derives from popular participation by citizens in the country research processes led by technical research institutes, wide media publicity and citizen debates at the national and subnational level. This has been shown to widen political space through promoting a ‘plurality of voices’ that use this process to call for accountability hence influencing governance targets and outcomes.181 Women have utilised these APRM platforms to develop conversations on gender equality including the women, peace and security agenda, particularly in countries where tensions and conflicts exist. Various APRM country review reports have identified constraints to women’s rights and development as well as peace and security concerns, leading to targeted gender specific outcome areas being implemented and monitored through National Programmes of Action (NPoAs). Reviews indicate progress in gender responsive laws, structures and programmes, although resources and in some instances, lack of follow through on commitments continue to constrain the attainment of desired standards and goals.182 Fostering the adoption of governance standards: One of the key areas of the APRM focus during reviews and monitoring phases is to assess the extent to which countries are signing, ratifying and domesticating AU and international instruments relating to governance across the four pillars. This is critical in building convergence towards the appropriate standards required to achieve political and socio-economic transformation of the continent. Among the areas of scrutiny are standards relating to the rights of women and girls and vulnerable refugees and IDPs. The gaps identified by countries in their standards have led a number of them to undertake significant steps towards adopting instruments that can provide their citizens with legal claims and thresholds to hold their governments accountable. The women, peace and security standards are not strongly reflected in the review tools and the APRM is currently undergoing a review process that will see key related standards mainstreamed across the Questionnaire. Strengthening capacity and resilience: the APRM has been perceived as a diagnostic tool because of its successes in capturing trends and forecasting various 181 Da Costa P K ‘Rule of Experts? Decomposing Agency and Agendas in Africa’s Development Regime’ University of London Thesis, 2011 182 UNECA ‘ Gender Equality and the APRM’ UNECA 2017 65