CHAPTER ONE 1. The African Peer Review Mechanism and its implementation in Lesotho 18 1.1 Origin and purpose of the African Peer Review Mechanism 1. In recognition of the imperatives of good governance for development, the Sixth Summit of the Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC) of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), held in March 2003 in Abuja, Nigeria, adopted the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). The APRM, which is turning out to be the most innovative aspect of NEPAD, is an instrument voluntarily acceded to by member states of the African Union (AU) as a self-monitoring initiative for good governance. 2. The mandate of the APRM is to ensure that the policies and practices of participating countries conform to the values, principles, codes and standards enshrined in the Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance. This commonly agreed-to instrument for selfmonitoring has at its epicentre the dissemination of best practices and the rectification of underlying deficiencies in governance and socioeconomic development processes among AU member states. The framework is aimed at encouraging and building responsible leadership through a self-assessment process, constructive peer dialogue and the sharing of information and common experiences in order to reinforce successful and exemplary practices among African countries. 3. The APRM is open to all AU member states. Accession entails undertaking to submit to periodic peer reviews and to facilitate such reviews. It includes commitment to implementing the National Programme of Action (NPoA) arising from the peer review and operationalising the agreed parameters for good governance across the four thematic areas, namely: • Democracy and good political governance. • Economic governance and management. • Corporate governance. • Socioeconomic development.