Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance,
including periodic reviews.
14. There will be four types of reviews:
• The first country review is the base review that is carried out within
eighteen months of a country becoming a member of the APRM process;
• Then there is a periodic review that takes place every two to four years;
• In addition to these, a member country can, for its own reasons, ask for a
review that is not part of the periodically mandated reviews; and
• Early signs of impending political or economic crisis in a member country
would also be sufficient cause for instituting a review. Such a review can
be called for by participating Heads of State and Government in a spirit of
helpfulness to the Government concerned.
APRM Process
15. The process will entail periodic reviews of the policies and practices of
participating states to ascertain progress being made towards achieving
mutually agreed goals and compliance with agreed political, economic and
corporate governance values, codes and standards as outlined in the
Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance.
16. The peer review process will spur countries to consider seriously the impact of
domestic policies, not only on internal political stability and economic growth,
but also on neighboring countries. It will promote mutual accountability, as
well as compliance with best practice.
17. Bearing in mind that African countries are at different levels of development,
on joining the Mechanism, a country will be assessed (the base review) and a
timetable (Programme of Action) for effecting progress towards achieving the
agreed standards and goals must be drawn up by the state in question, taking
into account the particular circumstances of that state.
Stages of the Peer Review Process
18. Stage One will involve a study of the political, economic and corporate
governance and development environment in the country to be reviewed,
based principally on up-to-date background documentation prepared by the
APRM Secretariat and material provided by national, sub-regional, regional
and international institutions.
19. In Stage Two, the Review Team will visit the country concerned where its
priority order of business will be to carry out the widest possible range of
consultations with the Government, officials, political parties, parliamentarians
and representatives of civil society organizations (including the media,
academia, trade unions, business, professional bodies).
APRM - 2003/09/16, 11:09 AM