISION ON THE REPORT OF THE AUDA-NEPAD HEADS OF STATE AND
GOVERNMENT ORIENTATION COMMITTEE (HSGOC)
The Assembly,
TAKES NOTE WITH APPRECIATION of the report by H.E. Paul KAGAME, President of the Republic of Rwanda, the Chairperson of the Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD);
ENDORSES the conclusions and recommendations of the 39th NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee;
REITERATES Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.635(XXVIII) and Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1(XI) integrating the AUDA-NEPAD as an intrinsic part of the African Union and CALLS UPON the African Union Commission and AUDA- NEPAD Secretariat to continue to harmonize their work programs to prevent duplication of roles;
REASSERTS the essential role played by the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) in the provision of political leadership and strategic direction to the African Union Development Agency- NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) and the NEPAD programme;
TAKES NOTE of progress that has been made by AUDA-NEPAD which includes preparation of a Regional Health Financing Hub (RHFH) and CALLS UPON the AUDA-NEPAD and AUC to facilitate the piloting of the health financing tracker in order to optimise its domestication and identification of final set of indicators; we urge Member States and RECs to proactively support the piloting in order ensure that the tracker is in line with each country’s needs;
RECOGNISES the efforts made by AUDA NEPAD to ensure that PIDA transboundary water projects implementation is accelerated through enhancing mutual accountability amongst partners through a consultative process carried out in the development of the PIDA Water scorecard framework, APPROVES the framework for tracking progress in the mobilisation of PIDA water investments, and DIRECTS AUDA-NEPAD to continue mobilising and establishing partnerships for PIDA implementation and report back bi-annually on the gaps and progress made in the mobilisation of water investments for PIDA PAP 2 using the PIDA Water scorecard as a reference;
TAKES NOTE of the progress made by AUDA-NEPAD in developing, exploring and managing flexible fund models to support Member States and in implementing the AUDA-NEPAD mandate of carrying out full range resource mobilisation, and CALLS UPON AUDA-NEPAD to expedite processes for establishing the AUDA-NEPAD Development Fund to be operational by the end of 2023 and to report progress to the HSGOC and other AUDA-NEPAD structures;
NOTES WITH APPRECIATION the Kinshasa Declaration on Rural Transformation and COMMENDS the Government of Democratic Republic of Congo and AUDA-NEPAD for the convening and hosting of the Third Africa Rural Development Forum;
COMMENDS AUDA-NEPAD for the development and implementation of the Guidelines for Territorial Development in Africa and REQUESTS AUDA-NEPAD with the support of development partners, to support member states enhance planning and institutional for the implementation of the Kinshasa Declaration on Rural Transformation. FURTHER REQUESTS AUDA-NEPAD in collaboration with WFP, IFAD, FAO and ECA to develop projects and programmes for the operationalization of the Kinshasa Declaration;
WELCOMES the White Paper on Tourism Security in Africa and REQUESTS AUDA-NEPAD and UNWTO to support Member States in its operationalisation;
APPRECIATES the call for ambitious reforms from member states in the areas of curriculum, education funding, harmonization of certifications, for a nexus which connects Science through Tertiary Education to Policy in order to foster enhanced implementation capacity of state and non-state actors to drive markets and business enterprises, and REQUESTS AUDA-NEPAD to work with partners and higher education institutions to link education and development; ALSO APPRECIATES the current partnership with Princeton University and the African School of Economics;
TAKES NOTE of the recommendations of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) on the recruitment of the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the AUDA-NEPAD Secretariat for a mandate of four (4) years; WELCOMES AND ENDORSES the appointment of Ms. Nardos Bekele Thomas of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, as the new CEO; and ENTRUSTS her to take full and effective charge of the AUDA-NEPAD Secretariat as the legal representative of the Institution;
EXPRESSES its appreciation to outgoing CEO Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki for his sterling leadership of AUDA-NEPAD;
TAKES NOTE of the recommendations of the NEPAD HSGOC and ENDORSES the extension of the current Bureau of the NEPAD HSGOC for an additional one (1) year.